Croutons are a versatile food that can add some crunch and flair to salads, soups, and dips. They’re very easy to make and an air fryer is the perfect method for making croutons at home.
In this article, we have two methods for making croutons and some tips to make the best croutons.
How To Make Croutons In An Air Fryer
There are several different ways to make croutons in an air fryer. We will show you a couple of different recipes.
Simple Croutons
This is one of the most straightforward ways to make croutons in an air fryer (Also check out How To Cook Asparagus In An Air Fryer). You only need two ingredients for this recipe!
Ingredients
- Two slices of bread (the recipe is best with sourdough that is a day old but can be made with other bread
- 1 teaspoon of olive oil
Step One
Cut the two slices of bread into small cubes. Once cut, put the cubes into a mixing bowl.
Step Two
Pour the olive oil into the mixing bowl. Use your hands to mix the oil onto the bread cubes, making sure that the oil is spread evenly and all of the bread is evenly coated.
Step Three
Put the bread cubes into your air fryer basket. Spread them out so they make only one layer and don’t pile them on top of each other.
Step Four
Set your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for three to five minutes. Make sure that you shake the bread in the basket every minute or so. This will ensure the bread is cooked to a golden crisp instead of being burnt (You might also want to check out How To Make French Toast Without Eggs).
Seasoned Croutons
Our next recipe for air fryer croutons includes a few seasonings to make the croutons more flavorsome. The number of ingredients will yield six servings.
Ingredients
- Four slices of bread
- One teaspoon of parsley flakes
- Half a teaspoon of garlic powder
- Half a teaspoon of seasoned salt
- Three tablespoons of melted unsalted butter
Step One
Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step Two
Cut your bread slices into cubes and place them into a large mixing bowl.
Step Three
Melt your unsalted butter and whisk in the parsley flakes, garlic powder, and salt. When mixed fully, pour the mixture over your bread cubes.
Make sure that all of the cubes are evenly coated with the seasoning and you can use your hands or a spatula to spread the seasoning.
Leave the bread for a couple of minutes so that the bread can absorb the butter mix.
Step Four
Put your bread cubes into your air fryer basket and cook them for around six minutes. After four minutes, toss and shake the cubes before continuing for the rest of the time.
Can I Use Stale Bread To Make Croutons?
Yes, you can! Stale bread is perfect for croutons and you don’t need to worry about using it for this purpose.
If your bread isn’t fresh enough for sandwiches then just slice it up and use it for croutons instead.
Just remember that although stale bread is suitable, moldy bread isn’t. If your bread has any mold on it, don’t use it for croutons.
Don’t be tempted to just cut off the mold parts and use the rest either. The best thing to do with bread that has turned moldy is to throw it away as mold is a sign that it’s no longer fit for consumption.
Tips For Making The Perfect Air Fryer Croutons
If you follow the steps we detailed in our two recipes for air fryer croutons, you’re sure to get great croutons every time.
However, we do have some more tips that will help you make sure that your croutons are perfect regardless of the recipe you use.
Use The Right Bread
You can use any type of bread for croutons, however, some types of bread will work better than others.
We’re firm in the belief that there are no bad croutons but even we have to agree that some are more delicious than others.
Typically, thick cut sourdoughs work the best. This can be white sourdough, wholegrain, rye, or any other flavor.
The thickness of the bread means that it absorbs any seasoning better and will get crispier.
We also prefer using bread that is a day or two past its best for this reason, also.
Shake The Croutons
As you cook the croutons in the air fryer, make sure you take the time to give them a shake throughout the cooking process.
This will ensure that the croutons don’t get stuck together and will ensure that the air gets an equal chance to circulate around all of the croutons.
This will give you a batch of croutons that are evenly golden and crispy instead of a mix of burnt and undercooked ones.
Don’t Stack Them
Like most foods cooked in an air fryer, you shouldn’t stack your croutons. Cook them in single layers and if this means you need to cook a few batches, then this is what you should do.
Air fryers work by circulating air around the food but if the food is stacked and layered, air can’t circulate around them correctly.
How To Store Croutons
Croutons are best consumed when fresh, but they can be kept and eaten later if you want to store them.
Generally, homemade croutons will last longer than ones bought in a store and they can last for a long time.
You should keep them in an airtight container and place them in a cool and dry place. We would recommend a plastic or glass container or zip lock bag.
They don’t need to be refrigerated or frozen, either.
If kept as we instructed, there’s no reason why your croutons won’t last for a few months. If you allow air to get into the container, however, they won’t last anywhere near as long.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we gave two different recipes for making croutons in an air fryer. We hope you enjoy making delicious croutons!
Since my sister introduced me to vegan cooking four years ago, I have discovered so many delicious alternatives to the traditional meaty meals I used to eat.
Today I enjoy trying and making my own vegan-friendly alternatives. If my sister can do it, then so can I (and you can, too). It is easier than you may think, promise!
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