Use Old Hamburger Buns

Make croutons from stale buns and add them to salads or soups.

Hamburger buns usually come in packages of eight, and if you have a small family, chances are you won't use them all in one go. You can freeze the extra, but freezing bread products sometimes leaves you with dried-out stale buns once defrosted. If you choose not to freeze them, they'll be stale in a few days anyway. Old hamburger buns have a number of uses, most of which are easy to execute.

Instructions

1. Make croutons by mixing extra-virgin olive oil with salt, pepper and seasonings in a small bowl. Some good choices for seasoning croutons are fresh or dried herbs, especially thyme and rosemary, and grated Parmesan cheese. Cut the top arch off the hamburger buns, and then brush the seasoned oil all over the tops, bottoms and sides. Cut the buns into small cubes and put on a parchment-lined baking tray. Place them in a preheated 300-degree-Fahrenheit oven until lightly toasted.

2. Make breadcrumbs by first placing the buns on a baking sheet in a 300-degree-Fahrenheit oven. Remove them when the buns are dry and lightly browned. Allow the buns to cool, and then tear them into one-inch pieces. Place the pieces in a food processor and blend until you reach the desired consistency.

3. Make stuffing by combining 1/4-inch cubes of stale hamburger buns with butter, broth and seasonings, such as salt, pepper and sage. Add nuts, fruit or vegetables, if desired. Stuff the mixture into the cavity of a chicken or turkey, or wrap a cut of meat around it and bake.

4. Make French toast or a grilled cheese sandwich by cutting the top arch off the buns, and using the flattened pieces.

5. Make garlic toast with old hamburger buns to go with pasta or salad. Mince some garlic, mix it in softened butter and spread it on the insides of the buns. Place the buns in a preheated 450-degree-Fahrenheit oven until lightly toasted.

6. Make a tuna melt by combining tuna, mayonnaise, vegetables and cheese and spreading it inside of the stale bun. Wrap the bun in foil, and place it in a preheated 400-degree-Fahrenheit oven for 15 minutes.

Tags: hamburger buns, 300-degree-Fahrenheit oven, buns with, hamburger buns with, lightly toasted, lightly toasted Make, Make croutons