Don’t throw away your stale bread: bakers’ trick to make it crisp again

There’s nothing like freshly baked bread, crisp and golden brown. But after a few hours, it becomes hard and dry… Should you throw it away? Absolutely not! Artisan bakers have a well-known secret for reviving stale bread and restoring its crunch. Find out how to save your stale bread and avoid waste!

Why does bread harden?

Bread staling is a natural phenomenon caused by several factors:

• Moisture loss: The water in the crumb gradually evaporates, making the bread dry.
• Starch crystallization: After baking, the starch in the bread changes structure, making it hard. This process is even faster if you store your bread in the refrigerator.
• Exposure to air: Ambient air accelerates drying, especially if the bread is poorly stored.

Fortunately, with a simple method, you can reverse this process and get your bread back to almost new!

The bakers’ tip: baking

Materials needed:

• Stale bread (baguette, loaf, country bread, etc.)
• A water spray or a simple stream of cold water
• Aluminum foil
• An oven preheated to 180°C

Steps to follow:

1. Moisten the bread

• Lightly spray water over the entire surface of the bread.
• No spray bottle? Quickly run the bread under cold running water.

2. Wrap the bread in aluminum foil

This creates a steam effect which will rehydrate the crumb.

3. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes

The heat will allow the bread to regain its softness.

4. Remove the foil and continue cooking for 5 minutes.

This helps to recreate a golden, crispy crust.

5. Let stand for a few minutes before enjoying.

The result: bread almost as fresh as the day you bought it!