French toast is one of the tastiest breakfast dishes that you can have. You might have enjoyed French toast growing up if it was something that your family made regularly.
Perhaps you now want to start making French toast yourself. The problem is that you’re just not sure how long to soak the French toast to get the best results.
In this article, we’ll go over the importance of soaking your bread and the right amount of time to make sure it turns out perfect.
Can You Soak French Toast Overnight?
Yes, it’s actually rather common for people to start soaking French toast the night before. The bread should be soaked for a certain period of time so it’ll turn out right.
Generally, you’re supposed to soak the bread for at least twenty minutes. However, it’ll turn out better if you soak it for even longer than that.
Many recipes for French toast ask you to soak the toast overnight. You’ll often see these recipes being touted as “overnight French toast.”
If such recipes sound tasty to you, give them a shot and you’ll surely be pleased. It’ll turn out good and you’ll be glad that you chose to soak the bread for so long.
Why Soak It Overnight?
You’re supposed to soak French toast because it’s meant to taste a bit like bread pudding. The bread that you’re soaking is supposed to soak up the custard so it can be creamy on the inside.
When you finish making the French toast, it’ll have satisfying crispy edges and a delectable creamy texture inside. French toast is crunchy on the outside sometimes, but it’s soft and tasty on the inside.
If you don’t soak the bread, the texture is going to be all wrong. You’ll be left with a dish that might vaguely resemble French toast but it won’t taste the same.
To avoid such issues, you must soak the bread for at least twenty minutes before making the dish. You have to be patient and soak the bread for long enough.
This is why so many recipes recommend soaking the bread overnight. It makes it a lot easier overall and you might want to try that out.
How Long to Soak French Toast
The exact amount of time that you should soak French toast will differ depending on the recipe that you choose to follow. Most recipes say that you must soak French toast for at least fifteen to twenty minutes.
However, there are recipes that call for you to soak the bread overnight as well. You might soak the bread for many hours or you might soak the bread for less than thirty minutes.
Either way, the bread needs to soak for a certain period of time or it won’t turn out right. The bread must have enough time to soak up the custard or it won’t have the proper texture that you desire.
Make sure that you leave enough time for the bread to soak before you wish to serve breakfast. Attempting to rush things will only make the French toast turn out bad.
Why Is My French Toast Soggy?
Some people worry that soaking French toast overnight will cause it to be overly soggy. This isn’t necessarily the case.
However, soggy French toast is indeed terrible and it’s something that you want to avoid. Generally, soggy French toast occurs when you try to cook it too fast.
If your French toast turned out soggy there’s a good chance that you attempted to cook it too fast while using a high heat setting. Most recipes ask you to preheat a nonstick griddle to 375 degrees Fahrenheit when making French toast.
Don’t attempt to use a higher heat setting to speed up the process. You could make the toast turn out too soggy or you might even burn the edges of the bread depending on how things go.
Don’t Add Too Much Dairy
Never add too much dairy to the mix when you’re making your egg mixture. Sometimes people make the mistake of doing this and it causes the French toast to turn out wrong.
Too much dairy generally causes issues. The egg in the mixture won’t cook properly and it’ll wind up making the bread soggy.
To get the crisp edges that you want, it’s important to get the egg mixture just right. Follow a recipe properly and make sure that you measure things out meticulously.
This keeps you from making little mistakes that will throw everything off. You should be able to get good results if you keep from getting distracted.
Always Mix Custard Thoroughly
Remember to mix the custard thoroughly when making French toast. People who are making French toast for the first time often make the mistake of not mixing the custard well enough.
You have to mix the custard enough or else pieces of egg white might show up on your bread slices. This won’t be appetizing at all and it’s something you want to avoid.
Be sure to mix the custard until it is thoroughly combined. Use a whisk and be sure that you’re finished before you start soaking the bread.
What Type of Bread Is Best?
Using bread that’s too thin for French toast is generally not a good idea. Very thin bread will get soggy when soaked and it won’t cook properly.
You need the bread to be thick while not being so thick that it won’t cook properly. Choose a type of bread that is somewhere between three-quarters of an inch thick and one inch thick.
Ideally, you’ll want to use brioche, pullman loaf, or challah. All of these options are known to be fantastic choices for making French toast.
Buying the right type of bread is just as important as soaking your bread for the right amount of time. The wrong bread can ruin the French toast before the cooking process even begins.
Be Sure to Use Oil and Butter
Did you know that using both oil and butter in the pan or the griddle can help? Many people make the mistake of using only butter in the pan.
You should coat the pan or griddle with butter and oil to make things easier. The presence of the oil keeps the butter from burning.
Also, you should remember to wipe the pan or griddle clean before making a new batch. If you don’t do this the butter will burn and you’ll be left with gross black flecks stuck to your French toast.
This is going to be unappetizing and you won’t want to ruin your breakfast like that. Be sure to do things right to avoid problems.
Final Thoughts
Learning more about making French toast should help you to feel confident. You can have a good experience making this delicious breakfast food so long as you approach things the right way.
Remember that French toast needs to soak in the custard for a certain period of time. Typically, the bread will need to soak for at least fifteen to twenty minutes.
Many recipes call for the bread to be soaked overnight, though. It’s best to follow the advice of a recipe so you can enjoy consistent results.
You’ll also want to keep the other handy tips that you learned about making French toast in the front of your mind. It’ll help you to avoid making careless mistakes.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Film/Video/Media Studies, as well as an associates degree in Communications. I began producing videos and musical recordings nearly 15 years ago. I am a guitarist and bassist in Southwest MI and have been in a few different bands since 2009, and in 2012 I began building custom guitars and basses in my home workshop as well. When I’m home, I love spending time with my three pets (a dog, cat, and snake) and gardening in my backyard.