We’ve all been there. Bought that loaf of bread on Friday (perhaps from Christies Bakery?) with plans to use it all up over the weekend. Side of bread with pasta for dinner on Friday, avocado toast for breakfast on Saturday, sandwich for lunch, and use the rest on Sunday. But one thing leads to another and you still have bread left. And now it isn’t as perfect as it was when you first bought the loaf. There’s no need to fret! Because bread is so versatile, even if it’s past its prime. Here’s some ways to use up your bread and not let it go to waste:

• We’ll start with a little tip. If your bread is very dry, give it a quick wash with water and pop it in a 350° oven for a few minutes. You won’t get rid of the stale taste of the bread, but you will breathe a little life into the loaf and make it easier to work with. 

• Toast
• Okay, this may be cheating, but if your bread is only a little dried out you can still slice it up and pop it in the toaster. From there, what you put on top is up to you.

• Bruschetta
• A classic Italian antipasto, or appetizer, bruschetta is slices of grilled or toasted bread topped with a delicious combination of garlic and tomatoes. Thin slices of a baguette work great, but use whatever you need to get rid of.

• Grilled Cheese
• No need to explain this one, we’ve all had a grilled cheese at least once. If you like your sammie leaning more on the crispy side of things, using a couple stale slices will only take the crunch to the next level.

• French Toast
• A stale and harder slice of bread will be able to soak up your egg mixture with no risk of getting soggy. Add a little fruit and bacon to it and you have yourself a fancy, little breakfast, stale bread be damned!

• Croutons
• We’re already making this easy recipe even easier! The first step to making croutons is to dry out your bread a little bit, and we’re already there! With how easy it is to make croutons, you’ll never go back to store-bought again.

• Stuffing
• This one may be a bit more seasonal, but just like croutons, a good stuffing starts with dry bread. And who says we need to just have stuffing alongside our holiday turkeys anyway!

• Bread Pudding
• Another recipe that uses dry bread! Just like french toast, stale bread soaks up the custardy mixture without falling apart. And depending on what ingredients are used, you can turn it into a savory or sweet dish.
• Breadcrumbs
• Much like croutons, breadcrumbs will always taste better when you make them yourself. If you don’t have a need for them immediately, you can always freeze them for use later. Below are some dishes that utilize breadcrumbs, if you needed some ideas.

• Meatballs
• Your homemade breadcrumbs are only going to enhance your meatballs. And to turn them from a side dish into a meal, add them to some pasta with a tomato sauce. 

• Meatloaf
• The same rules apply here, just don’t add your meatloaf to a plate of spaghetti! Or do, who are we to tell you what you can and cannot cook!

• Hamburgers
• Ditto for your burger patties, though we do recommend using these with buns and not pasta.

• Baked Pasta Topping
• Easy one to think of is mac n’ cheese. A good dish is never complete without being tossed in the oven with a topping of bread crumbs. Even simpler, throwing them on top of a box of KD will make you feel a little more sophisticated.