How to Soften Overly Hard Bread
When that loaf you picked up from the bakery the other day has because hard as a brick, it doesn't necessarily mean it's time to toss it. Crusty artisan breads, such as French and Italian baguettes and sourdough loaves, are notorious for drying out and getting very hard relatively quickly. This happens even when it's tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or foil. In most cases, however, even the hardest bread can be revived and softened with the help of heat in the oven or microwave.
Things You'll Need
- Paper towels
- Aluminum foil
In the Microwave
-
Dampen a a few sheets of paper towels. They should be sufficiently damp but not dripping wet.
-
Wrap the hard bread in a damp towel and place it in the microwave.
-
Microwave the wrapped bread in 10- to 15-second intervals until the bread has softened. Check the bread for softness in between each heating session. Remove the bread as soon as it feels sufficiently soft, as overcooking in the microwave could cause the bread to harden further.
In the Oven
-
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
-
Lightly wet the surface of the bread all over with your hands, then wrap it loosely in aluminum foil.
-
Place the wrapped bread in the oven to heat for about 10 minutes, until the bread is soft and hot. Eat it while it's still hot.
Previous:Baking in the 1950s
Baking Basics
- What all cooking oils start with the letter C?
- How to Mix All-Purpose Flour With Bread Flour
- How to Reheat Monkey Bread
- How to Bake Bread in the Oven (5 Steps)
- Can you use baking powder to make gravy instead of flour?
- Baking With Unpasteurized Cream
- Light rye flour versus dark flour?
- Do you cover haddock to bake?
- What flour can replace hong kong flour?
- Can you use plain flour rather than strong for pizza?
Baking Basics
- Bakeware
- Baking Basics
- Baking Techniques
- Cooking Techniques
- Cooking Utensils
- Cookware
- Easy Recipes
- Green
- Produce & Pantry
- Spices
