How to Make Bread Crumbs from Stale Bread

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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!

Course pantry item

Cuisine American

Prep Time 2

Cook Time 30

Total Time 32

Servings cup

Calories 437kcal

Author Beth Neels

Cost $2

Equipment

Ingredients

1 cup fresh bread crumbs 2-6 slices of bread, depending on the size

For seasoned bread crumbs

1 drizzle Olive Oil
½ teaspoon parsley
¼ teaspoon basil
¼ teaspoon oregano
salt optional

Instructions

For fresh bread crumbs

When you have rolls with seeded crusts, just cut off most of the top crust.
Break bread into pieces. Add them to your food processor. If your crusts are hard, remove the crust.
Pulse until pieces are your desired size.
Spread them out on a parchment-covered baking sheet, in a thin layer.
Freeze. Once frozen, quickly place them in jars or freezer bags and freeze. Freezing them first will keep them separated so that they will be easy to remove specific quantities for your needs.

For dried, plain

Preheat oven. See notes below for temperatures and times. Baking them at higher temperatures will require watching, so they don’t get too browned.
We usually bake them at lower temperatures. This is because lower temps will dry them rather than bake them.
Perform steps one, two, three and four above. Bake for specified time. Flip them half way through.
Check them after allotted time has past. If the larger pieces don't seem dry, add additional time.
Remove. Cool. Store.

For dried, seasoned

Complete steps one, two, and three above.
Add spices that you would like to use to a small bowl. Mix well.
Drizzle the fresh crumbs with about 2 teaspoons of olive oil.
Add spices. Mix well, but gently.
Spread them On a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
Bake for time specified below. Flip them half way through.
Check them after allotted time has past. If the larger pieces don't seem dry, add additional time.
Remove. Cool. Store.

Notes

Nutrition values are based on one cup of seasoned, dry bread crumbs.

How long should bake them?

Caution: The hotter your oven is, the less time they will need to bake, but the greater the chance they get too browned. Keep a close eye on them at higher temperatures.

Time is based on fairly small pieces of bread. Adjust the time as needed to dry them thoroughly.

200°F/ 90°C bake for 30-40 minutes

225°F/100°C bake for about 20 minutes

250°F/120°C bake for 10-20 minutes

300°F/145°C bake for 8-10 minutes

Use any leftover bread or rolls to bake bread crumbs. Even cornbread will work and makes delicious stuffing.

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.

Nutrition