How to Soften Hard Bread

Welcome to my worst nightmare: I prepared my favorite dip for a potluck party, and, as I’m getting ready to leave, I discover that my beautifully soft baguette became rock hard overnight. My mind is racing with all the ways I can repurpose a stale loaf of bread by making croutons or breadcrumbs, but I need ready-to-eat slices of bread now!

Thankfully this nightmare scenario doesn’t have to end with me buying a new loaf on my way to the party. That’s because we know a hack for how to soften hard bread. And it really couldn’t be easier! This simple technique will save even the crunchiest of bread, transforming that forgotten loaf into like-new slices. Once you know how to revive stale bread, you’ll want to tell your friends—and you’ll be the lifesaver of the party!

How to Soften Hard Bread

Step 1: Wet the loaf

I know this seems counterintuitive—won’t wetting the bread make it soggy?—but trust us: You actually do want to stick that loaf of bread underneath the kitchen faucet. Turn on the water so it’s running in a slow, steady stream (it doesn’t matter if the water is hot or cold). Position the cut side of the loaf away from you and run the stale loaf of bread under the running water. The goal is to moisten the crust without getting too much water on the interior.

Step 2: Bake it

Preheat the oven to 300ºF and place the moistened loaf directly on the rack. The low temperature will heat the water, causing the bread to steam inside the crust. After 5 minutes, give the loaf a gentle squeeze. You’re looking for a crunchy-crusted bread that has some give when you compress it. You may need to bake the bread for up to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the loaf and how much water it absorbed.

Step 3: Enjoy your like-new bread!

Just like that, your bread is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside!

Now that you know how to soften hard bread, you’ll never have to throw away a stale loaf again! Use your revived bread to make sandwiches, use it for appetizers or serve it up with your favorite compound butter or spread. And if you’re ready for a fresh loaf, put your skills to the test by making your own basic homemade bread.