5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making French Toast (2024)

Sheela Prakash

Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor

Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.

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updated May 1, 2019

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5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making French Toast (1)

If a morning starts with French toast, you know it’s going to be a good day. The best is browned and crispy on the outside while incredibly custardy and rich on the inside. Really good French toast can seriously make you reconsider ever making pancakes and waffles again. So what are the secrets to achieving greatness? Here are five key things to watch out for.

1. Not choosing the right bread.

The heart and soul of French toast really is the bread — use something sub-par and the final result is going to be sub-par. The best bread is spongy and sturdy so that it will be able to soak up the custard without completely falling apart. Avoid thin white sandwich bread and a hefty rustic loaf (often with holes scattered throughout) for this reason. Instead go for something like challah or brioche and cut it into one-inch-thick slices.

Follow this tip: Reach for a spongy, sturdy loaf of bread like challah or brioche and cut it into one-inch-thick slices.

2. Using anything less than whole milk.

A creamy custard is the key to incredible French toast, so skip the watery skim milk and go for whole milk or half-and-half. Straight heavy cream turns French toast into dessert, so lean that way if you’re looking for decadence.

Follow this tip: Skip the skim milk and go for whole or half-and-half when making the custard.

3. Not whisking the custard enough.

Little bits of cooked egg white clinging to the finished product isn’t ideal, so be sure you whisk your eggs with your dairy, sugar, and any spices you’re using, thoroughly so the custard is evenly combined.

Follow this tip: Whisk the eggs, dairy, sugar, and spices well to combine everything, leaving you with a smooth custard that’s uniformly mixed.

4. Not soaking the bread long enough.

If you’re using good, spongy bread, it can take a nice, long soak in the custard rather than a quick dip. A good soak is the key to a soft, custardy center — you want that egg and milk mixture to seep into every nook and cranny of the bread.

Follow this tip: Let the thick bread slices soak in the custard for a good five to 10 minutes before cooking them.

5. Cooking the French toast at too high of a heat.

Yes, you want to get a nice golden crust on the French toast, but you don’t want that too happen too quickly, otherwise the inside won’t be finished cooking and the outside will begin to burn while it does. Aim for medium-low heat so that the inside can cook and the outside will still get golden-brown and nicely caramelized.

Follow this tip: Heat your griddle or frying pan to medium-low before cooking the French toast so it’s perfectly cooked on both the outside and inside. Don’t hesitate to swipe the pan clean before adding the next batch of bread.

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making French Toast (2024)

FAQs

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making French Toast? ›

There are a couple of common mistakes that can really mess up your french toast. You don't want to turn your griddle heat up too high- the outsides will burn and the inside will be soggy. You don't want to use too much milk. Your batter should be more egg-y than milk-y if you want non-soggy toast.

What should we avoid when making French toast? ›

There are a couple of common mistakes that can really mess up your french toast. You don't want to turn your griddle heat up too high- the outsides will burn and the inside will be soggy. You don't want to use too much milk. Your batter should be more egg-y than milk-y if you want non-soggy toast.

What's the secret to good French toast? ›

The secret ingredient in this fluffy French toast recipe: all-purpose flour! Flour binds the liquids together, which creates a more traditional “batter” and helps prevent soggy results. This extra ingredient ensures the French toast is crispy on the outside, but soft and fluffy on the inside.

How to avoid eggy French toast? ›

A basic rule of thumb is about 1/4 cup of milk and one egg per two-slice serving—and if you want to avoid that "scrambled" taste, use only the yolks of some or all of the eggs. (Sulfur compounds in the whites are what give eggs their unique "egg" taste.)

Should French toast have more eggs or milk? ›

Whatever you decide on, the ratio of liquid to egg will still be about ¼ cup liquid to one egg, and one egg per two slices of bread. So, if you want to make four slices of French toast, you would need four slices of bread, two eggs, and ½ cup milk. How's that for an easy recipe?

How to tell when French toast is done? ›

This allows you to sear the French toast without burning it, while ensuring it's fully cooked in the center. "You know when your French toast is done when the center is set and doesn't have a runny consistency once cut," Oliveira says.

Should French toast be gooey inside? ›

The ideal French toast is browned and crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. It is not dry and it is not soggy.

What is the best pan for French toast? ›

Your perfect companion for making French toast is a non-stick frying pan. CRISTEL® has an exceptional selection of non-stick frying pans with removable handles that are great for both pan-frying and also oven-cooking.

How to make French toast serious eats? ›

Soak 2 slices of bread in egg bath, turning, until saturated. Add soaked bread to skillet and cook, swirling occasionally, until browned on bottom side, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle top side of bread with sugar, flip, and continue to cook, swirling occasionally, until browned on second side, about 3 minutes longer.

Why does my homemade French toast taste like eggs? ›

If the balance is off and you include too many eggs or not enough milk, the finished French toast will have a scrambled egg-like flavor. When scaling this recipe up or down, keep in mind that you need 1/4 cup of milk for every egg.

What happens if you soak French toast too long? ›

The first is using fresh bread, which soaks up too much of the egg mixture and doesn't cook through, remaining eggy and soggy in the middle. Leaving the bread in the egg mixture for too long is another route to soggy French toast.

Does the milk matter in French toast? ›

The good news is that milk makes a fine batter and by no means should be considered a concession. (As for skim milk, I skipped it for two reasons: French toast isn't supposed to be health food, and I hate skim milk.)

Is French toast better with milk or cream? ›

A creamy custard is the key to incredible French toast, so skip the watery skim milk and go for whole milk or half-and-half. Straight heavy cream turns French toast into dessert, so lean that way if you're looking for decadence.

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