Buzz
The large, plastic-domed croissant containers at the grocery store and Costco are hard to resist, though I usually don’t fall for their buttery allure. But when I spotted a 12-pack on sale for just three American dollars last week, I couldn’t say no. I bought the croissants, and, predictably, didn’t finish them before they turned stale.
While stale croissants are perfect for bread pudding or making croutons, I didn’t feel like baking in the heat of July (or ever, really), nor did I want to have a salad for breakfast (though I’m not opposed to it as an idea). I just wanted a croissant that still tasted fresh. Thankfully, I have an air fryer, but reviving it requires more than simply tossing it into the basket. Similar to reviving a stale baguette, you first need to run it under a bit of water.
The air fryer’s heat works to reverse some of the effects of starch retrogradation, releasing trapped water from within the starch crystals. The added moisture helps soften all the starches. This method works for large, crusty baguettes in a 300-degree oven, and it works just as well for a single croissant in your air fryer.
The process is straightforward. Turn on your sink and briefly run the croissant under the water. Preheat your air fryer to 350℉ and heat the croissant for 3-4 minutes, flipping it halfway through, until it’s warm and soft with a delicate yet crispy exterior. The transformation is nothing short of impressive. The once tough, chewy edges and crumbling texture become a thing of the past.
The only downside is that I now have no excuse not to buy those massive plastic containers filled with croissants. But maybe that's not really a downside.
