Homemade Croutons by Airfryer

I love croutons but they are really expensive.   I mean, how much can a loaf of stale bread cost?  In some Western countries, they sell their perishables at a greatly discounted price for those near expiring dates.  In Singapore, I only know Cold Storage is doing similar.

I do buy croutons on very rare occasions, but I prefer to make my own.  Not only is it cheaper to make, you can control the ingredients and flavour.  I make mine with unsalted butter and olive oil, but you could always substitute with whatever margarine/oil you have at home.

Some people like to remove the crust but not for me.  My kids love the crust because it gets extra crispy.

Before I bought the Airfryer, I used to bake it in the oven, which takes around 10 -  15 mins @ 180C.  Then I saw Wendy's version, I tried but I need to be at the stove to toss and stir constantly to prevent them from getting charred.  I experimented with the Airfryer and it took me approx.5 mins to get it done.  Fret not if you do not own one, like I've said, you could always bake it in the oven, or try out Wendy's pan method.

Making croutons is really easy, just cube some stale bread (here I'm using Farmer Rye), toss in melted butter/olive oil to coat well.

Nice crispy homemade croutons!

Homemade Croutons

Ingredients

Some stale bread

Butter (I used unsalted but you can use salted if you like)

Olive oil (optional)

Method

1. Preheat Airfryer for 2 -  3 mins @ 120C - 140C.  You can always use a higher temperature and cut down on the cooking time but my suggestion is not to go beyond 160C if you are using the Airfryer (for oven, I used 180C for 10 - 15 mins).
   Cube some stale bread to desired size.
2. Toss in melted butter and olive oil until well coated.
3. Pour in cubed bread and cook for 2-3 mins.
4. Toss and fry for another 2 -  3 mins.
5. Cool completely and store in airtight container (I didn't use airtight as it usually doesn't last for more than 2 days)

For pan version, check out Wendy's blog  here