Pulled out some stale bread from pantry. My mother-in-law says it’s wasteful not to use it, but it looks bad to me. What should I do?

Option 2: Prepare Bread Crumbs

What You’ll Need:

• Stale bread
• Food processor or grater

Method:

1. Tear or cut bread into small pieces.
2. Pulse in a food processor until fine crumbs form, or grate using a coarse grater.
3. Spread crumbs on a baking sheet and bake at 300°F (150°C) for 10 minutes to dry completely.
4. Store in an airtight container for breading chicken, fish, or vegetables later.

Option 3: Make a Classic Bread Pudding or Strata

What You’ll Need:

• Cubed stale bread
• Eggs, milk or cream, sugar or savory seasonings
• Optional fruits, nuts, cheese, or vegetables

Method:

1. Mix eggs and milk (plus sugar for sweet, salt and herbs for savory).
2. Soak bread cubes in the mixture for 10-20 minutes.
3. Transfer to a greased baking dish.
4. Add extras like fruit or cheese.
5. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30-45 minutes until set and golden.

Option 4: Make French Toast

What You’ll Need:

• Stale bread slices
• Eggs, milk, cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla extract

Method:

1. Whisk eggs, milk, cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla in a shallow dish.
2. Soak bread slices for a few minutes until saturated.
3. Cook on a buttered skillet over medium heat until browned on both sides.
4. Serve with syrup or fresh fruit.

Step 3: When to Throw Away Stale Bread

• If bread is moldy or smells off.
• If bread is extremely hard and dry to the point it can’t be softened or safely eaten.
• If you have allergies or immune issues that require avoiding questionable foods.

Step 4: How to Prevent Bread Going Stale Next Time

• Freeze extra bread in slices or whole loaves. Defrost what you need.
• Store bread in a bread box or paper bag, not plastic, to reduce moisture buildup.
• Buy smaller quantities if you don’t consume bread quickly.
• Use day-old bread in recipes immediately rather than letting it go too long.

Final Thoughts

Your mother-in-law’s advice to avoid waste is both practical and respectful of food resources, but it’s okay to trust your instincts when food safety is concerned. If your bread is simply stale and not moldy, you have many delicious, easy ways to revive it — turning what looks like waste into tasty meals or snacks.

Next time, try one of the methods above and enjoy the satisfaction of minimizing waste while creating something new and delicious!

Would you like me to share recipes for any of the ideas above in more detail?