How to Soften Hard Bread
Bringing Life Back to Your Loaf!
There's nothing more disappointing than discovering your favorite loaf of bread has gone stale. But don’t worry, because you can bring it back to life! In this post, we’re diving into all the tips and tricks for how to soften hard bread, revive stale bread, and make the most out of your loaf. Let’s get started on your journey to delicious, soft bread again!
Why Does Bread Go Stale?
Before we jump into how to soften hard bread, it’s important to understand why bread goes stale in the first place. When bread loses moisture, it becomes dry and hard. This happens naturally over time as the water in the bread evaporates. The good news is that even stale bread can be revived!
Quick Methods to Soften Hard Bread
The Water Method
One of the simplest and most effective ways to soften hard bread is using water. Here’s how you do it:
My go-to method, having saved many a loaf in my house, is this technique from Food & Wine. It instructs us to run the bread under the tap and then heat it at 450°F for about 10 minutes. And, reader, I’m here to tell you that it works. The exterior is crusty with a slight sheen, and the interior is warm and fluffy, ready for whatever you want to spread on it. You don’t need to use aluminum foil, and the 10-minute timing is pretty hard to beat.
Don't be timid; get the crust good and wet before proceeding. This method works like magic and can revive stale bread in no time!
Uses for Stale Bread?
If you don’t want to revive the hard bread,and simply use the stale bread, you have many options!
Stale Bread Ideas
Stale bread can be used in various creative ways, such as:
Croutons
Stuffing
Panzanella (Italian bread salad)
How to Revive Stale Bread
Reviving stale bread doesn’t have to be a chore. With these simple methods, you can bring back the soft, delicious texture you love.. Plus, with so many creative stale bread ideas, you might find yourself hoping for bread to go stale just so you can try something new! haha!
Do you have your own tips for how to soften hard bread or revive stale bread? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray a 13-inch by 9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In the prepared baking dish, add uncooked pasta, raw chicken, marinara sauce, water, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix to combine.
- Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Make sure that your dish is covered tightly so that none of the moisture escapes (the pasta needs to absorb the liquid as it cooks). Bake the covered dish for 35-40 minutes. Don't peek because it will cool the oven and take a lot longer to cook.
- At this point, the pasta will still be firm, and there will still be quite a bit of liquid in the dish.
- Spread mozzarella over the top and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered for 10-15 more minutes or until the cheese is melted and the pasta is tender. If the pasta is still not cooked tonight, see the notes below.
Notes
Pick a high-quality, flavorful marinara sauce. A delicious sauce will yield a better-tasting dish. I use Rao’s brand.
Total cooking time will vary depending on the type of pan that you use, the pasta you use, and your oven. Glass or ceramic baking dishes will take longer than metal pans, for instance. To know when your casserole is done, taste a bite of the pasta. The noodles should be al dente and much of the liquid should be absorbed.
Noodles are undercooked: All ovens are different, so after the allotted cooking time if your pasta is still firm and not cooked thoroughly, see below:
- If there is still liquid, cover the casserole and place it back in the oven for 10 more minutes.
- If there is no more liquid, add 1/2 cup of hot water, cover tightly, and return to the oven for 15 minutes.
- If possible, shred your own cheese; it melts better and is creamier than pre-shredded cheese. But Be careful not to overbake the casserole or the pasta will become mushy.
Storage: This casserole is best enjoyed immediately from the oven.
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The pasta will dry out a bit as it sits, add a little water and salt before reheating.
I do not recommend freezing this casserole because pasta has a tendency to get gummy and mushy when thawed.
Don’t have rigatoni pasta? You can substitute it with other similar short pasta shapes. Just pick a pasta that has a similar cooking time as the penne (about 11-12 minutes recommended on the package) — otherwise you’ll need to adjust the casserole’s baking time in the oven.
Stir in some veggies. If your kids like peas, zucchini, sliced mushrooms, or frozen broccoli, stir that into the dish as well! If you’re using a larger vegetable with a longer cooking time (like broccoli), you may want to steam the vegetables first before adding to the dish. For something small like frozen peas, you can just add them (still frozen) straight to the baking dish towards the end of the cooking time.
Nutrition varies based on the ingredients used.