Homemade Croutons - 4 ingredients! Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep homemade croutons crispy? ›

We recommend flash-freezing the croutons on a baking sheet until solid, then transferring the frozen croutons to an airtight freezer bag. Store them frozen for up to 1 month and thaw them in the fridge. You may wish to place your defrosted croutons into the oven for a few minutes to crisp them up again before serving.

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.

How long do 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.

Croutons: Yes, you can freeze them! Cube stale bread and toast it for a few minutes. Then, place the croutons into a resealable freezer bag and stow in the freezer. You can also freeze the uncooked bread cubes and toast them at a later time.

Get that oven preheated to 400 degrees. Cut up your bread, toss it with oil, and season with whatever spices you want. Make sure they're all coated and tossed, and then pop them in the oven. I start with eight minutes, and if they need more time, then I'll add it.

If a recipe calls for dry bread crumbs but you don't have any on hand, use packaged croutons. Place them in a resealable bag and smash them with a rolling pin. Crumbs made from seasoned croutons add extra flavor!

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.

Is it OK to eat croutons by itself? ›

Yes, you really can eat croutons as a snack. Just open the bag and pop them in your mouth.

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

For the best croutons, seek out a crusty loaf of bread with great flavor. I love to use my favorite whole grain sourdough from our local bakery. French bread works very well. You could even use a loaf of rye bread or homemade cornbread if its unique flavors will complement your meal.

The ingredient typically not found in a classic Caesar salad is Iceberg lettuce. A traditional Caesar salad, made primarily of romaine lettuce, doesn't include iceberg lettuce. It may vary in different recipes.

Keep crispy stuff and cheesy stuff off

Since a salad is typically a high-moisture dish, it's best to keep anything crispy or cheesy off until serving. Crispy items such as croutons or fried wontons will become soggy and cheese will become soft.