Don’t Waste It- Five Ways to Use Leftover Bread
I hate wasting anything….even more so now that prices are going higher.
Besides keeping a loaf of store bought bread in the freezer, I make all my own bread.
One downside is because it’s preservative free, it gets stale a lot quicker. Oftentimes, before the whole loaf is eaten. I’ve found lots of ways to put the stale bread to good use rather than throwing it away.
If you’re faced with the same problem here are some ideas-
Breadcrumbs
Save money on breadcrumbs by putting pieces of stale bread in the blender or food processor and then put them in container or freezer bag and keep them in the freezer. Just pull them out about 30 minutes before you need them for a recipe. I often add Italian seasonings to the bread as I process it.
Croutons
Another way to save on money is to make your own croutons for soups and salads. Cube the bread add some salt and pepper and also any spices you want, drizzle with oil and cook them at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until crispy and golden brown. Store them just like the breadcrumbs.
Stuffing
Most of us only think about stuffing around the holidays but leftover bread makes perfect stuffing that can be tailored to your tastes
Bread Pudding
Who doesn’t love bread pudding and stale bread actually makes a better one because it doesn’t go so soggy when you add the egg/milk mixture. Best thing is bread puddings can be savory or sweet and use other leftover ingredients. Here’s a link to one of my favorite recipes from Betty Crocker-
Panzanella Salad
Yes, you can even make a meal from stale or leftover bread. Everyone has their own favorite recipe but one of my top picks is the one created by Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond
Here’s the link if you want to try it out-
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/panzanella-2645744
Do you have a favorite way to use leftover bread?
Would you like to see suggestions for using other leftover items? If so, what?
Leave a comment or drop an e-mail to budgetsmartqueries@gmail.com