How To Make Stovetop Croutons (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep homemade croutons crunchy? ›

Seal your bag or container.

Don't forget to immediately reseal the bag or container after you take croutons out of it. Air is the enemy when you store croutons since it makes them turn soft and chewy—not what you want in a crouton!

Using too high heat. You want golden-brown croutons — not blackened ones. Tossing the bread cubes into a super-hot pan means they'll burn instead of toast. Instead, cook the croutons over medium to medium-high heat.

Homemade croutons will keep fresh for weeks when properly stored, so they're great for making ahead. To Store: Once the baked croutons have cooled completely to room temperature, transfer them to an airtight container or large zip-top bag. Store them on the counter for up to 2 weeks.

Croutons: Yes, you can freeze them! Cube stale bread and toast it for a few minutes. Then, place the croutons into a resealable freezer bag and stow in the freezer. You can also freeze the uncooked bread cubes and toast them at a later time.

Let me explain: Most croutons are crunchy through and through, but these are designed to be crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle–far better for munching out of hand (or as a complement to tender salad leaves) than the hard, desiccated store-bought kind.

Croutons rival pita chips in the crunch department, and they don't require accoutrements like hummus, tabouli, or baba ghanoush because they're so flavorful on their own.

If a recipe calls for dry bread crumbs but you don't have any on hand, use packaged croutons. Place them in a resealable bag and smash them with a rolling pin. Crumbs made from seasoned croutons add extra flavor!

Wrapping the loaf in foil (or parchment paper) ensures this result. For a crispier garlic bread that's more toasted on top, don't wrap and bake for a shorter period (10 to 15 minutes). For another slightly more crisp take on garlic bread, see our basil and cheese garlic bread.

The expected shelf-life for homemade croutons is about two weeks. Moisture encourages mold, so make sure your croutons are completely dehydrated during the bake and let cool completely at room temperature before storing them away in an airtight container.

Are croutons healthy? ›

Croutons. Why is it unhealthy? Croutons can add some delicious crunch to your salad, but they can also add calories. You might be surprised to learn that just a cup of croutons can add an estimated 120 calories to your salad, and that number goes up to 180 if they are the seasoned variety.

Commercially packaged croutons, due to their preservatives and packaging, can last significantly longer. They can often be stored at room temperature for several months without any noticeable degradation in texture or flavor.

You can safely refreeze breads, cookies and similar bakery items. However, the end product is likely to be a drier, lower quality product.

If you're baking your croutons, make sure they are well-spaced-out on a shallow tray to ensure they crisp evenly and they don't steam, causing them to become soggy. They also need to be in a single layer and not touching.

Soggy croutons often happen with leftover salad or prepackaged salads that have been sitting for a while. But they can also occur if you've prepped your salad too early and let it sit in the bowl for too long; the croutons take on moisture, and the crisped-up bread goes soft.