Stale bread can be repurposed in countless ways. You can dice it up and create homemade croutons, toss it in a food processor to prepare breadcrumbs, whip up a delicious bread pudding, or even make it the centerpiece of your weekend French toast breakfast. But when you need a slice (or two) of fresh bread,…
How To Revive Stale Bread in the Microwave
The best way to revive stale bread is to start with a super crusty loaf such as a French baguette or a no-knead sourdough. (We know — it sounds counterintuitive, but we swear it works best.) Wrap the bread in a damp paper towel and stick it in the microwave for 10 seconds. Once it’s nice and warm, carefully remove the paper towel and place the bread in an oven or toaster oven (we’re obsessed with the Our Place Wonder Oven) at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. This two-step process rehydrates the bread without making it soggy.
You can also revive stale bread by placing it under cold, running water for a few seconds until it’s evenly saturated, then popping it in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until toasted. Note that the toast time will vary depending on the size of the bread. For a baguette, five minutes is ample time. For a half-boule or bâtard, bake for 10 minutes. A full loaf will take about 15 minutes in the oven.
If you don’t want to turn on your oven or don’t own a toaster oven, you can still try this hack with an air fryer. An air fryer is an excellent way to refresh stale bread because it allows you to rehydrate the bread while keeping the outer shell crispy. To revive stale bread in an air fryer, run it under cold water until thoroughly damp, then place it in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for around three to four minutes.
The bread should be eaten soon after you’ve rehydrated it; ideally, while it’s still warm and soft. If you wait too long, the bread will become dry and chewy once again.
