I’ve always wondered why many people seem to discard the heels of a bread loaf. They taste the same as the other pieces, and you paid for them too, so why not use them? I have found several ways to use to the heels instead of simply discarding them.
The easiest way, if you have someone in your family who doesn’t mind them and is willing to eat them, is to use them on sandwiches as you would any of the other slices. If no one will accept the heels, there are other ways to avoid throwing them out.
If you’re like my family, which goes through several loaves of bread per week, then you’ll find yourself accumulating several heels per week. Everyone in my household leaves the two little heels in the bread bag, and I find them nestled in the breadbox with the newly opened loaf. After a while they start taking up space, so this is the time to find another use for them.
Heels of bread make great French toast. After soaking the bread in the egg mixture, cooking it, and slathering it with butter and syrup, no one will even realize it’s a heel. Another tasty use for the heels is to make garlic bread from them. Melt your butter or margarine, add some salt and garlic (dried minced garlic, or freshly pressed cloves, or even garlic powder all work nicely), then heat on low in small saucepan. Line a baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup, and place sliced heel pieces onto sheet. Pour butter mixture over bread pieces, making sure to stir often to get garlic pieces spread evenly on each slice. Place cookie sheet into preheated oven, and bake until crisp. Garlic bread goes great with many different dishes, so be creative, while using those heels instead of wasting them.
Last but not least, an obvious choice, bread crumbs. You can toast the heels until crisp, but not burned, then cut into small pieces and roll with rolling pin, or place into food processor to make crumbs. Collect your crumbs and place in air tight storage container for storing. Next time you need bread crumbs for cooking, or breading , you will have a ready supply. You may also season your own breadcrumbs to taste. You’ll always have a supply waiting the next time you want to make fried zucchini, fried chicken, or when you need a filler for your meatloaf recipe.
Now you will get what you paid for out of your bread purchases, while providing your family with tasty meals and appetizers. Heels can be good for something, so try to think of ways to use them up and make the most out of your food dollars.