What to Do With Day-Old Bread?

Turn stale bread into a tasty meal.

There's nothing quite like a fresh loaf of bread. Warm, soft and crispy on the outside, it's tempting to eat the whole loaf right away. However, if you can resist, you're likely to end up with a loaf of not-so-fresh bread the next day. Don't let that bread go to waste, though. There are plenty of dishes are even better with day-old bread, so get ready to breathe new life into that stale loaf. Does this Spark an idea?

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Bread Pudding
- Bread pudding is a common use for stale bread, likely because there are so many variations. Combine chunks of day-old bread with cooked meat, vegetables and cheese in a baking dish. For a sweet bread pudding, use dried fruit, nuts or chocolate. Pour one part beaten egg with two parts milk over the bread and other ingredients. Bake the pudding in a 350 degree F oven until it is puffed and browned.
Bread Salad
- Bread salads are a great way to use up old bread, along with any other leftovers you have in the refrigerator. Break the bread into chunks and place them in a large bowl. Add chunks of cooked chicken, a can of tuna or pieces of salami or bacon. Throw in whatever cooked or raw vegetables you have. Fresh herbs make a flavorful addition, as well. Dress the whole salad in a simple vinaigrette and place in the refrigerator for several hours to allow the bread to soak up the flavors. Serve at room temperature.
French Toast
- Stale or day-old bread is necessary for good French toast. The stale bread can soak up more of the custard mixture than fresh bread. Slices of bread 1/2-inch thick are best for French toast. Challah, brioche and sourdough bread are all tasty substitutions for plain white bread. Beat together three large eggs with one cup of half-and-half and season with cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar. Soak the bread slices in the custard for one minute before frying.
Chips
- Make chips out of stale bread for a quick, tasty snack. Cut bread into thin slices. Whisk together olive oil or melted butter with dried herbs and spices in a large bowl. Add the pieces of bread and toss to coat the bread with the oil. Spread the bread in a single layer on a greased baking sheet. Bake the bread slices for 30 minutes, or until the chips are crisp and brown. Serve the chips warm or at room temperature with a dip.