Something is amazing about fresh bread, but it is also the most commonly wasted food in the UK. Food waste is becoming a global crisis problem, and here at Earth and Wheat, we like to use our loaf (excuse the pun) and come up with great ideas to prevent bread from being thrown away. Our bread box food deliveries are perfect in the battle to make food waste a thing of the past. Some people are worried that when they order, they will end up with so much bread it will end up wasted, but our customers will tell you that rarely happens. But, if you are concerned, here are some great ways to reduce the risk and help you get the most from your delivery of fresh bread.
Store It Well
Did you know that bread should never be kept in a fridge? No matter what type of bread you have, keeping it in the refrigerator accelerates the process of drying it out. That means it goes stale a lot quicker. Bread from a bakery does have a shorter shelf life which is why you will often find it sold in paper bags. This isn't just about sustainable packaging. It's the perfect way to store it as it prevents it from drying out. Supermarket type bread will live quite happily at room temperature in the original packaging, or you could take a few slices and pop them in the freezer for later.
Stale Bread
If you are guilty of grabbing bread in the morning, finding it slightly stale and popping it in the food waste, it's time to learn a new trick. Instead, sprinkle your bread with a bit of water and then pop it in a hot oven for about 10 minutes. You'll find it perks up lovely. Alternatively, you can turn it into breadcrumbs perfect for creating Scotch eggs, breaded fish, chicken parmigiana and plenty of other dishes. All you need to do is pop your bread in the oven until it's firm and then transfer it to your food processor for a quick blitz. Perhaps you love a good soup in the winter for lunch, you could also make croutons, and in the summer, they are perfect for salads. Take your bread, and brush both sides with either olive oil or butter, chop it into small squares, pop them on a baking sheet and cook in the oven for about 15 minutes at 175 degrees. Once your croutons have called down, pop in an airtight container until you're ready to go.
Think Outside the (Bread) Box
Finally, remember that bread doesn't just have to be for sandwiches and toast. Right and butter pudding is one of the tastiest desserts, it's easy to make, and it's even better with slightly stale white bread. But for a twist, you can use any bread you have leftover. You can add additional flavours with dried cranberries, chocolate chips, raisins, or even seeds. French toast is a beautiful weekend breakfast; soak your bread in pre beaten eggs that have had cream or milk added and then fry it until golden brown. It can be savoury with parmesan, salt and pepper and parsley or sweet with peanut butter or all chocolate spread.