krustige

Krustige is a Dutch adjective meaning crusty or crust-covered. It describes surfaces, foods, or textures that have a hard outer layer. The base noun is korst, meaning crust, with the adjectival suffix -ige; krustige is most often found in informal speech and in regional or historical variants of Dutch. In standard usage, more common terms to express a similar idea include korstachtig or, for foods, krokant, or simply “met een korst” when referring to bread.

In culinary contexts, krustige describes bread, pastries, or baked dishes with a pronounced crust: for example, a krustige buitenkant. In non-culinary contexts, it can describe rough or crusted surfaces such as pottery glaze or metal coatings, or, figuratively, a rough or brusque demeanor: een krustige houding. The nuance can range from rustic charm to sharp roughness depending on context and tone.

Etymology and usage notes: krustige is formed from korst (crust) plus the suffix -ige; it appears in Dutch dialects and older texts. In contemporary standard Dutch, its use is often regional or archaic, with speakers opting for more precise or common alternatives in formal writing.

See also: Dutch language; korst; krokant; korstachtig.