What to Do With Stale Scones (2 Simple Ideas)

While most people appreciate scones because of their light and flaky texture, stale scones may be disappointing.

That doesn’t mean you should toss away stale scones. In truth, there are a few techniques to restore them to their former splendor.

So, what should you do with stale scones? Continue reading to discover more!

Do Scones Go Stale Quickly?

In general, freshly baked scones may be refrigerated at room temperature for 1-2 days before drying out.

Because scones and other pastries include flour, they go stale. Flour comprises carbohydrates and wheat proteins, which when mixed together create a gluten network.

When you remove your scones from the oven and let them to cool, the starch molecules create a crystal structure by combining with the water that gluten provides.

The water changes the structure of the gluten network, resulting in a new stale condition.

Can You Eat Stale Scones?

Yes, you can eat stale scones, but they won’t taste as good as fresh-from-the-oven scones.

whether you leave your scones out for an extended period of time, check for an unpleasant odor, mildew, or discoloration to see whether they’ve gone bad before eating them.

While bakery items may not decay as quickly as other foods, they do often get moldy and rancid, particularly if kept in high humidity.

What to Do With Stale Scones

There are various ways to revive stale scones, such as re-heating or combining them into other dishes, so you may enjoy those light, buttery pastries again.

1 – Re-heat Your Scones

Remember how we stated that scones dry out due to the crystallization of starch molecules and the alteration of the gluten network? The good news is that this can be corrected simply cooking your scones.

This raises the dilemma of how to reheat stale scones. Scones may be heated in the microwave, a skillet, or by toasting them.

Let’s look at each strategy in detail to learn about its advantages and disadvantages:

Microwave

Scones may be tough to microwave. If you microwave the scones for too long, they will lose moisture and become dry.

Even when done correctly, reheating scones in the microwave causes them to lose their crispness and become mushy.

Here’s how to keep scones from drying out when you microwave them:

• Place the scone on a microwavable plate
• Wrap them in a paper towel
• Set your microwave at low power and cook for 20 seconds.

Re-heating in a Pan

While re-heating scones in a pan may seem unusual, it may help soften stale scones. You will, however, lose the crunchy outer layer. To heat scones in a pan, do the following:

• Heat your pan to medium-low heat
• Put the scone in the pan. If your scones are too fluffy, cut them in half.
• Cover the skillet with a tiny quantity of water to help produce steam.
• Remove the scones after a few minutes to prevent them from burning.

Toasting Your Scones

If you want to keep your scones crunchy, toasting them may be your best choice. Simply cut the scones in half and cook them in the toaster.

The disadvantage is that it may be untidy since scones will leave crumbs in your toaster and may burn if left for too long.

2 – Revamp Stale Scones

You don’t have to consume stale scones; instead, transform them into a variety of delectable meals. Here are some ways to use up stale scones:

• Use them with stale bread to make bread pudding
• Use them as a cobbler topping
• Crumble them over fruit pies
• Turn them into crispy croutons

How to Store Scones So They Stay Fresh

Knowing how to properly store scones may make all the difference in keeping your leftover scones just as good.

Here are two methods for storing scones to keep them from turning stale:

1 – Store Scones On the Counter

You may keep a few of leftover scones on the counter if you intend to consume them within a few days.

Here are a few tips to keep scones as fresh as possible:

• To avoid condensation, if your scones are warm, wait until they cool before putting them in the container.
• Fold a paper towel or napkin and put it in the bottom of an airtight container. Paper towels absorb excess moisture from your scones, preventing them from becoming mushy.
• Stack your remaining scones in the container gently. Avoid squeezing them down to avoid having mushy goodies.
• Close the lid and place a second paper towel on top of the scones.

2 – Freeze Your Scones

Before we go into how to freeze scones, let’s first address a question you may have: can you keep scones in the fridge?

In general, scones and baked products should not be refrigerated unless they include dairy fillings or frostings.

Refrigerators create a cool and dry environment, which is ideal for preventing germs from quickly developing and destroying food.

However, the dry circumstances will not benefit your scones and will eventually dry them out.

Furthermore, if you regularly open your fridge door or have a malfunctioning fridge door, the warmer ambient air will find its way into your fridge and condense, finally moistening your scones.

That is why, if you want to increase the shelf life of scones while keeping them fresh, you can store them in the freezer.

Heres how to freeze your scones:

• Fill an airtight freezer bag or container halfway with scones.
• To prevent scone layers from sticking together, use parchment paper between them.
• If you wish to take your scones one at a time, you may wrap them individually.
• Finally, before closing the freezer bag, push any excess air out. If you’re using a container, be sure the lid is properly closed.

Final Thoughts

What should you do with stale scones? Many things may be done, such as re-heating them to restore moisture.

You may also use them in other dishes, such as bread pudding, or transform your scones into delectable croutons.

Whatever you decide to do with your stale scones, remember to always check to make sure they aren’t spoilt before relishing them.