Love to eat baguettes? If so, chances are that you are often annoyed that the freshness of a baguette can be easily reduced if you don't use it right away, despite its size. Therefore, if you know that the baguette will not be used immediately, try wrapping it in aluminum foil and then storing it at room temperature, or freezing it so that the baguette can still be consumed for a maximum of 3 months. If you haven't finished your bread even though it's in a musty condition, apply some of the tips outlined in this article to make the most of it!
Step
Method 1 of 2: Storing Baguettes Properly
Step 1. Consume the baguette immediately after it is purchased or baked
Because they are so thin and flat in texture, French baguettes can turn musty quickly. Therefore, try as much as you can to eat the baguette on the same day as the date of purchase or manufacture.
If you buy a baguette that is still warm, wrapped in a paper bag or plastic bag, don't forget to remove the wrapper so that the baguette is not damp and has a too soft texture
Step 2. Wrap the baguette in aluminum foil
First, tear a piece of aluminum foil, then place the baguette in the middle. Then, fold both sides of the foil to cover the surface of the baguette, and tuck the ends of the foil under the baguette so that there is no room for air to enter.
If you want to freeze a baguette, don't forget to slice it lengthwise before wrapping it
Tips:
Remember, baguettes should be at room temperature or cool when wrapped. In other words, don't wrap the baguette while it's still warm, as the hot steam trapped in the aluminum foil can make the baguette go stale faster.
Step 3. Store the baguettes at room temperature for up to 1 day
Place the baguette on the kitchen counter and try to finish it within 1 day. Don't store baguettes in the refrigerator so they don't get soggy and harden faster.
Step 4. Freeze the wrapped baguette for up to 3 months
If the baguette won't go away right away, try wrapping it in aluminum foil and placing it in the freezer. After that, stick a label with the date of storage on the surface of the package so you can monitor the expiration date.
Instead of freezing a whole baguette, try slicing it into pieces, then wrapping and freezing them in individual portions
Method 2 of 2: Making Use of a Musty Baguette
Step 1. Moisten the baguette and heat it in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes
Prepare a musty baguette and rinse the bottom with water. After that, put the baguette in a preheated oven at 204 degrees Celsius, then bake for 10 minutes. If the baguette is still frozen, you will most likely need to heat it for about 15 minutes.
Wetting a baguette is effective in making the texture more moist. As a result, the moisture will evaporate in the oven and make the surface texture of the baguette crisp again afterwards
Step 2. Slice the slightly musty baguette to make a delicious plate of toast
First, thinly slice the baguette with a very sharp knife, then bake the baguette slices in a toaster until they are slightly crunchy in texture. If you don't have a toaster, arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet and broil under the broiler until lightly browned. Once one side of the baguette is cooked, bake the other side until it reaches the desired texture and color.
If you don't feel like eating toast, grate the baguette or process the baguette pieces in a food processor to turn them into breadcrumbs
Step 3. Cut the baguette into cubes and turn it into croutons or toast
Use a very sharp knife to dice the musty baguette to the size you want. Then, arrange the baguette pieces on a baking sheet and brush the top with olive oil. After that, bake the bread until the texture is crisp and the color turns golden brown.
Croutons can be mixed with chopped tomatoes and cucumbers to make a delicious bowl of lettuce. Add a drizzle of olive oil and a vinegar dressing if you want to make classic panzanella lettuce
Variation:
If you don't have an oven, bread can also be baked on the stove. The trick, first melt the butter on a large iron skillet. After that, pour the slices of bread into the pan and bake until the texture and color are to your liking.
Step 4. Slice or tear the baguette to process it into a turkey filling or sauce
For a savory turkey filling, try mixing musty baguette slices with chicken stock, sautéed onions, various spices, and beaten egg. After that, put the stuffing into the turkey or pour it onto the baking sheet. Roast the turkey stuffing until it turns brown and the texture feels firmer.
If the stuffed dough is directly baked in the turkey, make sure the internal temperature of both the turkey and the stuffing has reached 74 degrees Celsius before removing it from the oven
Step 5. Slice or tear the baguette to turn it into a bread pudding
To make bread pudding, all you need to do is make a simple custard from a mixture of eggs, cream, and sugar. After that, arrange the sliced or torn baguettes on the baking sheet and pour the custard over the top. Let the baguette sit for 30 minutes to allow the custard to absorb well, then bake the bread for a maximum of 1 hour.
