Pulled out some stale bread from pantry. My mother-in-law says it’s wasteful not to use it, but it looks bad to me. What should I do?

Absolutely! Here’s an article addressing what to do with stale bread and how to make the most of it:

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## Pulled Out Some Stale Bread from the Pantry: What Should You Do?

It’s a common dilemma: you open your pantry, spot some stale bread, and immediately think it’s past its prime and ready for the trash. But your mother-in-law insists it’s wasteful to throw it away and encourages you to find ways to use it. Who’s right? And more importantly, **what should you do with stale bread?**

Let’s dive into why stale bread isn’t necessarily “bad” and explore **easy, delicious ways to put it to good use** instead of tossing it out.

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### Why Is Bread Stale?

First, a quick science lesson: bread goes stale not because it’s moldy or spoiled (though that does happen eventually), but because the moisture inside the bread migrates and the starch molecules recrystallize. This makes the bread hard and dry but **still safe to eat** if it’s not moldy or smelling off.

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### Signs You Should NOT Use Stale Bread

* Visible mold spots
* Unpleasant or sour smell
* Slimy or overly dry and crumbly beyond repair

If any of these are present, it’s safer to discard the bread. But if it’s just dry or hard, **there’s plenty you can do!**

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### 5 Smart and Tasty Ways to Use Stale Bread

#### 1. Make Homemade Breadcrumbs

Simply toast the stale bread until dry and crisp, then blitz it in a food processor. Fresh breadcrumbs are perfect for coating chicken, topping casseroles, or mixing into meatballs.

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