
You’re out of breadcrumbs however want them for a recipe? Been there, pals! Fortunately, there’s a neater possibility than working to the shop. Do-it-yourself breadcrumbs are tremendous straightforward to make (simply 1 ingredient and 25 minutes), a good way to make use of up stale (or contemporary) bread, and preserve 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 make breadcrumbs!

Greatest sort of bread for breadcrumbs
You need to use nearly any sort of bread to make breadcrumbs, however for versatility, it’s finest to make use of one which’s impartial in taste. In our testing, we discovered white bread (vs. entire grain or sourdough) to create a extra traditional and impartial style. In a pinch, use any bread you’ve round so long as it’s not candy like cinnamon raisin bread (until you’re placing breadcrumbs on ice cream — ooh, recipe thought famous!).
Recent 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’ll simply have to bake it longer to dry it out.
Can you utilize frozen bread? Undoubtedly! Defrost it at room temperature or within the microwave, then press out any further moisture utilizing a clear dish towel or paper towel earlier than baking it.
Easy methods to 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 laborious or gentle.
- Rework it into breadcrumbs by blending or utilizing a food processor or immersion blender, or add the bread to a bag and crush with a rolling pin.
- Non-obligatory: Add seasonings, if desired!
Bread to breadcrumbs ratio
1 slice bread = 1 cup cubed bread = 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
Oil vs. oil-free
We examined utilizing oil vs. no oil and located breadcrumbs made with oil had been barely extra flavorful, however we most well-liked the ease, versatility, and ease of those with out oil. Those with out oil are additionally extra just like what you’d get on the retailer, making them straightforward to swap 1:1 in recipes. Plus, they preserve longer and also you gained’t have to fret in regards to the oil turning into rancid.
Must you use the crust?
It relies upon! In case your bread has a harder crust (like a country sourdough), take away it. In any other case, embody the crust for finest taste.

Easy methods to 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 Simple Chickpea Bolognese, Easy Pizza Burgers, Crispy Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan, and Vegan Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Meatballs.
What are Panko breadcrumbs?
Panko is the Japanese phrase for breadcrumbs. Most panko breadcrumbs are created from crust-free bread and have a distinctive, coarse texture that’s good for breading and frying.

Easy methods to retailer breadcrumbs
So long as you dry out the bread properly, you possibly can retailer breadcrumbs in an hermetic container at room temperature for about 1 week. To maintain them contemporary for longer than that, it’s finest to retailer them within the fridge or (higher but!) the freezer. Within the freezer, they’ll preserve for a number of months. Bonus: No have to defrost them earlier than utilizing.

We hope this information is useful! It makes breadcrumbs which can be:
Crispy
Savory
Fast & straightforward
Versatile
& SO a lot better than store-bought!
Easy methods to use breadcrumbs
They’re nice anytime you need to create a crispy topping or coating or to absorb moisture in a dish. You’ll be able to add them to pasta, soup, stuffing, gratins, casseroles, veggie burgers, “meatloaf” or meatballs, and extra.
When you do that recipe, tell us! Go away a remark, fee it, and don’t overlook to tag a photograph @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, pals!

Servings 3 (1/4-cup servings)
PLAIN
- 3 cups torn or cubed bread of alternative (vegan and/or gluten-free as wanted // 3 slices 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 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 totally dry and agency to the contact. Bake time will rely on the moisture content material, sort, and age of the bread. Gluten-free bread tends to be extra dry, 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. When you don’t have both, there are a pair workable however messier choices — you possibly can 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 totally earlier than transferring to an hermetic container. They’ll preserve at 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) breadcrumbs can have the identical diet as ~1 slice of whichever bread you’re utilizing.
Serving: 1 quarter-cup serving Energy: 114 Carbohydrates: 21.3 g Protein: 3.8 g Fats: 1.4 g Saturated Fats: 0.3 g Polyunsaturated Fats: 0.7 g Monounsaturated Fats: 0.3 g Trans Fats: 0 g Ldl cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 211 mg Potassium: 54 mg Fiber: 1.2 g Sugar: 2.4 g Vitamin A: 0 IU Vitamin C: 0 mg Calcium: 62 mg Iron: 1.5 mg