Toast Bread

French toast is mostly bread, so the kind of bread you use is important. Challah or egg bread is made with eggs and butter and will give you gorgeous creamy insides. This is my go-to bread for French toast. Tightly crumbed, country-style breads are nice, too, and will give you a sturdier, less creamy French toast. Classic French baguettes sliced on the diagonal make a nice, chewy version.

Just avoid generic white sandwich bread and rustic breads with large holes and thick crusts if at all possible. The rustic bread just won't hold the custard and the generic bread is too soft and characterless.

I like to purchase a loaf that is not pre-sliced so I can have control over how thick my slices are. I usually like at least a one-inch-thick slice, which helps keep the bread from becoming too soggy while promoting a nice, creamy interior. Ideally it should be slightly stale, as fresh bread will often end up with a limp texture. 

Rich breads like challah and egg bread can be left out with the wrapper open the night before, but country breads are better if kept packaged. Bottom line: It's not the end of the world if your bread is fresh, but a slightly stale loaf is preferable.