Croutons are, at their simplest, crispy cubes of toasted bread. They play a crucial role in elevating the texture and flavour profile of various dishes - especially soups, stews and salads. Though often seen in the shape of small cubes, they can be any size and shape up to a large slice. They are traditionally made of day-old bread, which adds that crunchy texture and typically absorb more flavour than fresh bread. The bread can be pan-fried, oven roasted or even air-fried, but the core purpose of a crouton is to add much needed crunch to a dish.