Bread Crumbs from Stale Bread

We’ll show you how to turn stale bread into crispy, flavorful bread crumbs that you can use in a variety of dishes. Let’s get started!

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Bread crumbs are essential in many dishes, from coating chicken or fish to adding texture to casseroles. However, store-bought bread crumbs can be expensive and may contain additives or preservatives that you don’t want in your food.

Making bread crumbs is a simple and cost-effective solution, and it’s a great way to reduce food waste by using stale bread that might otherwise go to waste.

What you need

• Stale bread: white, whole wheat sandwich bread, sourdough bread, rolls, hot dog or hamburger buns, French bread or Italian bread, English muffins, even bagels, gluten-free bread, and cornbread can work. This is the only mandatory ingredient. The others are optional.
• Olive oil: this is only needed if you would like to make flavored bread crumbs.
• Seasonings: basil, parsley, oregano, or Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and sage. Again, this is only required for flavored crumbs.
• Other flavors: most commonly, hard cheeses are added, such as Parmesan cheese or Romano, or nutritional yeast, if you are going for a vegan version.

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How to make them

Pro Tip: As you have single pieces of stale bread, freeze them until you have a good quantity for a batch of crumbs.

For fresh bread crumbs

Once frozen, quickly place them in jars or freezer bags and freeze. Freezing them first will keep them separated so that it will be easy to remove specific quantities for your needs. 

Or use fresh bread crumbs immediately.

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For plain dried breadcrumbs

Preheat oven. See notes in the recipe below for temperatures and times. Baking them at higher temperatures will require watching, so they don’t get too browned.

We usually cook them at lower temperatures. This is because lower temps will dry them rather than bake them.

Perform steps one, two, three, and four above.

For seasoned bread crumbs

Perform steps one, two, three, and four above.

Put them in the oven at the desired temperature. (See recipe notes below) Flip halfway through cooking.

If they don’t feel dry, extend the time as needed. Cool to room temperature. Store. (see details in the  “how to store” section below.

Why make your own?

There are several good reasons to make bread crumbs from stale bread:

1. Reduce food waste: We often discard spent bread, which you can repurpose into bread crumbs. This will reduce food waste and helps you get more value from your food dollar.
2. Save money: Store-bought bread crumbs can be expensive when you use them frequently. Making your bread crumbs from stale bread will save you money over time.
3. Control ingredients: Store-bought bread crumbs may contain additives or preservatives that you don’t want in your food. When you make bread crumbs, you have control over the ingredients.
4. Customizable: You can customize your bread crumbs by adding different herbs, spices, or seasonings to suit your taste preferences and your dishes.

Making bread crumbs from stale bread is a simple and practical way to make the most of your grocery budget and ensure you have high-quality, flavorful bread crumbs whenever needed.

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How to store them

Fresh bread crumbs can be refrigerated for 3-4 days. Freeze them in bags for longer storage. See the section above for fresh bread crumbs for helpful tips. Use within 3-6 months for the best flavor.

Dried ones should be stored in the pantry for a couple of weeks if they are totally dried. Add them to freezer bags and freeze them for longer storage. Dried bread crumbs will last about a year frozen.

What can you do with homemade bread crumbs?

You can use homemade bread crumbs in various dishes and recipes. Here are some ideas:

1. Breading for fried or baked foods: Use them to bread fried or baked foods such as chicken, fish, or vegetables. Dip the food in beaten egg, then coat with bread crumbs before cooking.
2. Meatballs or meatloaf: You can use them as a binder in meatballs or meatloaf recipes. We use fresh bread crumbs, which do a better job as a binder. 
3. Casseroles or gratins: Bread crumbs can be sprinkled on casseroles or gratins to create a crispy, golden-brown topping.
4. Stuffing or dressing: Bread crumbs are a crucial ingredient in stuffing or dressing for poultry, pork, or vegetarian dishes.
5. Thickening soups or sauces: Use them to thicken soups or sauces, especially if you want to avoid using flour or cornstarch.
6. Topping for pasta dishes: Sprinkle homemade bread crumbs on top of pasta dishes such as macaroni and cheese or spaghetti carbonara to add texture and flavor.
7. Substitute for croutons: Sprinkle them on top of salads for a bit of added crunch when you run out of croutons.

Overall, homemade bread crumbs are a versatile ingredient that can add flavor, texture, and nutrition to a wide range of dishes. With a bit of creativity, you can find many ways to use them in your cooking.

Helpful tools

• food processor
• Rimmed baking sheet
• spatula, pancake turner
• unbleached parchment paper

More recipes for pantry items

For a peek at the common things we keep in our fully stocked pantry, check here.

• Homemade Croutons from Stale Bread
• Cranberry Vinegar
• Preserved Lemons
• Spicy Salt
• Vanilla Sugar
• Maple Sugar
• Lilac Sugar

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Making bread crumbs at home is a fast, easy project that is totally customizable and will save you money.

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I hope you enjoyed the recipe today!

Enjoy. And have fun cooking!

Originally published March 1, 2023.

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