How to make croutons at home
Homemade croutons

Uses of croutons
How to make bread crumbs with croutons

Do you want to know how to make croutons at home? Croutons are available easily in the stores. But the homemade croutons are also very easy to make and taste great. If you usually buy croutons, just give it a try and make them at home.

Another reason to make croutons at home is that you can use up the leftover bread. You can make and store the croutons and use them when you want.

Not only you can make plain croutons, you can flavor them according to your liking. Garlic croutons, pepper croutons, spicy croutons etc.

Uses of croutons

Use in soups while serving.
Use in salads.
Use to make bread chaat (Indian fast food).
Use croutons to make bread crumbs.

Three Methods to make croutons

You can

make croûtons on the stove top. The outer part of a croûton will be crisper than the inside.
make croutons in the oven. The croûtons will be crisp all over.
make croutons In the toaster.

All the methods are given below.

Choose the one that is convenient to you and the type of croutons you want to make.

Type of bread to use for making croutons

Making croutons at home is very easy and economical as you can use up your left over bread.

Use any unsweetened bread. You can use any type of bread you like.
You may use white bread, whole wheat bread, multi grain bread, brown bread etc.
You may use french breads, baugette, pav, buns too.
You may use plain bread or flavored bread.
You may use fresh bread or 1-2 day old bread. Using stale bread(1-2 day old) is better. Stale bread croutons get done faster than the fresh bread croutons.

Type of fat to use while making croutons

You may use any vegetable oil, olive oil, butter or ghee to make croutons.

Remember, the taste will change according to what kind of fat you use. You may also make croutons without adding any kind of fat.These croutons will be dry.

Main ingredients to make croutons

White and brown bread

Bread slices - 6
Butter or your favorite oil- 1 tbsp

Cut the bread in square or rectangle pieces. Follow the steps given below. To make croutons fast, to save time, you may lightly toast the slices before cutting into pieces.

How to make croutons on the stove top?

In a fry pan, add some butter on low heat. Do not let the butter burn. To prevent the butter burning you may add a teaspoon of vegetable oil.
As soon as the butter melts, add the bread pieces.
Stir and keep stirring till the bread pieces start to become a little golden brown.
Take off fire and cool.

Tip to make garlic flavored croutons:

add some garlic paste along with butter.
Fry a little and then add the bread pieces. sprinkle a little salt if you wish.

Use in soup, salad etc. Store the croutons in an airtight jar if you are planning to use it later.

How to make croutons in the oven at home?

While making croutons in the oven, you need to take care not to over bake them.

Heat the oven to 300
Add the cut bread pieces in a bowl.
Sprinkle vegetable oil or ghee or melted butter on the pieces. Mix well.
(Optional)Add salt and seasoning if you are making flavored croutons. Mix well again.
Spread the bread pieces on the baking tray. Bake for about 8-10 minutes.
Check if they are done.
Bake a few minutes more if they are not yet done. Cool completely and store until you want to use.

Tips

The baking time will depend on how soft or hard the bread is.

Fresh bread will take longer to become crisp.

Even after you take them out from the oven, the croutons will become crisper as they cool.

How to make croutons in the toaster?

Toast the bread slices in the toaster as you normally do. Toast them as crisp as you want.
Cut the bread slice in to pieces into your desired size and shape.

Use in your recipe. Making croutons in the toaster is very useful when you want only a little quantity of croutons and want them fast.

How to make toasted bread crumbs from croutons?

If you are out of bread crumbs but have some croutons, you can make bread crumbs with them.

Put the croutons in the blender and blend till you get your desired consistency, fine or coarse. Use as needed.

Instead of blender, you may crush the croutons with a rolling pin till you get the desired consistency. As the croutons are already crisp, they will get crushed easily.

Remember that these bread crumbs are already toasted. Use them accordingly in your recipes.