What Is French bread and How Can I Use It?

If french bread has turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use it with confidence and how to choose it, cook it, store it, what to substitute, and 203 recipes to try it in.

What is french bread?

French bread is a lean white loaf built on just flour, water, yeast, and salt, with no fat or sugar in the dough. That bare-bones recipe is exactly what gives it the crackly crust and open, chewy crumb people love.

Shape it long and thin and you have a baguette; bake it shorter and wider and you get the soft-centered loaf most American stores sell as French bread. Either way the appeal is the contrast: a shattering crust around a tender, airy inside.

Because it has no fat, it stales fast. A fresh loaf is at its best the day it is baked.

Ways to Use It

The crust is the whole reason to reach for this loaf. Slice it thick and grill or broil the cut faces, then rub with a raw garlic clove and spoon over tomato for bruschetta, or pile it high as in Garlic Cheese Bread.

Its sturdy crumb soaks up liquid without turning to mush, which is why it floats on French onion soup. A toasted slice topped with cheese is the lid on Homemade Onion Soup and Classic French Onion Soup.

It also makes a serious sandwich. The chew stands up to wet fillings without collapsing, the way it carries a Classic New Orleans Muffuletta.

For garlic bread, split a loaf lengthwise, brush the cut side with garlic butter, and bake at 400°F (200°C) for about 10 minutes until the edges crisp.

Crust, Crumb, and What Goes Wrong

A good loaf has a thin, crisp, deeply browned crust and a crumb full of irregular holes. The crackle comes from steam in the oven and a hot bake; that is why crusty bread is hard to reproduce in a home oven without adding moisture.

The biggest mistake is sealing a crusty loaf in plastic. The trapped moisture softens the crust to leather within hours. Store it in paper or a cloth bag and the crust stays crisp.

The second is letting it go stale and tossing it.

Day-old French bread is better for many uses than fresh, since it slices cleaner and holds its shape in soups and stuffing.

Substitutes

A baguette is the closest stand-in, just narrower, so adjust the number of slices. An Italian loaf works almost identically; it is usually a touch softer with a less assertive crust.

A sourdough batard brings the same chew with a tangy edge, good for toast and sandwiches. For a soft pull-apart effect, a ciabatta swaps in, though its very open crumb drops more crumbs.

Avoid soft sandwich bread as a swap when the crust is the point. It has the fat and sugar French bread lacks and simply will not crisp the same way.

Buying and Storing

Pick a loaf that feels light for its size with a crust that crackles when you squeeze it gently. A dull, soft crust means it has already started to stale or was steamed in its bag.

Eat fresh French bread within a day. To keep it longer, freeze it: wrap the loaf tightly in foil and freeze for up to three months, then reheat straight from frozen in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10 to 15 minutes to revive the crust.

Never refrigerate bread. The fridge speeds up staling, drying the crumb faster than the counter does. When a loaf finally goes stale and dry, turn it into croutons or breadcrumbs, or batter it for French toast, rather than the bin.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find french bread: French bread is usually found in the bakery section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: French bread is a member of the Baked Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

法国面包

British (UK) term

French bread

en français

pain français

en español

pan francés

How much does french bread weigh?

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Baked Products

Recipes using french bread

There are 203 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Smoked Salmon Hero Sandwich

Warm French bread loaded with cream cheese, thin-sliced smoked salmon, cucumber, red onion, black olives, and peppery watercress. A deli-style hero sandwich ready in 20 minutes.

Falafel, Vegetarian Style

Vegetarian falafel with a clever bake-then-fry hybrid technique: oven-baked first to set, pan-crisped in olive oil to finish. Tucked into pita with cucumber, tomato, and yogurt sauce.

Almond Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

A truly decadent french toast stuffed with almonds and cream cheese. Talk about kicking it up a notch!

Chicken Caesar Salad

Sautéed chicken breast sliced thin over crisp romaine with homemade garlic croutons, Parmesan, and a from-scratch Caesar dressing made with anchovy paste and fresh lemon. A low-calorie salad that eats like a meal.

Homemade Onion Soup

Rich In Flavor!! This Onion Soup is excellent on a chilly afternoon!!

Yummy Pasta with Meatballs

Pasta with meatballs in a tomato sauce deepened with bacon and Marsala, the tender bread-bound meatballs simmered right in. The pasta is tossed in butter and sauce, then showered with parmesan.

Gazpacho De Madrid

Traditional Madrid-style gazpacho with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, crumbled French bread, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. A chilled vegan summer soup.

Chicken Salad with Lemon, Raisins & Croutons

Super quick, easy and it came out delicious with layers of great textures.

Oven French Toast

Make-ahead overnight French toast casserole soaked in vanilla custard and topped with a maple-pecan brown sugar streusel. Pop it in the oven the morning of brunch and you've got hot French toast for a crowd.

Breakfast Bread Pudding with Sausage/Ham

Breakfast bread pudding with sausage or ham, Swiss cheese, spinach, and a thyme-mustard custard. Make-ahead brunch strata that feeds twelve and bakes in one hour.

Goat Cheese & Basil Pizza Bites

Tasty snacks that's quick and easy to prepare when company's coming. Crostini topped with tomato, garlic, herbed goat cheese and fresh basil. Bite sized bits of heaven.

Blueberry French Toast Cobbler

Custard-soaked French bread baked over bubbling cinnamon blueberries. Prep it the night before and wake up to a golden, berry-loaded brunch that feeds a crowd.

Cabbage Bean Soup

Made this cabbage and bean soup for dinner last night. Loved the soup, it was flavorful, tasty and very light. Browning all the veggies in the pot was a must, which developed tons of flavors and made the soup taste delicious.

Crockpot French Onion Soup

Create the traditional french onion soup in your crockpot with this easy to follow recipe.

Dagwood Italiano

Rosemary-marinated lamb on French bread with roasted peppers, melted mozzarella, and Parmesan. An Italian-style open-faced sandwich broiled until bubbly.

Tofu Provencal Club Sandwich

Marinated tofu club sandwich on whole wheat French bread with bell peppers, red onion, arugula, and homemade basil mayo. Herb-infused, no cooking required, and packed with Provencal flavor.

Garlic Cheese Bread

Garlic cheese bread scaled for a crowd: French bread slabs slathered with garlic butter, blanketed in mozzarella, and showered with parmesan, oregano, and parsley. Built for parties, potlucks, and catering.

Gazpacho Sevellano

Gazpacho sevillano, the authentic chilled Andalusian tomato soup blended with ripe tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, garlic, sherry vinegar, and olive oil over soaked bread. No-cook, silky, and built for hot days.

Cheesy Ham, Bacon, & Sausage Stuffed French Toast

Cheesy Ham, Bacon, and Sausage Stuffed French Toast recipe

Breakfast Turkey Sausage Cheese Crockpot Casserole

Breakfast Turkey Sausage Cheese Crockpot Casserole recipe

Fresh Tuna Hero

Fresh tuna hero stacks seared tuna steak with roasted garlic, green beans, tomato, and roasted red pepper on a hollowed-out French roll. A pressed Niçoise-style sandwich that gets better after a rest in the fridge.

Breakfast Loaf

A hollowed-out French bread loaf stuffed with layers of scrambled eggs, deli ham, Monterey Jack, cheddar, red peppers, and tomato slices, then baked until melty. A showstopping brunch centerpiece.

Grilled Salmon & Cheddar Sandwiches

Grilled salmon and cheddar sandwiches turn canned salmon, mayo, lemon, and onion into a melty griddled lunch on buttery French bread. Tuna melt's smoky-rich cousin.

Shellfish Gazpacho

Chilled shellfish gazpacho with shrimp, scallops, clams, and mussels served in roasted pepper halves with cucumber-tomato broth and olive oil croutons. A stunning cold summer seafood soup.

Stuffed Squid with Chocolate Sauce

Spanish-style squid stuffed with ground pork and pine nuts, served in a rich sauce of Ibarra chocolate, almonds, and white wine. Bold Catalan flavors in every bite.

Gazpacho Without the Tomatoes

White gazpacho is the Spanish ajo blanco-style cold soup with almonds, cucumber, green pepper, and bread. No tomatoes, just creamy almond-cucumber refreshment for hot summer days.

Mushroom Mozzarella Bruschetta

Mushroom mozzarella bruschetta made with cream of mushroom soup, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and melted mozzarella on toasted French bread. A cheesy, savory appetizer baked until bubbly.

Puffy Baked Fondue

Puffy baked fondue, an individual cheese souffle made with French bread, Swiss cheese, white wine, and folded egg whites. The dinner-for-two souffle that doesn't require a souffle dish or French training.

Poppy Seed French Bread

Poppy seed French bread: thick slices of crusty French bread spread with parmesan butter and poppy seeds, then baked golden on both sides. The 4-ingredient garlic bread upgrade.

Croutons & Croutes

Homemade croutons and croutes from French or Italian bread, tossed in extra-virgin olive oil and baked until golden and crisp. Two essential bread toppers, one simple method.

Croutons & Croutes

Homemade croutons and croutes from French or Italian bread, tossed in extra-virgin olive oil and baked until golden and crisp. Two essential bread toppers, one simple method.

Lemon French Toast

Lemon French toast made with thick-cut day-old French bread soaked in a lemon zest and lemon extract batter. The flour in the batter creates an extra-crispy, golden crust that regular French toast can't match.

Poulet a L'Intrigue (Chicken)

Poulet a l'Intrigue: a Louisiana-style stuffed chicken breast marinated, packed with a sausage-eggplant dressing under the skin, lightly hickory-smoked, and finished with an andouille-pecan cream sauce.

Creole Onion Soup

Roux-thickened Creole onion soup loaded with golden onions, three cheeses, cayenne, and herbs, topped with seasoned bread cubes. French onion goes full Louisiana.

Lemon Pepper Sandwich Loaf

Lemon pepper sandwich loaf, an accordion-sliced French bread stuffed with swiss, bacon, and a tangy lemon-pepper poppy seed butter, baked warm in foil. A pull-apart crowd-pleaser for parties and game day.

Ham Souffle

Overnight ham souffle (strata) layered with French bread, cheddar, mushrooms, and olives in an egg custard. Assemble the night before and bake in the morning.

Brownes Bistro Bread & Butter Pudding

A proper bistro-style bread and butter pudding with layers of buttered French bread, raisins, and citrus zest baked in a rich custard of cream, eggs, and dark rum. Golden, crusty on top, silky underneath.

French Onion Soup Gratinee

Caramelized onions in rich beef broth and red wine, topped with toasted French bread and bubbling Swiss cheese. Classic bistro comfort soup.

Quick French Onion Soup

This quick and tasty soup that can be served as a side dish or just with a crusty bread and crackers!

Cheese Fondue

Microwave cheese fondue with Swiss cheese, white wine, and a splash of kirsch. Ready in 15 minutes for easy entertaining with crusty French bread cubes.

Flemish Beef Stew

Carbonnade flamande, the Belgian beef-and-beer stew: chunks of beef simmered low in dark stout with caramelized onions, brown sugar, vinegar, and a Dijon-smeared piece of stale bread that thickens the gravy.

Beef Patties, Jamaican Style

Jamaican beef patties with a flaky shortening crust and a spiced ground beef filling with thyme, scallion, paprika, and hot pepper. Baked golden in hand-held half-moons.

Dried Tomato Crostini

Dried tomato crostini with sun-dried and fresh tomatoes, olives, capers, balsamic vinegar, and garlic on toasted baguette. An Italian bruschetta-style appetizer with optional melted cheese.

Mini Pizza

Freezer-friendly mini pizza appetizers loaded with ground beef, sausage, and melted Velveeta on French bread rounds. Make a big batch, freeze, and bake from frozen whenever cravings hit.

Bruchetta At Deerhill Inn

Grilled bruschetta stacked with pesto, charred eggplant, roasted red pepper, and melted mozzarella, served on a pool of marinara. A hearty vegetarian appetizer inspired by Vermont's Deerhill Inn.

Soupe a L'Onion

Soupe a l'oignon is the classic French onion soup with deeply caramelized onions, beef stock, vermouth, and cognac, topped with garlic-rubbed bread and broiled Swiss cheese. The bistro standard, done the long way.

Herbed French Bread

Try this tasty French bread that is made with prepared mustard, garlic and chives.

Cheese-Stuffed French Toast with Strawberry Sauce

Cheese-stuffed French toast with pockets of sweetened cream cheese, crowned with fresh strawberry-honey sauce and candied lemon rind. A weekend brunch centerpiece that turns French toast into something special occasion-worthy.

Jo Parodi's Bagna Caulda

Bagna cauda, a warm Italian dip of olive oil, butter, garlic, and anchovies simmered until silky. Served fondue-style with fresh vegetables and crusty bread.

French Onion Soup#1

Classic French onion soup with deeply caramelized onions simmered in beef broth and white wine, ladled into bowls with crusty bread and broiled under a bubbly Swiss and Parmesan cheese cap.

All 203 recipes