I don’t think there’s any denying that groceries are expensive right now, so it pains me to throw away unused food. (Yes, even that almost-stale bread sitting in my cabinet.)
If you’re like me, looking for cheap and easy ways to keep your kids fed, and you want to be resourceful, here are the best ways to use up that almost-stale bread.
Grilled Cheese
Slightly stale bread is the perfect contender for grilled cheese. I keep mine super simple: I butter the outside of two pieces of bread, plop a slice of cheese in the middle, and cook on a preheated griddle pan until each side of the bread is browned, and the cheese is melted.
Grilled cheese is perfect for a quick lunch or even dinner when you don’t feel like cooking. It’s cheap, easy, and a great way to use up your aging bread. My kids range in age from 7 to 15, and they all like this simple meal.
(Pro tip: If you have young, very picky eaters, cut your grilled cheese with a cookie cutter to make it look more appetizing. 😉 )
French Toast
We went camping a couple of weeks ago and came back with about double the amount of bread we usually have. To use it all up, I made breakfast for dinner, which included a big batch of French toast.
The great thing about using your old bread to make French toast is that you can freeze the excess and then pop it in the microwave in the morning for a fast breakfast.
Like everything I make, my French toast recipe is simple:
- Whisk together a couple of eggs, a dash of milk, and a pinch of cinnamon
- Preheat a griddle on your stove (Spray with cooking spray right before you add your french toast)
- Dip each side of your bread into the egg mixture and then transfer to the griddle
- Cook for a couple minutes on each side or until browned
Toast and All the Varieties
Speaking of breakfast for dinner, eggs and toast is always a hit. Other ways to incorporate toast into one of your meals include oats and toast, toasted egg sandwiches, or plain toast dressed up with butter, sugar, or jelly.
Breadcrumbs for Meatballs or Meatloaf
I never buy store-bought bread crumbs for my meatloaf or meatballs. Instead, I use plain oats as a binder or make my own breadcrumbs by over-toasting a couple of pieces of bread.
To make your breadcrumbs, place your stale bread in the toaster. Once it pops out, tear it into small pieces.
Stuffing (If You Need a Side Dish for Supper)
Stuffing isn’t a huge hit with any of my kids, although my husband and I enjoy it. While I usually reserve bread stuffing for Thanksgiving, it also makes for a nice way to use up extra bread that’s about to go bad.
One of my favorite bread stuffing recipes is this one from Spending with Pennies. It calls for bread, chicken broth, celery, and onions.
