Wondering what to do with that bread that was left on your counter for a day too long? There are so many options! And these quick and easy homemade breadcrumbs are a great one!
They are:
Ready in 20 minutes or less
Blitzed to a crumb in your food processor
Seasoned however you like
Toasted to the perfect crunch
And easy to store!
Watch me turn day old baguettes into homemade breadcrumbs in the video below!
How To Make Homemade Breadcrumbs
- Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F.
- Cut your bread into smaller chunks.
- Toss in your food processor.
- Pulse to break down the larger chunks, then blitz into crumbs.
- Spread the breadcrumbs in an even layer on your sheet pan.
- Bake for 5 minutes. Then stir.
- Bake for 5 minutes more. Check for doneness.
- If needed, continue to bake and check the breadcrumbs every 2 minutes.
When Are They ready
You will know when they are ready once they feel dry to the touch. Carefully run your hands over the top of the breadcrumbs to tell when they feel dry and crispy.
Using day old bread that is already a little dry will speed up the process. If your bread was fresh, it will take a little longer to dry out in the oven and might be a little harder to blitz in the food processor.
Seasoning Breadcrumbs
Season away! If you like to buy Italian seasoned breadcrumbs simply add your favourite dried herbs and seasonings to the breadcrumbs before you bake them.
Oregano
Basil
Parsley
Thyme
Garlic Powder
Salt
And Ground Black Pepper
Make great choices! I would probably add 2-3 tablespoons of a mixture of herbs and seasonings. But the great thing is... you can choose to add however much you like! Start with smaller amounts and then add more as desired.
Storing Breadcrumbs
Once your breadcrumbs are toasted and fully dried they will last quite awhile. To store them, simply:
Wait until your breadcrumbs are cool.
Then place in an airtight container.
And store at room temperature in your pantry for up to 1 month.
Without A Food Processor
You may not be able to make bread "crumbs" per say BUT you can cut or tear your bread into the smallest pieces you can manage and follow the same process to toast them.
You will likely end up with something resembling a small crouton... sounds pretty tasty to me!
Did the mention of croutons there get you excited? Well you're in luck! Check out our Guaranteed Crunch, Easy Homemade Croutons!
Cost Comparison
We find that if we can buy bread from the "day-old" rack at the grocery store and make our own breadcrumbs we are definitely saving.
Store-bought will cost, at minimum: CAD $.55/100g
Homemade from a discounted $1 baguette will cost: CAD $.39/100g
If you add seasonings:
Store-bought will cost roughly: CAD $.94/100g
Homemade with a full price baguette will cost: CAD $.71/100g
As always, these are rough estimations based on our experience and the products available to us. But in general, we prefer to make our own breadcrumbs from discounted "day-old" bread and season them as we please! It's safe to say we save a few pennies (even though those aren't around anymore) and have tasty breadcrumbs at the ready!
Let us know in the comments below if you blitz up some homemade breadcrumbs. We love to hear how you use them!
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