How to Dry Out Cornbread in the Oven: Full Guide

Last Updated on September 13, 2024 by Shari Mason

**Southern homes** usually have **cornbread** as a staple in their meals. Baking it without a tried-and-true recipe? That might catch you off guard. It’s more challenging and feels like it **takes ages compared** to other breads.

Especially when you’re trying to get them out of the oven before they burn at their edges, we’ll share some tips on how to dry out cornbread in the oven.

It’ll take less time than baking them from scratch. Keep reading to find out.

4 Easy Steps to Dry Out Cornbread in the Oven 

1. Preheat The Oven

The first step is to preheat your oven to 275 degrees F. Take a look at the cornbread after it’s been in the oven for 10 minutes.

The top surface of the cornbread should be golden brown and slightly puffed up. You’ll notice that the crunchy edges of this cornbread will soften once cooled.

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2. Cut It into Squares

When you are ready to cut the cornbread into squares, use a sharp knife and ruler. You should measure out your blocks of cornbread with the size of your cookie sheet in mind.

If you have a large cookie sheet and want to use it for multiple batches of cornbread, then cut smaller squares so that it fits better. 

3. Toast Until Dry

Toast the cornbread for 30-45 minutes until it is dry. You’ll know it’s done when the edges of your cornbread are golden brown and crispy but not burnt.

As soon as you can, pull a cookie sheet out of the oven without burning yourself with smoke (this usually takes about 8 minutes).

If your cornbread isn’t quite done yet, add an extra minute to your cooking time or let it cool completely before serving so that moisture evaporates from its surface.

4. Let It Cool

When you’re done baking, take the bread out of the oven, let it cool, and harden it on a rack overnight to let go of the moisture that might get in the way of your dressing. [1] 

The cornbread should be mostly cooled down before dressing or using in your recipe because hot cornbread is still soft and might crumble when pressed.

How Long Should You Dry Out Cornbread In The Oven

The amount of moisture in your cornbread will determine how long you should dry out the batter. If you want a crispy crust, dry the bread for at least an hour. [2] 

“Peace goes into the making of a poem as flour goes into the making of bread.”

–Pablo Neruda, Diplomat and Poet

If you want a soft and moist interior with a chewy exterior, allow it to stand for about 15 minutes before serving or baking.

Tips & Tricks When Drying Out Cornbread in the Oven 

• Make sure you use a pan that is oven safe. If you don’t have one, you can improvise using an aluminum pie plate or a foil-lined pizza pan.
• You can add an egg yolk to your ingredients so your cornbread won’t crumble while cutting.
• Use a pan that is the right size for the amount of cornbread being made.
• Check the cornbread edges every 10 minutes to prevent burning.

FAQs 

Final Verdict 

Generally, it takes about 30-45 minutes to dry cornbread perfectly in the oven. Still, the amount of time depends on the moisture of the cornbread.

Nevertheless, if you follow these steps, your cornbread will be ready to eat. You can use this method on any type of bread or recipe that calls for cornbread.

But it’s especially good in recipes that don’t specify how long you should allow the bread to sit before baking.

References:

1. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sciencefocus.com/science/why-does-bread-go-stale/amp/ 
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6804776/