Croutons from scratch?
All the recipes I've known for croutons required pre-made bread, fresh or old. Do restaurants always use pre-made bread as well? Is there ever a case for making croutons from scratch, and what would be a basic recipe?
Best Answer
I can't speak for all restaurants, but those where I've been served obviously home made croutons also served similar bread with other dishes. Bread is cheap and readily available. Why would a restaurant bother doing anything more difficult? If you can get day old bread from a bakery it's even better, because that's really cheap, and works at least as well as fresh
As for making them from scratch, I would indeed start by making a loaf of proper - yeast-based - bread (I like soda bread but the texture doesn't work here and it would fall to bits).
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How do you keep homemade croutons crispy?
To keep croutons crispy, make sure they are properly stored!How long do homemade croutons stay fresh?
Depending on how dry and crisp your croutons are, they will last for up to a week in an airtight container, but will be at their best for the first two days. You can refresh them in the oven for a few minutes to crisp up again if you like.Are croutons just stale bread?
Technically, you can use any loaf of bread to make croutons\u2014whether it's fresh or stale! Croutons are a great way to make use of stale bread, as is French toast. You could even make croutons out of sandwich bread.How do croutons stay crunchy?
Store croutons in an airtight container or zip-lock bag on the counter. Line the container or bag with a paper towel to soak up extra moisture and keep the croutons crispy. If using a bag, remove as much air as possible before sealing it. You can also freeze croutons for longer term storage.How to Make Croutons - Garlic Parmesan Croutons Recipe
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Answer 2
Most restaurants will use the bread that have not been served on the day's service as the source for their croutons.
I've seen restaurants at the end of the shift, slice left-over baguettes and put them in the oven for the next day service.
The bread can be home-made or bought from a bakery; either way it does not make a difference in the end product.
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