I’m not the type that needs everything in my pantry to be homemade. One thing I really like to have around, though, is homemade bread crumbs made from a stale loaf of French or Italian bread. They’re exceedingly easy to make, require no food processor and stay fresh for months in the cabinet or freezer, which is more than enough time for me to use ’em up.
Now, here’s what you need…
- loaf of stale crusty bread (such as French or Italian)
- cutting board
- sharp bread knife
- large or small baking sheet (depending on the quantity of breadcrumbs you plan to make)
- resealable plastic bag
- rolling pin
- tupperware
- a few of your favorite spices, such as garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, lemon zest, chili powder, crushed red pepper flakes, dried oregano, dried rosemary, etc. (get creative!)
The pictures may be pretty self-explanatory but there are a few things that aren’t so obvious, so have a little read:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees, and grab a stale loaf of crusty bread.
2. Slice the loaf into thick strips.
3. Gather the strips together and cut into small cubes.
4. Place the cubes on a baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.
5. Once baked, the cubes should be crunchy and golden brown in color.
6. Place into a resealable plastic bag.
7. Add seasonings of your choice (see above for ideas; I used a little salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried parsley)
8. Roll over the plastic bag with a rolling pin until you have the desired fine texture. Store in an airtight container for up to one month, or in the freezer for up to three months.
And that’s all there is to it!
You’ll love using these homemade bread crumbs to coat chicken and turkey breasts, or as a crispy topping for macaroni and cheese, casseroles and vegetable gratin. Bread crumbs also make excellent filler in dishes like quiches, frittatas, and puddings, so decide how you’d like to use them before adding your seasonings.
I hope this was a useful guideline for you and that you’ll enjoy making your own breadcrumbs next time you, too, have a stale loaf lying around!