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Craving something crunchy? Why not make a batch of fresh, delicious croutons in your air fryer! In less than 10 minutes and with some buttery seasoning, you can whip up some seriously flavorful treats. It's the ideal snack for any occasion.
Turn Ordinary Bread To Flavorful Croutons
Wondering what to do with all that leftover bread? Don't let ordinary sandwich and baguette slices go to waste – turn them into delicious croutons! Transform your plain-jane loaves of white, wheat, or pumpernickel bread into crunchy goodies by buttering up the pieces and seasoning generously.
Air fry your croutons for 6 to 8 minutes at 400 degrees F — or 204 degrees C — until crunchy. Be sure to stir the croutons once or twice during cooking to keep them from sticking or burning. This is an easy way to make dishes more exciting without spending a fortune on expensive ingredients!
Stale Bread Will Work Fine
If you've ever been stuck with an unappetizingly stale loaf of bread, don't worry! Homemade air fryer croutons are simple to make and taste much better. You can easily turn it into delicious croutons.
You could use leftover baguettes, loaves of French bread, or other bread. Just make sure to avoid moldy bread - no matter how tempting the cut-off-the-mold routine may be, never eat what's gone past its expiration date for safety reasons!
Ingredients
- Bread
- Butter
- Garlic Salt
- Parsley
- Seasoned Salt
- Onion Powder
- Olive Oil
How To Make Croutons
1.Grab some slices of bread and grab either a serrated knife or something sharp.
2. Melt some butter and place in a large mixing bowl.
3. Add bread pieces to mixing bowl. Toss bread pieces with olive oil until each piece is well coated. Add the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and parsley flakes into the melted butter. Get your knife ready and take a few minutes to chop the bread into tasty, bite-sized pieces.
4. Whip up something exciting with a delicious mix of butter and seasonings! Make sure to combine everything all together in the bowl.
5. Spread the seasoned bread cubes in the air fryer basket. Make sure each piece has a generous coating of butter and spices.
6. Place the bread cubes in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Set air fryer to 350 degrees F. Cook croutons until they turn crispy and brownish in color. Typically, you can get good, brown crispiness with about 6-7 minutes of cooking time. Air fryers can vary when it comes to cooking time so watch your croutons carefully.
Now you can make your meals a little extra special with some homemade croutons! You don't need to buy fancy bread to make these salad toppings everyone loves. They only take 7 minutes in the air fryer and are sure to be an amazing addition to any soup or salad.
No Air Fryer? No Problem! Make Croutons On Your Stove
Create a quick and tasty treat with this recipe that can be easily cooked using either an air fryer or a regular skillet. To make it in the latter, all you have to do is heat up your pan on medium, toss in your seasoned bread and cook for around 5-7 minutes - just don't forget to give it some flips every 30 seconds! In no time at all, enjoy golden brown perfection.
Interesting questions related to making homemade croutons in the air fryer
How do you keep homemade croutons crispy?
Keeping homemade croutons crispy is actually quite simple if you follow a few basic steps. First, it’s important to start with the right ingredients – stale or day-old bread that’s slightly dry works best.
Once baked and cooled completely, store your homemade croutons in an airtight container for up to one week. If you want extra staying power, however, try tossing some dehydrated vegetable flakes into your mix before baking for added flavor and texture as well as to keep them even crisper and longer.
You can also deep fry your croutons for added crunch if desired– just be sure not to overdo it because they will become hard once cooled down after frying! The key is always moderation when cooking with oil so you don’t end up with soggy results later on.
How long do homemade croutons last?
Homemade croutons typically last up to a week when stored properly. To maximize the shelf-life of your homemade croutons, you'll want to be sure to store them in an airtight container and in a cool, dry place away from any sources of moisture or heat.
Additionally, it is important to not add too much seasoning or oil before baking as this can lead to them going bad quicker than usual.
When preparing homemade croutons for storage, it is always best practice to make sure that the cubes are cut small and are completely cooled after baking—being careful not to overbake them. This will help reduce moisture within the container and keep your croutons crisp longer.
For ultimate freshness, consider freezing some extra cubes of baked bread ahead of time—this way whenever you are ready for more crunchy accompaniments on top of salads or soups; simply grab a few cubes out of the freezer ahead of time!
This method will last up to eight months through proper storage techniques but still maintain that deliciously flavorful taste alongside any meal at hand!
Are croutons just stale bread?
Not exactly! Croutons are typically made from cubes of stale or day-old bread, but there's a bit more to it than that. To make croutons, the cubed bread needs to be lightly coated with oil or butter and then seasoned with various herbs and spices. It can also be lightly toasted before being used as a crunchy topping for salads or soups.
Croutons aren't just about the texture either; they provide a delicious flavor profile as well. In fact, when combined with the right seasonings and ingredients, many people find that they taste better than fresh bread! There are several more air fryer recipes available online if you're interested in making your own croutons at home.
It's important to note that while most crouton recipes require using day-old bread, you can also use fresh-baked loaves too – provided you have time and patience enough for the extra preparation involved in cutting it into small cubes and seasoning them properly.
So yes – technically speaking, croutons are made from stale (or freshly cut) bread cubes… but there's definitely much more to them than just that!
Do croutons work as breadcrumbs?
Yes, croutons can be used as a substitute for bread crumbs! Croutons are just pieces of dried or toasted bread, so they have the same texture and crunchiness as traditional bread crumbs. Plus, they’re already seasoned with herbs and spices so you don’t need to add any extra seasoning.
The fact that croutons are pre-seasoned also gives them an advantage over plain bread crumbs: it adds flavor to whatever dish you’re putting together! Everything from casseroles to meatloaves and even baked macaroni and cheese can benefit from the added flavor in the croutons. The sharp, bold taste of garlic-y olive oil crouton bits is sure to make your dinner guests smile.
Croutons are also great for adding a bit of needed texture – larger sizes of rectangular pieces will give dishes a much more pleasant crunch than traditional tiny deep-fried nuggets.
If you like something a little less crunchy but with some heft, try pulsing them in a food processor until they reach your desired size – this way you know exactly how big each piece will end up being!
Finally, if you want to save yourself time (and mess), opt for buying ready-to-go packaged versions at your local grocery store – there’s no need for extra cutting or cooking when all you have to do is open up the bag and use what’s inside!
Whatever recipe calls for breadcrumbs next time around won't lack moisture or flavor when using these flavorful morsels instead - enjoy making delicious meals with this timesaving trick.
