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What to Do With Leftover French Toast: Deliciousness That Never Ends

What to Do With Leftover French Toast: Deliciousness That Never Ends

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The more the merrier is the motto when making French toast. After all, it’s better to have leftovers of this tasty treat than to want more but not find any.

However, how do you store and reheat these leftovers while preserving their flavor? Better yet, how can you repurpose them into other delectable recipes?

In this article, we’ll show you exactly what to do with leftover French toast, as well as the best methods for storing and reheating it. Continue reading!

How to Store Leftover French Toast

It’s quite essential to learn how to properly store French toast. You see, this sweet treat will either retain its flavor or completely lose it, depending on how it was stored.

You have two options for storing French toast: refrigeration or freezing.

Regardless of which method you use, you must allow the French toast to cool completely at room temperature before storing it.

Simply place it on a wire rack for a couple of hours to allow all of the heat to escape.

If you put it in the refrigerator or freezer while it’s still warm, the heat will condense and make it mushy. That’s the last thing a French toast should be!

Now, let’s take a closer look at both storage methods:

1 – Refrigeration

Your French toast will stay fresh for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. All you need are the following three items:

  • Plastic wrap
  • Parchment paper
  • Airtight container

Begin by wrapping each piece of French toast in plastic wrap to keep the moisture in. Then, separate them in an airtight container using parchment paper.

By the way, if you used a regular container, the shelf life could be reduced to 1 day.

Airtight containers, or similar products, tightly seal their contents, reducing the possibility of air entering. As a result, food stays fresher for longer and is protected from bacterial growth.

2 – Freezing

You can freeze this tasty dish for up to 2 months. This storage method requires three items:

  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Freezer bag

Start by placing parchment paper on the baking sheet. After that, arrange the French toast slices separately on the baking sheet, and place them in the freezer.

Check after about 2 hours to see if all of the pieces are completely frozen. If so, take them out, place them in a freezer bag, and place the bag in the freezer.

Simply put, freezing the French toast beforehand will keep the slices from sticking to one another in the bag.

How to Reheat French Toast

We have three favorite techniques for reheating leftover French toast. When we say favorite, we mean the methods that didn’t significantly change the taste or texture of this treat.

That’s why microwaving isn’t on our list!

Of course, it’s quite practical to use the microwave when you’re pressed for time. However, you won’t experience that “creamy on the inside, slightly crispy on the outside” texture.

Instead, you’ll get mostly soft French toast, which if you don’t eat it right away, will dry out.

Without further ado, here are the best methods to reheat leftover French toast:

1 – On the Stove

Our go-to method is reheating on the stove. It quickly warms the French toast and makes it taste as if it’s freshly made! Here’s what you should do:

  • Preheat the skillet over medium heat
  • Grease the skillet with butter or cooking spray
  • Place the French toast slice in the skillet
  • Allow 1-2 minutes for both sides of the French toast to heat
  • Remove from the heat when it appears warm and crispy on the outside

2 – In the Oven

When you have a lot of leftover French toast to reheat at once, the oven is ideal for this task. To keep this delicacy from drying out in the oven, follow these steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350-400°F
  • Position a wire rack on a baking sheet
  • Wrap the French toast slices in foil and place them on the wire rack
  • Put the baking sheet in the oven for 5-10 minutes, depending on the storage method used
  • Take out the French toast pieces to unwrap them
  • Return the French toast to the oven for another 1-2 minutes to crisp up

3 – In the Air Fryer

An air fryer is a great substitute for a microwave. It reheats the French toast in no time while giving it a light crust. Here’s what to do:

  • Set the air fryer to 350°F
  • Arrange the French toast slices in the air fryer’s basket, spacing them out
  • Remove them after 3-4 minutes

What to Do With Leftover French Toast: 5 Creative Recipes

Here comes the fun part where we’ll transform leftover French toast into five scrumptious treats!

1 – Deep Fried Ice-Cream

Making deep-fried ice cream with regular white toast is already delicious. Imagine replacing this toast with French toast; the flavor is simply out of this world!

To prepare for this recipe, take a scoop of your favorite flavor of ice cream and place it in the freezer.

Next, reheat the French toast until it’s soft but not crispy before flattening it with a rolling pin.

Then, take out the scoop of ice cream and cover it with the flattened French toast. Finally, deep fry it and drizzle it with caramel, chocolate, or strawberry sauce when it’s done.

2 – Cinnamon Cereal

If you like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, you’ll love this homemade version even more!

Let the French toast defrost, or warm it up slightly, but not completely, using any of the reheating methods listed above. We just need them to be soft enough to cut into small cubes.

Following that, grease a skillet with butter and add the French toast cubes. Make sure to only add one layer of cubes so that they all get crunchy on both sides.

After flipping your cereal cubes and ensuring they’re completely crisp, place them in a bowl. Pour in the milk, sprinkle with cinnamon, and enjoy.

3 – Yogurt and Fruit Parfait

If you’re looking for a lighter or healthier way to use up your leftover French toast, this recipe is for you.

Adding an extra layer of French toast to a classic yogurt and fruit parfait is truly a game changer. This layer made both the consistency and flavor of the parfait richer.

Reheat your French toast and set it aside to cool while you cut some fruits.

We used strawberries, as well as blueberries in this recipe, and they were perfect. That said, you’re free to substitute them with other fruit of your choice.

Then, in a tall glass, place a layer of French toast, followed by vanilla nonfat yogurt, fruits, and granola for added crunch. Repeat this layering process to your liking, and that’s all there is to it!

4 – Sweet and Savory Sandwich

This recipe has everything you could wish for in a breakfast sandwich!

Begin by cooking some bacon as well as hash browns and setting them aside. While heating, the bacon releases its flavorful fats; keep it as is, and don’t throw it away.

Add some butter to the pan with the bacon grease and reheat the French toast in it.

The French toast will gain a hint of bacon flavor from soaking in the grease, transforming its flavor to perfectly complement this recipe.

While the toast cools, make an over-easy egg. Lastly, assemble all of the sandwich ingredients and devour!

5 – Cinnamon Apple Roll-Ups

If you have friends coming over and want to make a quick, yummy dessert, this cinnamon apple roll-ups recipe is the way to go.

Defrost or lightly reheat the French toast slices before flattening them with a rolling pin.

Cut some apples into small cubes, then place them in a saucepan with cinnamon and lemon juice to soften.

While the apple mixture cools, spread a thin layer of cream cheese on the toast.

After that, add some apples to each slice and roll them up, then place them in a buttered skillet to get some crunchiness.

Finish by sliding the rolls in a sugar-cinnamon mixture and serving with maple syrup as a dip.

Can You Eat French Toast That Was Sitting Out Overnight?

The short answer is no, it would be unsafe to do so.

To explain, eggs are a key ingredient in making French toast. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), cooked eggs or egg-based dishes should never be left out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours.

In fact, if the room temperature exceeds 90°F, the duration will be reduced to 1 hour.

This is because harmful bacteria grow faster in warm temperatures ranging from 40°F to 140°F.

So, throw out that French toast that was left out overnight; better safe than sorry!

Can You Get Food Poisoning From French Toast?

Yes, eating undercooked French toast, which translates to undercooked eggs, can cause food poisoning due to Salmonella contamination.

The majority of people who become ill as a result of Salmonella experience the following symptoms:

  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Stomach cramps

These symptoms may appear anywhere between 6 hours to 6 days after infection. They usually last 4-7 days before disappearing completely.

Final Thoughts

We hope you’re reading this section from your kitchen, now that you know what to do with leftover French toast!

As you can see, reusing leftovers of this mouthwatering treat is super easy. Yet, keep in mind that proper storage and reheating techniques are key to keeping this dessert tasty.

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