• This easy, 2-ingredient method transforms stale bread into crispy, flavorful croutons in minutes.
  • Garlic olive oil spray adds instant flavor, but the croutons are endlessly customizable.
  • It’s a simple way to reduce food waste and make salads more delicious and crunchy.

Eating an entire loaf of bread before it goes stale sounds ideal, but not always realistic. Especially in my household of two—the loaf I’ve baked or grabbed at the market hardens before I get to have it in my morning toast or afternoon sandwich.

Potential food waste hates to see me coming, and when I was prepping stuffing for Thanksgiving a few years ago, I realized that I could be turning all of my old bread into salad croutons (it’s the same step of cutting stale bread for stuffing). No more throwing away half-eaten loaves on the regular. Of course, this crouton method also works for fresh bread, should you need a quick salad topper.

My crouton-making ritual takes just minutes—it’s so easy I can do it while multitasking. It also makes salads more delicious, crunchy, and nutritious (homemade croutons are certainly lower in sodium and other additives than store-bought). By coating my stale bread cubes with garlic oil, then baking them, I infuse flavor, fill my kitchen with a savory aroma, and have croutons ready in the time it takes to toss together a salad. They also stay well in sealed jars for weeks.

Here’s my simple method:

How to turn stale bread into crispy, flavorful croutons

1. Heat your oven or toaster oven to 350°F.

Sliced bread on a cutting board with a knife.

2. Slice bread that’s too stale to enjoy as toast into 1/2-inch-thick slices, then cut into cubes. Alternatively, you can tear the bread into roughly the same dimensions for a more rustic shape.

Cubed pieces of bread scattered on a dark surface.

3. Arrange the bread cubes in a single layer on a sheet tray. Spray with cooking oil, preferably olive oil. I like Colavita Garlic Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil Spray, which is easy to spray and coat the croutons, and adds a nice, but not too strong, roasted garlic flavor that’s great in so many salads.

Garlic-flavored olive oil spray beside croutons.

4. Bake, tossing croutons on the sheet tray halfway through, until golden brown and no longer soft, about 15 minutes. The cook time may differ depending on the age and density of your bread. If they feel too soft, bake for another couple of minutes.

5. Remove the croutons from the baking sheet and allow to cool. Use immediately or store in a tightly sealed jar for up to two weeks.

Toasted bread cubes in a baking tray.

Easy ways to customize homemade croutons

Homemade croutons are super malleable and adaptable to your palate.

Switch up the oil: If you don’t like garlic, try another flavored cooking spray or use plain olive oil in an oil spray bottle so the croutons can take on whatever flavors you want to highlight in your salad.

Add some heat: Toss or drizzle the croutons with chili oil or chili crisp before baking for a spicy kick.

Season to taste: After spraying with oil, sprinkle on black pepper, paprika, oregano, or any dried herbs and spices you like.