Make the most of your bread!

Do you find yourself throwing out bread each week?  Sometimes just the ends and sometimes a whole loaf?  Do you find it annoying when you take up a supermarket offer discounting a second loaf of bread, but find you didn’t need it (or it goes off before you finish the first loaf).  Just as annoying are the weeks you don’t take up the offer and then find yourself having to go out and buy a second loaf later on in the week.  Trying to get it right each week can be frustrating.   Well there is no need to feel frustrated anymore.  Here are a few simple ideas showing you how to make the most of your bread for the least amount possible and how to avoid multiple trips to the supermarket!

Sustainable gift wrap course

1.       Freeze your bread

If there is a special offer on your favourite type of bread and/ or if you know that one loaf isn’t enough to last you the week but the extra loaf will go off before you can use it, take up the offer/ buy the bread you need and freeze the extra bread.  If it is sliced open the packet and arrange the slices so that they are in a diagonal position.  Once they are frozen, it will be far easier to separate the slices from each other than if they were frozen upright.  In fact you can bang the frozen loaf on the counter and the bread slices should separate out.  If the bread is not sliced, then cut it into slices and do as above.  

The bread is best frozen at its freshest, especially if you are going to make sandwiches. You can make your sandwiches with the bread still frozen.  You can make them the night before and keep them in the fridge overnight or you can also make them the next day and they will be defrosted by lunchtime.   If you don’t manage to freeze your bread at its freshest and it goes past it’s best (but isn’t mouldy), you can still freeze it as there are many recipes for bread which isn’t at its freshest.  You can of course use it straight away, but if you don’t have the time or need for it then and there it is still best to freeze it.

By freezing your bread, you will limit your trips to the supermarket (where it is so easy to end up spending more than you intended) and will be able to make full use of the bread you bought. You will save yourself money and there will be less waste.

2.       Use your day old bread in the following ways:

  • 1.       Toast
  • 2.       Melba toast
  • 3.       French bread
  • 4.       Fried bread
  • 5.       Croutons
  • 6.       Bread and butter pudding    

You can also turn your bread into breadcrumbs.  They can be used straight away or frozen for later.  Breadcrumbs can be used in many ways and there are just a few examples below:  

  • a.      As an ingredient in homemade burgers or meatballs
  • b.      As a pie topping, when mixed with cheese
  • c.      As an ingredient in stuffing
  • d.      As part of a coating for fish or poultry  

For more ideas and recipes detailing how to use up day old bread and other foods that aren’t at their freshest, have a look at Love Food Hate Waste. If you liked this post, I would really appreciate it if you click like on Facebook and follow on Twitter – Thanks!

Comments

  1. Pingback: Use Your Loaf! Don’t let these 6 foods go to waste again – Slim your bin

Comments are closed.