
You are out of breadcrumbs however want them for a recipe? Been there, mates! Fortunately, there’s a better choice than working to the shop. Do-it-yourself breadcrumbs are tremendous simple to make (simply 1 ingredient and 25 minutes), a good way to make use of up stale (or recent) bread, and hold properly for months within the freezer. Plus, they style so a lot better than store-bought!
Add them in any recipe that requires breadcrumbs, together with gratins, casseroles, veggie burgers, “meatloaf,” or meatballs. Allow us to present you the way to make breadcrumbs!

Greatest kind of bread for breadcrumbs
You need to use nearly any kind of bread to make breadcrumbs, however for versatility, it is best to make use of one which’s impartial in taste. In our testing, we discovered whitebread (vs. entire grain or sourdough) to create a extra traditional and impartial style. In a pinch, use any bread you’ve gotten round so long as it isn’t as candy as cinnamon raisin bread (except you are placing breadcrumbs on ice cream — ooh, recipe thought famous!).
Contemporary or stale bread? The older the bread, the higher as a result of drier bread makes breadcrumbs in much less time. If utilizing brisker bread, you will simply have to bake it longer to dry it out.
Can you utilize frozen bread? Positively! Defrost it at room temperature or within the microwave, then press out any additional moisture utilizing a clear dish towel or paper towel earlier than baking it.
How one can make breadcrumbs
Simply two required steps, and one optionally available:
- Bake torn or cubed bread to dry it out — you need the bread to be dry however not brown or toasted and never rock onerous or gentle.
- Remodel it into breadcrumbs by mixing or utilizing a meals processor or immersion blenderor add the bread to a bag and crush with a rolling pin.
- Optionally available: add seasoningsif desired!
Bread to breadcrumbs ratio
1 slice of bread = 1 cup of cubed bread = 1/4 cup of breadcrumbs
Oil vs. oil-free
We examined utilizing oil vs. no oil and located breadcrumbs made with oil have been barely extra flavorful, however we most popular the ease, versatility, and ease of those with out oil. Those with out oil are additionally extra much like what you’d get on the retailer, making them simple to swap 1:1 in recipes. Plus, they hold longer and you will not have to fret concerning the oil changing into rancid.
Must you use the crust?
it relies upon! In case your bread has a more durable crust (like a country sourdough), take away it. In any other case, embody the crust for the very best taste.

How one can make Italian breadcrumbs
For Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs, merely add dried Italian herbs (basil + oregano), garlic powder, and salt.
They’re scrumptious in Italian-inspired recipes, together with our Easy Chickpea Bolognese, Simple Pizza Burgers, Crispy Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan, and Vegan Solar-Dried Tomato & Basil Meatballs.
What are Panko breadcrumbs?
Panko is the Japanese phrase for breadcrumbs. Most panko breadcrumbs are produced from crust-free bread and have a distinctive, coarse texture that is good for breading and frying.

How one can retailer breadcrumbs
So long as you dry out the bread properly, you’ll be able to retailer the breadcrumbs in an hermetic container at room temperature for about 1 week. To maintain them recent longer than that, it is best to retailer them within the fridge or (higher but!) the freezer. within the freezerthey’re going to hold for a number of months. Bonus: No have to defrost them earlier than utilizing.

We hope this information is useful! It makes breadcrumbs which might be:
Crispy
Savory
Fast & simple
Versatile
& SO a lot better than store-bought!
How one can use breadcrumbs
They’re nice anytime you wish to create a crispy topping or coating or to absorb moisture in a dish. You may add them to pasta, soup, stuffing, gratins, casseroles, veggie burgers, “meatloaf” or meatballs, and extra.
In case you do that recipe, tell us! Depart a remark, fee it, and do not forget to tag a photograph @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, mates!

Servings 3 (1/4-cup servings)
PLAIN
- 3 cups torn or cubed bread of selection (vegan and/or gluten-free as wanted // 3 slices of sandwich bread yield ~3 cups or 120-180g cubed)
ITALIAN HERB optionally available
- 1/2 tsp Italian herb seasoning (dried basil + oregano)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
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Preheat the oven to 325 levels F (163 C).
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If utilizing frozen bread, defrost it within the microwave or let it thaw at room temperature, then press out extra moisture utilizing a clear dish towel or paper towel.
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Tear the bread into small items or finely chop and place on a naked baking sheet in a single layer (use extra baking sheets if wanted). Bake for 10 minutes, then toss and bake for an additional 5-Quarter-hour till fully dry and agency to the contact. Bake time will rely upon the moisture content material, kind and age of the bread. Gluten-free bread tends to be drier, requiring a shorter baking time.
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Switch the dry bread to a meals processor or blender and pulse/mix till solely small crumbs stay. If you do not have both, there are a pair workable however messier choices — you’ll be able to place the bread in a tall jar and pulse with an immersion blender or add the bread to a plastic bag, seal, and use a rolling pin to interrupt up the bread into small items.
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ITALIAN HERB (optionally available): Add Italian herb seasoning, garlic powder, and salt and pulse/mix once more. Or, add to a bowl and stir.
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Use these breadcrumbs in gratins, casseroles, veggie burgers, “meatloaf,” meatballs, and past!
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Let cool fully earlier than transferring to an hermetic container. They’ll preserve room temperature for as much as 1 week or within the freezer for as much as 3 months.
*Vitamin info is a tough estimate calculated with white bread and with out optionally available substances. 1 serving (1/4 cup) of breadcrumbs can have the identical vitamin as ~1 slice of whichever bread you are utilizing.
Serves: 1 quarter-cup serving Energy: 114 Carbohydrates: 21.3 g Proteins: 3.8 g Fat: 1.4 g Saturated Fats: 0.3 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.7 g Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3 g Trans Fat: 0 g Ldl cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 211 mg Potassium: 54 mg Fibers: 1.2 g Sugar: 2.4 g Vitamin A: 0 IU Vitamin C: 0 mg Calcium: 62 mg Iron: 1.5 mg