Making homemade breadcrumbs takes just a few minutes and is a great way to use up leftover bread! Try the Italian version as well.
Making your own breadcrumbs couldn’t be easier! And how amazing to know that you’ve not only made them quickly from scratch but also that you didn’t have to resign yourself from tossing that half a loaf of stale bread into the trash. It’s a great way to use up your leftover bread and make it into something way more useful. A double dose of satisfaction. I actually made these breadcrumbs on the “Today Show” — fancy!
Any type of bread can be used to make breadcrumbs. Any leftover bread you have will work, but make sure it is a little stale and dry before using. The only thing I might stay away from is bread with nuts or seeds in it, as they can add moisture when blended up and prevent the breadcrumbs from getting crunchy. Also, if your bread is really stale (and tastes stale), toss it.
No, there is no need to remove the crust before making breadcrumbs out of your dry bread. The crust will probably turn out to be the best part! It adds a great toasty flavor and crunchy texture to the breadcrumbs. If you have a super crusty bread, just make sure to tear it into small pieces before adding it to the food processor to make sure the processor can handle it.
It’s still possible to make breadcrumbs without a food processor. A blender will do the same job! Or, if your bread is super dry and brittle, just place the slices into a bag and crush them with a rolling pin. If your bread has any moisture at all, though, this strategy won’t work. Dry out your bread even further in a 325-degree oven for 20 minutes and try again.
Make sure the mixture is well combined; give it a little shake or stir every time you use it so that the herbs are well distributed.
Place the breadcrumbs in a sealed container, and keep them at room temp for 10 to 14 days. In the fridge, they should last for about 1 month. If you are using bread that has seeds or oils in it, it might not last quite as long, but this is a good timing estimation for plain bread, whether white or whole wheat.
If you want to freeze breadcrumbs, place them in a freezer-proof zipper top bag and press out any excess air. Label the bag and freeze for up to 6 months. Make sure to put the date on the bag. You can also freeze breadcrumbs in a freezer-proof container.
You might even toss these breadcrumbs with a little garlic, fresh herbs, and citrus zest first for a wonderful pop of both flavor and texture. This is what is known as a Gremolata in Italy. It’s a great way to perk up so many dishes, from crostini toppings to green beans.
Breadcrumbs are easy to freeze, and it’s a great way to make use of old bread without wastage.Once you’ve made the breadcrumbs, transfer to a sealable plastic bag. Label, date and freeze for up to three months.Place the frozen breadcrumbs in the fridge until thawed, then use instead of bought breadcrumbs in recipes.
-
Once you’ve made the breadcrumbs, transfer to a sealable plastic bag. Label, date and freeze for up to three months.
-
Place the frozen breadcrumbs in the fridge until thawed, then use instead of bought breadcrumbs in recipes.
No, there is no need to remove the crust before making breadcrumbs out of your dry bread. The crust will probably turn out to be the best part! It adds a great toasty flavor and crunchy texture to the breadcrumbs. If you have a super crusty bread, just make sure to tear it into small pieces before adding it to the food processor to make sure the processor can handle it.
It’s still possible to make breadcrumbs without a food processor. A blender will do the same job! Or, if your bread is super dry and brittle, just place the slices into a bag and crush them with a rolling pin. If your bread has any moisture at all, though, this strategy won’t work. Dry out your bread even further in a 325-degree oven for 20 minutes and try again.
Make sure the mixture is well combined; give it a little shake or stir every time you use it so that the herbs are well distributed.
Making your own breadcrumbs couldn’t be easier! And how amazing to know that you’ve not only made them quickly from scratch but also that you didn’t have to resign yourself from tossing that half a loaf of stale bread into the trash. It’s a great way to use up your leftover bread and make it into something way more useful. A double dose of satisfaction. I actually made these breadcrumbs on the “Today Show” — fancy!
Making homemade breadcrumbs takes just a few minutes and is a great way to use up leftover bread! Try the Italian version as well.
You can freeze dry any kind of bread, from sliced sandwich to French loaves or even small cubes of bread for stuffing. Just lay the bread slices or pieces on your trays and run your freeze dryer with the default settings. Bread doesn’t have a lot of water, so it will be one of the fastest things you freeze dry. When complete, package it in a mylar bag with an oxygen absorber and it will easily last up to 25 years. When you’re ready to rehydrate it, wrap the bread with a damp paper towel and put it inside a plastic baggie in the fridge and it will rehydrate overnight. Or, wrap the bread in a damp kitchen towel and let it sit on your counter, checking periodically to see when it’s fully rehydrated. If you’re making stuffing, just add your spices and then slowly add hot water and stir until it reaches the proper consistency. For french toast, let the bread soak in an egg and milk mixture until it softens, then fry in a frying pan like normal. You’ll be amazed how bread returns to its perfect taste and texture.
There are so many good reasons to freeze dry bread. If you don’t have a large family, that loaf of bread will probably go bad before you can finish it. Or, you buy a delicious loaf of fresh French bread but you don’t need to eat it all – even though you really want to. Freeze drying what you won’t use allows you to reduce food waste, save money, and build up a little food storage for an emergency. Freeze dried bread can be rehydrated and eaten just like you would normally or it can be used to make things like stuffing, french toast, or bread pudding.
Using up extra buns to make bread crumbs in the freeze dryer
FAQ
How do you freeze dry bread?
Can you freeze dry yeast dough?
Can you freeze dry pizza dough?
Can dried bread crumbs be frozen?
The freezer time shown is for best quality only — dried bread crumbs that have been kept constantly frozen at 0° F will keep safe indefinitely. How to tell if dried bread crumbs are bad or spoiled?
How long can bread crumbs stay in the freezer?
If there is any moisture left in the bread, it may spoil faster, though, so it’s important to dry them thoroughly or store them in the freezer (read FAQs). Fresh breadcrumbs (using fresh bread that isn’t dried out in the oven) will store for a week in an airtight container in the refrigerator or up to a month in the freezer.
How do you keep bread crumbs from freezing?
Opt for Airtight Containers: It is essential to use containers that are airtight to prevent moisture and air from entering and affecting the bread crumbs. Airtight containers create a barrier that helps maintain the texture, flavor, and overall quality of the bread crumbs during freezing.
Can you freeze thawed breadcrumbs?
Once thawed, breadcrumbs can be a little soft. If you want to use breadcrumbs to add texture then dry them out in the oven briefly to bring back their crispness. Once the bag of breadcrumbs has been in the freezer for 20 minutes, give them a quick shake before returning to the freezer. Repeat this after another 20 minutes.