How do you keep homemade croutons crispy?

Store the homemade croutons at room temperature for up to 1 week . Put the croutons in your pantry and that's it. Most croutons will be crunchy and crisp for up to a week, but the sooner you use them, the better. Croutons won't become moldy, but they will become soft or chewy once they're old.

How long do homemade croutons last?

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.

What are croutons made of?

Croutons are made from toasted or fried bread, including white, wholemeal, sourdough and granary . Use them for a crunchy texture in salads, soups and more. Any kind of piece of bread that has been toasted or fried to crunchy crispness counts as a crouton.

Why aren t my croutons crunchy?

My method of getting extra crispy croutons is to cube the bread rather small (~1cm or a bit less), add butter to the pan and melt(i guess, ~20g for two slices of bread, but it's hard to say.), add the bread cubes, and pan fry them gently over low (!)

Why are my croutons not crispy?

Crowding the pan . Pile the bread cubes on top of each other and they won't have enough space to crisp up and brown. Instead, make sure they're in a even layer.

What are Olive Garden croutons made of?

Olive Garden croutons are made with Romano cheese, seasoned with garlic, Italian herbs & spices , and baked to a delicious golden brown.

What does croutons do to your body?

Croutons provide calories (energy) primarily in the form of carbohydrates . Carbs are your body's preferred energy source. When you eat croutons, you are providing your body with fuel for your daily activities.

What is healthier than croutons?

Toasted nuts and seeds These nutrient-dense morsels deliver more than just plenty of crunch—they help make a salad more filling. “Salads that are just vegetables or greens sometimes don't satisfy on their own,” Hamshaw says. Most nuts and seeds have protein, healthy fats, and fiber—three things that increased satiety.

Why are my homemade croutons soggy?

Why are my homemade croutons soggy? It could be that you stored your croutons before they were fully cooled . Warm croutons trap moisture, and the croutons can become soggy if they're stored airtight too soon. This can also cause them to go stale too quickly.

How do you store homemade croutons so they don't get soggy?

You don't want any added moisture in the storage container. Once cooled, store the croutons in an airtight container or jar in a cool, dry place . To soak up any excess moisture, you can add a paper towel to the bottom of the container. Stored at room temperature, the homemade croutons will last up to 3 days.

Why do croutons not go bad?

Croutons don't expire in the sense that they become dangerous to eat. There simply isn't enough moisture in them to feed an spoilage bacteria and other such organisms .

How do you keep croutons from getting soggy?

To keep croutons crisp, simply heat them in a pan on medium-low heat to dry out any parts that may have been wet after frozen. Crisp in the oven. Thawed croutons can also be popped into the oven at medium low heat (300 degrees F) for 5-10 minutes to given them a crunchier texture.

Why are my croutons soggy?

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. If you're frying the croutons, toss the pan regularly to make sure they crisp evenly.

Croutons Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (2024)

By Maria Lichty

Published on March 24, 2023

63 CommentsView Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read mydisclosure policy.

Quick Summary

Croutons- Learn how to make homemade croutons that are crunchy on the outside, slightly chewy on the inside, and SO much better than store bought croutons. Use in salads, soups, stuffing, and more!

Croutons Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (2)

I love a good salad, especially when croutons are involved, but not any old croutons will do. I don’t care for store bought croutons, but I LOVE homemade croutons. They are SO much better and SO easy to make, I promise.

Today, I am going to teach you how to make the best croutons in under 30 minutes. You can use them in salads, as a garnish for soup, chowder, chili, in your favorite stuffing, grind them up in a food processor to make breadcrumbs, and so much more!

You will never buy croutons again…and you will want to use them in anything and everything because they are so good! Promise me you will make this Caesar Tortellini Salad. It’s our favorite!

Easy Ingredients

Bread-To make good croutons, you need to start with good bread. Use a crusty loaf of bread, like French, Italian, or Sourdough. Don’t use a regular loaf of sandwich bread. It is also best to use bread that is stale, that is at least a day or two old. So if you have stale bread sitting on the counter, don’t throw it out, make croutons! You can also use flavored breads to jazz up your croutons. Rosemary & olive oil, asiago cheese, or garlic are all great options. Don’t cut off the crust, the crust is what makes the croutons hearty and so delicious!
Olive oil AND Butter-I use olive oil and butter. You need to toss the bread cubes in olive oil so they will crisp up in the oven. I like to add melted butter too for added flavor. If you need the croutons to be vegan, you can use just olive oil.
Garlic Powder-I normally like to use fresh garlic, but with croutons, I like to use garlic powder so the garlic doesn’t burn in the oven and so all of the bread pieces are evenly coated with garlic.
Italian Seasoning-Italian seasoning adds great flavor to the croutons and we always have a jar in our pantry.
Salt and Black Pepper-Finish with salt and pepper for necessary flavor.

How to Make Croutons

You can make croutons in about 30 minutes and most of the time is oven time. The prep is easy and the results are SO delicious!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Cut the loaf of bread into 3/4-inch cubes and place in a large bowl. Make sure the bread cubes are all the same size so the croutons cook evenly. You can also tear your bread if you want rustic bread cubes. I usually like to cut the bread with a bread knife to make sure they are the same size, but either way works!
Drizzle the bread cubes with olive oil and melted butter. Sprinkle the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper over the bread. Toss until all of the bread cubes are well coated.
Spread the bread cubes onto the prepared baking sheet, making sure the bread cubes are in an even layer and not touching. If they are too close and overlapping, they won’t cook evenly and won’t crisp up.
Bake for 12 to 20 minutes, tossing halfway through, or until the croutons are golden brown. Check early to make sure you don’t burn them. Time will depend on how thick your bread pieces are and how your oven cooks.
Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Warning, it is hard to walk by the pan and not grab a crouton or two…or a handful:)

How to Store

Store cooled croutons in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days. You can also freeze croutons in a freezer bag or container for up to 6 weeks.

More Homemade Recipes

Homemade Pita Chips
Homemade Tortilla Chips
Homemade Pretzel Bites
Homemade Flour Tortillas
Homemade Granola Bars

Croutons Recipe - Two Peas & Their Pod (4)

Salads

Homemade Croutons

Learn how to make homemade croutons that are crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and SO much better than store bought croutons. Use in salads, soups, stuffing, and more!

4.65 from 71 votes

Ingredients

1 loaf crusty French, Italian, or Sourdough bread
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Cut the loaf of bread into 3/4-inch cubes and place in a large bowl. Drizzle the bread cubes with olive oil and melted butter. Sprinkle the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper over the bread. Toss until all of the bread cubes are well coated.
Spread the bread cubes onto the prepared baking sheet, making sure the bread cubes are in an even layer and not touching.
Bake for 12 to 20 minutes, tossing halfway through, or until the croutons are golden brown. Check early to make sure you don't burn them. Time will depend on the thickness of your bread and your oven. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Notes

Store in an airtight container on the counter for up to 5 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 187kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Fiber: 1g

Keywords croutons, homemade

Have you tried this recipe?

Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag @twopeasandpod and hashtag it with #twopeasandtheirpod