French bread is an iconic staple in many cultures. Whether used for sandwiches, garlic toast, or just as a daily snack, French bread is an essential part of the dinner table.
Unfortunately, French bread can become hard and stale after a few days; however, it can be soft and delicious again with a few simple techniques. Read on to learn all about softening hard French bread!
Advantages of Softening Hard French Bread
When hard French bread is softened, it’s not just about making it easier to eat. The flavor can significantly improve when the loaf is revived.
Even if you’ve stocked up and have several loaves of hard French bread in the pantry, it’s totally worth investing in some of the following techniques to bring them back to life.
Methods of Softening Hard French Bread
There are three main methods for softening hard French bread: refreshing in the oven, soaking in water and microwaving with a wet paper towel.
Let’s take a look at each one.
Refreshing in the Oven
The first technique for softening hard French bread is refreshing it in the oven. To do this, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
Place your loaf of French bread onto the baking sheet and bake until it reaches an internal temperature of between 150-170 degrees Fahrenheit (for approximately eight minutes). When finished baking, remove from oven and let cool before serving or eating.
Soaking in Water
The second technique for softening hard French bread is soaking it in water. To do this, fill up your sink or large bowl with warm water (hot enough so that you can comfortably dip your hand into the water).
Place your loaf of French bread into the water and let soak for five to ten minutes before removing from water and allowing excess liquid to drip off before serving or eating.
Microwaving With a Wet Paper Towel
Finally, you can soften hard French bread by microwaving with a wet paper towel. To do this, wrap your loaf of French bread tightly in a wet paper towel and place on plate or shallow dish (for easy cleanup).
Microwave on high for one minute or until desired level of softness has been reached before serving or eating.
Conclusion
Hard French bread doesn’t have to stay that way forever! With these three easy-to-follow methods — refreshing in the oven, soaking in water and microwaving with a wet paper towel — you can give fresh life back to day-old loaves and make them delicious once again!
Not only will this save you money but also help preserve all that fresh flavor that makes us love our beloved baguettes so much.