Cody Casey
Melba toast is a great, easy-to-make snack that can be prepared in an air fryer. It is a perfect homemade alternative to crackers and can be served with cheese, spreads, dips, cold cuts, and more. Melba toast is made by toasting bread, slicing it into halves or triangles, and then toasting it again. The process is simple and only requires a few steps, making it a convenient and tasty snack option.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of ingredients | 1 or 2 |
| Ingredients | White bread, butter |
| Oven temperature | 250°F, 275°F, 140°C, 340°F |
| Time | 40 minutes, 20 minutes, 22 minutes |
| Bread preparation | Remove crusts, slice diagonally into triangles, split each slice through the middle |
| Bread thickness | Thin, very thin, medium |
| Bread type | White, sourdough, brown, gluten-free, seeded, wholemeal, rye, wheat, honey oat |
| Bread weight | 35g |
What You'll Learn
Melba Toast Ingredients
Melba toast is made from thinly sliced white bread. You can use any kind of bread, but white bread is traditional. It's best to use a thick slice of bread, as thin slices can be hard to split and thick slices are too thick. You can use brown bread, but avoid seeded bread as it cracks and splits too easily. Sourdough can be used, but it is harder to cut neatly and may result in holey melba toast.
If you want to make gluten-free melba toast, simply use store-bought gluten-free white bread.
For the best results, you'll also need a toaster, a serrated knife, and a baking sheet.
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Melba Toast Shapes
Melba toast is a thinly sliced piece of bread that has been toasted, sliced in half to make it even thinner, and then cut into triangles and toasted again. The shape of the Melba toast is determined by the way it is cut after the crusts are removed. The traditional shape is a triangle, formed by cutting the square slice of bread diagonally into two triangles. However, you can use a cookie cutter to cut the bread into any shape you like. For example, stars or Christmas trees for a festive occasion.
The key to making Melba toast is to ensure that the bread is thinly and evenly sliced. The best bread to use is plain, medium-sliced soft white bread, as thicker slices of bread will be too thick, and thinner slices will be difficult to split. The bread should be toasted until just pale golden, and then the crusts should be removed. It is easier to cut the bread when it is still warm. After cutting the bread into the desired shape, use a serrated knife to carefully split each slice through the middle to create two thin halves. Brush your fingers over the cut sides of the bread to remove any loose crumbs, and then toast the cut side until golden brown and crispy.
Melba toast can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container for up to a week. It is a versatile appetizer that can be served with a variety of toppings, such as cheese, chutney, pate, or dips.
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Melba Toast Toppings
Melba toast is a versatile appetiser that can be topped with a variety of ingredients. Here are some ideas for toppings and dips to serve with your melba toast:
Dips
- Hummus
- Salmon pate
- Homemade soup
- Guacamole
- Cheese dip
- Spinach dip
- Artichoke dip
- Crab dip
- Blue cheese, walnut, and port wine pate
- Dill pickle dip
- Sardine pate
- Caramelised onion-blue cheese dip
- Smoked salmon mousse
- Cream cheese and chive dip
- Hot pepper jelly
Toppings
- Cold cut meats
- Selection of cheeses
- Chutney
- Jam
- Nut butter
- Cheese and chutney
- Cheese and onion
- Chicken liver pate
- Spinach and artichoke
- Sour cream
- Chicken broth
- Bacon
- Cream cheese
- Smoked salmon
- Prawns
- Sea salt
- Lemon
- Olive oil
- Avocado
- Lime juice
- Ricotta cheese
- Roasted red peppers
- Black pepper
- Radishes
- Tuna
- Parsley
- Olive tapenade
- Figs
- Honey
- Shrimp
- Plum tomatoes
- Brie cheese
- Ham
- Cornichons
- Cranberry sauce
- Turkey
- Fennel
- Golden raisins
- Egg salad
- Baby spinach
- Caesar dressing
- Anchovies
- Mascarpone
- Bananas
- Peanut butter
- Marshmallow fluff
- Shaved chocolate
- Espresso
- Cocoa powder
- Pate
- Cheese and chutney
- Antipasto
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Melba Toast in the Air Fryer
Melba toast is a great snack for parties and a perfect homemade alternative to crackers. It is also a good base for appetisers. You can make it in advance and store it in an airtight container for up to a week.
Ingredients:
White bread
Method:
- Remove the crusts from the bread.
- Toast the bread on each side for around 3-4 minutes.
- Cut the slices diagonally to form triangles.
- Cut each triangle in half to make them thinner.
- Place the triangles in the air fryer and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Keep a close eye on the toast as it cooks, as it can burn very quickly. You may need to adjust the timing depending on your air fryer.
Melba toast is very versatile and can be served with a variety of toppings, such as cheese, chutney, pate, hummus, or even jam. It also goes well with soups and salads.
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Melba Toast Storage
Melba toast is best stored in an airtight container at room temperature. It can last for up to a week, but it is best eaten within a couple of days for maximum freshness.
Do not store melba toast in the freezer, as it is quick and easy to make fresh.
If you are storing shop-bought melba toast, follow the instructions on the packaging. Morrisons' Melba Toast, for example, should be stored in a cool, dry place.
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Frequently asked questions
Melba toast is thinly sliced bread that has been toasted twice to achieve a dry and crunchy texture. It is often served with dips, soups, or salads, or used as a base for spreads or cheeses.
You can use any type of bread for melba toast, but plain, medium-sliced soft white bread is ideal as it creates less waste when trimming the crusts off. Avoid using seeded bread as it is harder to split each slice neatly.
It depends on the air fryer and the amount of bread you are cooking, but it typically takes a couple of minutes. Keep checking on your toast as it can burn quickly.
Yes, melba toast can be made up to a week in advance and stored in an airtight container. If it loses its crispness, you can crisp it in a moderate oven for a few minutes.
Freezing melba toast is not recommended as it is quick and easy to make from fresh. However, there is no reason why it shouldn't freeze well if packed carefully into a rigid container.
