Croutons From Stale Baguette Recipes

CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Remove crusts from stale bread slices. Brush bread on both sides with melted butter. Cut bread slices up into small cubes. Sprinkle with garlic salt (if desired). Arrange cubes on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 15 minutes or until browned. Let cool. Store croutons in a covered container or plastic bag. Serve in soups or salads.

HOMEMADE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Cut any mold off of the bread. You can cut the crust off of the bread if you like but it is not mandatory.
• Cut bread into bite sized cubed pieces.
• Place cubes in a large plastic storage bag or large bowl. Drizzle olive oil all over the cubes. Add spices and shake bag or mix with hands.
• Place on a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 300°F for 20-30 minutes until dry and golden brown. Don't let them brown too much or they will be hard.
• Cool thoroughly. Store in a plastic bag or air tight container at room temperature.

CHEF JOHN'S HOMEMADE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.
• Stir olive oil and garlic together in a bowl. Let sit at room temperature until flavors are infused, about 3 hours.
• Place bread cubes in a large bowl. Pour garlic oil through a strainer onto the bread; toss to coat bread with oil. Add 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Italian seasoning, paprika, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper; toss to coat. Spread bread cubes out in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Turn croutons and bake 15 minutes more. Push croutons together with a spatula so that they are in a compact rectangle on the baking sheet and no longer spread out; sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup cheese over the top. Bake until cheese is melted and the bread is crispy and crunchy, 10 to 15 minutes more.

FRENCH BREAD CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degree. Make sure oven rack is in the middle or top position in oven so that croutons do not burn.
• Cut bread into 1/2" cubes. In a clean, dry plastic grocery bag place the bread cubes, oil, garlic powder, onion powder and Italian seasoning, if using.
• Tie bag in loose knot; shake bag to distribute ingredients well. Arrange the bread cubes singly on an aluminum baking sheet.
• Bake the cubes for approximately 12 minutes or until golden brown. Turn the baking sheet and stir the bread cubes after 6 minutes so that they bake evenly.
• Once the croutons are browned, stir them one more time, turn off the oven but leave the baking sheet with croutons in the oven.
• Keep croutons in oven until they are at room temperature then transfer to airtight container.
• Other herb choices: lemon pepper, dillweed, Cavender's Greek seasoning, etc.