Everybody loves French toast. It is a delicious breakfast that is easy to make and popular around the world.
However, as our lives get busier, you may be wondering whether it is possible to cook and then store this dish.
This guide will help you to:
- Know whether you can cook French toast in advance.
- Understand how long you can store it in the fridge and freezer.
- Reheat French toast to the point where it is almost as delicious as when it was first cooked.
The answer to “can you cook it in reserve and how long does French toast last in the fridge?” is simple. Yes, I have been doing it for years and if the right preparation is in place, you can store the dish chilled, and it should be fine for about four to five days.
However, if you want to know the varying factors around best practice, with storage, reheating and a little bit about the history of this iconic meal, then read on as this article will give you an insight.
French Toast Around the World
The fact that different cultures around the world use different names for it is a testament to its popularity.
Eggy bread, torrijas, Spanish toast, German toast and nun’s toast are just a few of the monikers used for the simple recipe of bread that is dipped in whisked eggs and then fried. The title we are most familiar with, and the one that appears in the title of this article, first appeared in the Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink all the way back in 1871.
An obvious question some of you may be asking is, “what do they call French Toast in France?”. The answer is pain perdu, which roughly translates to “lost bread”.
The French would traditionally make this dish with the bread from the previous day. In doing this, they were preventing waste and ensuring that there was literally no “lost bread”.
Of course, like any good dish, there are many different ways to cook and prepare this delicious meal. Some people add fruits and syrups, while some pair it with more savory items, such as sausages.
For some, it is as simple as frying a single whipped egg into a piece of bread until there is a golden-brown color and crisp texture.
A Family Favorite
If you need to find your own inspiration, then you should check out the video below. It provides some excellent French toast recipes.
Whatever recipe you choose, there is no doubt that this is a delicious meal and an excellent option for breakfast, or any other meal.
As a family favorite, it is a dish that is an incredibly popular breakfast with both adults and children. However, as every parent knows, having the time to cook in the morning is a luxury you don’t always have.
That is why many of us cook our meals in batches, allowing for us to simply reheat them when the occasion calls for it. Since you are reading this article, there is a good chance that you are wondering whether or not this is possible with French toast.
The good news is that you can pre-cook this dish and store it in the fridge for a later date. However, since it is made of perishable food, it won’t last forever.
So, how long does French toast last in the fridge and can I cook it in reserve?
Can You Cook It in Reserve and How Long Does French Toast Last in the Fridge?
Comedian Rodney Dangerfield said,
“I once went out with this wild girl. She made French toast and got her tongue caught in the toaster”.
If your ability to cook is akin to the lady in Dangerfield’s story, then maybe ordering-in your breakfast is your best option.
However, if you are more capable in the kitchen, then you are probably wondering whether or not you can cook your breakfast ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until you are ready to eat it.
After all, this is a dish the French made to avoid waste, so it makes sense that you would try to do the same.
It is estimated that we waste around 1.4 billion tons of food every year globally. Asides from you missing out on a delicious meal, that is another reason you should make sure you don’t leave your French toast in the fridge past its point of edibility.
As food author Tristram Stuart says,
“Cutting food waste is a delicious way of saving money, helping to feed the world and protect the planet”.
Batter Or Cooked?
How long your French toast lasts obviously depends on how you store it. By using a zip lock bag, or a quality plastic container, your leftovers will last that little bit longer.
It also depends on what stage you are putting the French toast into the fridge. For instance, if you are putting the batter mix in, it will only last around 24 hours.
However, if you have already cooked the dish, you will get a different result.
Fridge Or Freezer?
The FDA Food Code has said that all perishable foods that are opened or prepared should be thrown out after seven days, maximum.
Providing everything is done right, your French toast should last about four to five days in the fridge.
You can freeze French toast and although this method isn’t for everybody, some people do it. For instance, the popular food blog stilltasty.com discussed this and reckon it is an entirely fine item to batch cook.
Their guidance gives the following steps:
(Firstly), place a sheet of wax paper between each slice of French toast. (Then) wrap the French toast stack tightly in aluminum foil or place inside a heavy-duty freezer bag and freeze. (After which, you can) use the frozen French toast within 1 to 2 months for best quality.
How to Reheat French Toast
Microwaving French toast can leave your bread soggy and without flavor. Your best option for reheating this dish is to use either a toaster or an oven.
The first option allows you to simply pop the stored bread in, wait for it to be completely warm and crisp and then enjoy. These toasters here offer a great option for reheating this dish.
While the second is a little more complex. For the oven, you should place the French toast in single layers on a cookie sheet and bake for about eight minutes at 375°F.
If you decide to go the toaster route, then you should be careful not to burn the bread. It is an obvious, yet common mistake because most people don’t know how toaster timers work. In this article, you can become more informed in this regard.
Useful Resources:
- French Toast: The History of the Creamy Toast and Its ‘Supposed’ French Connection
- The problem of food waste
Enjoying Your Lost Bread
Those of you asking ‘how long does French toast last in the fridge’ now know that you can enjoy this meal for around five days after you cook it.
That is just one more reason why it is an incredibly popular dish around the world. This is also because of its wonderful flexibility and delicious taste.
Although the French may refer to it as “lost bread”, it is unlikely to ever be a lost recipe!
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