What Can You Do With Stale Bread? 10 Recipe Ideas

Whether you’re burnt out on sandwiches or that farmers market loaf is getting rigor mortis on your counter, there’s a lot you can still do with stale bread. 

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The EPA estimates that the U.S. wasted 66 million tons of wasted food in the food retail, food service, and residential sectors, and most of this waste (about 60%) was sent to landfills. About 40% of it came from households, and bread is one of the biggest categories.

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Rather than send bread to landfill or compost, here are 10 ways to use every loaf to the last crumb.

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1. Homemade Croutons: Cube the stale bread and toss it with olive oil, herbs, and spices. Bake until crispy and use as toppings for soups and salads.
2. French Toast: Make a delicious breakfast by soaking slices of stale bread in a mixture of eggs, milk, and spices, then frying until golden brown.
3. Bread Pudding: Create a sweet dessert by mixing stale bread with sugar, eggs, milk, and your favorite flavors like cinnamon and vanilla.
4. Panzanella Salad: Combine stale bread cubes with ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and vinaigrette for a refreshing Italian salad.
5. Breaded Chicken or Fish:  Crush the stale bread into breadcrumbs and use them to coat chicken breasts or fish fillets before frying.
6. Stuffed Bell Peppers or Mushrooms: Mix stale bread crumbs with ground meat, herbs, and spices to create a flavorful stuffing for bell peppers. (This one also makes a great plant-based holiday side-dish.)
7. Bread Soup: Simmer stale bread in a broth with vegetables and seasonings for a hearty and comforting soup.
8. Breaded Vegetable Fritters: Combine grated vegetables with stale bread crumbs and egg, then fry them into crispy fritters.
9. Bruschetta: Toast stale bread slices and top them with diced tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil for a simple and tasty appetizer.
10. Bread and Butter Pudding: Layer slices of stale bread with butter, sugar, and raisins, then pour.