Croutons
Homemade croutons are a great addition to salads, and soups, and add a satisfying crunch to the meal. They are a great way to use up any leftover or stale bread that you might have lying around. And are a perfect addition to your Tomato Soup or Butternut Squash Soup. These homemade croutons are easy to make and add something extra to your meals!
In this blog post, you will learn how to make homemade croutons.
How to Make Croutons
Take your stale or leftover bread and cut it up into 1/2″ square cubes. Try to keep the bread chunks as uniform as possible so that the bread chunks will cook evenly. Place the bread chunks in a medium bowl and pour the olive oil on top of them. Mix them around with a silicone spatula. Next, add half of all of your spices. Mix your bread chunks around then add the rest of the spices. Pour your seasoned bread chunks into the air fryer and bake for 10 minutes making sure to stir them approximately every two minutes.
Which Bread Should I Use?
The best bread to use for croutons is one with a sturdy texture that can hold up to toasting and absorb flavours well. Here are some great options:
- Sourdough
- Baguette/French Bread
- Ciabatta
- Whole Wheat Bread
- Rye Bread
- White Sandwich Bread
While sourdough and baguettes provide the most texture and flavour, White Sandwich Bread is a great option for lighter, more delicate croutons. White sandwich bread is especially convenient for quick, homemade ones.
How to Use Croutons
Croutons are very versatile and can be used in a range of different meals. And if you need breadcrumbs quickly, throw the croutons into the food processor and you have breadcrumbs!
- Soups: like Tomato Soup or Butternut Squash Soup.
- Salads: especially in Chicken Caesar Salad.
- Casseroles: chicken casseroles or breakfast casseroles.
How to Store my Extra Croutons
To store croutons and keep them fresh and crispy, follow these steps below:
Cool Completely: After baking or frying your croutons, let them cool completely at room temperature. Letting your croutons cool completely, prevents them from trapping moisture, which can make them soggy.
Airtight Container: Place your croutons into an airtight container or resealable plastic bag to protect them from air and humidity. This helps to maintain their crispness.
Room Temperature Storage: Store the container in a cool, dry place at room temperature. If properly stored, they can last for up to 1-2 weeks.
Freezing for Long-Term Storage: For longer storage, you can freeze them. Place them in a freezer-safe bag, squeeze out the air, and freeze for up to 1-2 months. Re-crisp them in the air fryer for a few minutes before use.
Following these tips will keep your croutons crispy and fresh for an extended period of time!
Can I Make These Croutons in the Oven?
Yes, this croutons recipe can be made in the oven. To make them in the oven, follow steps 1 & 2 in the recipe below. Then instead of placing them into the air fryer, place them onto a lined baking sheet. Bake at 375℉/190℃/Gas Mark 5 for 10-15 minutes making sure to flip halfway through to make sure that they are evenly browned. Do your best to avoid over crowding on the baking sheet so that they bake evenly. When they are finished baking, remove them from the oven and use in your favourite meals and recipes.
Ingredients
Bread Chunks: bread chunks are the foundation of croutons. They absorb the flavours and olive oil. The bread is cubed into 1/2″ pieces. The bread’s texture determines how crunchy or chewy they will be once toasted. Stale bread or fresh bread can be used.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: olive oil coats the bread cubes and allows them to toast evenly and gives the croutons a golden-brown, crispy exterior. Vegetable oil can also be used instead of olive oil. And melted butter is also a good substitute for olive oil; however, croutons made with butter do not last as long as if they were made with olive oil.
Salt: salt enhances the overall flavour of the croutons.
Black Pepper: black pepper adds a mild heat.
Thyme: thyme has a slightly minty flavour that adds depth.
Oregano: oregano provides a robust, peppery taste.
Garlic Powder: garlic powder infuses the croutons with a savoury flavour. The garlic powder complements many dishes especially in salads and soups.
Tips
- Different types of bread can result in different kinds of flavours. See my list up above to choose the best bread kind for you.
- Make sure to cut up your bread chunks into uniform pieces so that they cook evenly.
- You can add different kinds of spices if you want them to have a different flavour or add no spices if you only want plain ones.
- You can use these in soups or on salads and on so many different recipes.
- Store your extra croutons in the freezer for the future!
Homemade Croutons Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 c. bread chunks cubed into 1/2" cubes
- 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. thyme
- 1 tsp. oregano
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
Instructions
- Take your loaf of bread and cut it up into 1/2” uniform cubes. Take your two cups of bread chunks and place into a medium bowl.
- Pour the olive oil onto the bread chunks and mix with a silicone spatula. Season with half of the spices and mix. Then season with the rest of the spices and give that a final mix.
- Pour into the air fryer and bake at 400℉/200℃/Gas Mark 6 for 10 minutes. Making sure to stir about every 2 minutes for even baking.
- Remove from the air fryer and use in your favourite dishes!
Notes
In this blog post, you learned how to make homemade croutons.