Who doesn’t love homemade croutons? They’re wonderfully golden and crisp, and infinitely superior to dry, store-bought croutons.
The best part about homemade croutons is that you can use your favorite bread, even if it’s gone stale, and your croutons are ready in under 15 minutes.
Most salads benefit from a crisp, crunchy element, which could be anything from toasted nuts, tortilla strips, ice water-soaked red onion, or of course, the classic crouton.
I’ve been perfecting my homemade Caesar salad recipe, so I thought we’d start with the croutons. Off we go!
A crouton (/ˈkruːtɒn/) is a piece of toasted or fried bread, normally cubed and seasoned. Croutons are used to add texture and flavor to salads—notably the Caesar salad— as an accompaniment to soups and stews, or eaten as a snack food.
A Few Crouton Tips
Making croutons is a straightforward process. Here are a few tips to make the best croutons:
Tear fresh bread or slice stale bread: Since fresh bread can be so delicate, I found that it’s easier to gently tear fresh bread by hand. Likewise, it’s easier to use a serrated knife to gently see-saw across stale bread.
Aim for 3/4-inch cubes of bread: This size is just right, yielding croutons that are perfectly bite-sized. They’re nicely crisp on the outside, yet still have a bit of chew on the inside. They’re crisp enough to stand up to dressing, but not so crisp that you’ll break a tooth on them! Don’t worry if you’re croutons aren’t perfect cubes. Irregular, craggy bits are welcome here.
Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and toss every 5 minutes. This temperature is perfect for developing those golden edges without burning the bread. Croutons are ready in just 10 to 12 minutes at this temperature, so you’ll only have to toss once or twice.
The Best Bread for Croutons
Technically, you can use any loaf of bread to make croutons—whether it’s fresh or stale! Croutons are a great way to make use of stale bread, as is French toast.
You could even make croutons out of sandwich bread. Ideally, though, you’ll use bread that you can slice yourself into relatively thick slices (about 3/4-inch wide). That way, we can make even cubes.
For the best croutons, seek out a crusty loaf of bread with great flavor. I love to use my favorite whole grain sourdough from our local bakery. French bread works very well. You could even use a loaf of rye bread or homemade cornbread if its unique flavors will complement your meal.
Croutons are very easy to make with just two main ingredients and a few basic seasonings. You’ll need bread, of course, as well as olive oil (or melted butter), salt, pepper and garlic powder. The oil or butter helps the bread develop crisp, golden edges, and the seasonings bring out the croutons’ best.
The BEST Homemade Croutons | Use Up Leftover Bread!
FAQ
Do croutons count as bread?
Are croutons healthy?
What food group is croutons in?
Are croutons better than bread?
Can croutons be made from bread?
Croutons can be made from almost any type of bread, including whole-grain bread or bread made from enriched flour. Foods that have been enriched have had nutrients added in during the manufacturing process. Often these are nutrients that were removed during the grain refining process. Fiber is usually not added back to enriched grains.
What are some gluten-free breads?
Some gluten-free bread include those made with almond flour, coconut flour, and tapioca flour. Gluten-free breads are made without wheat, barley, or rye. They are a good option for people who have celiac disease or are sensitive to gluten. When buying gluten-free bread, be sure to check the label to make sure it is truly gluten-free. Some brands may say they are gluten-free, but may use wheat starch or other ingredients that contain trace amounts of gluten.
What is the difference between breadcrumbs and croutons?
Breadcrumbs are rolled out and crushed (or processed in a food processor) bread or croutons sometimes with seasoning, until fine pieces remain. A crouton is a cubed and seasoned piece of re-baked bread. It is used to add texture and flavor to salads or eaten as a snack food. They are larger pieces.
Can you use dry bread for croutons?
Think of it like toast, you would use the dry bread for toast rather than a sandwich and once it’s toasted, you can’t tell the bread was dry. In fact, with croutons the bread is easier to cut into cubes if it’s a little bit stale and very fresh bread will absorb the oil much faster because it acts like a sponge.