How to make breadcrumbs
Learning how to make breadcrumbs is a basic but brilliant bit of culinary knowledge that can help you transform all kinds of dishes in a flash. Crumbled pieces of bread can be used to top warm winter casseroles, add a crisp and crunchy coating to comforting macaroni cheese or lemon and herb chicken tray bake, or you can use fine milled breadcrumbs to thicken hearty soups or beef stew. If you are using breadcrumbs as a thickening agent for soups and stews, fine milled breadcrumbs dissolve instantly, so stir them in little by little until you reach your desired consistency.
Read below for all you need to know about how to make breadcrumbs.
What kind of bread to make breadcrumbs
When making breadcrumbs, you can use dry bread that has been baked or toasted, or from the crust, to remove moisture – perfect for a crunchy, crumbly topping. Alternatively, you can make breadcrumbs from fresh bread or the inner part of the loaf to produce a softer crumb. Fresh bread is also preferred for making traditional parsley and thyme stuffing to accompany succulent roast chicken or turkey.
How to make breadcrumbs easily
Learning how to make breadcrumbs couldn’t be easier. You can use your hands to tear pieces of bread into the size you want, or put the bread into a plastic bag and smash into small pieces using a rolling pin. If you have a food processer, simply drop torn pieces of bread and blitz to the desired texture. If you want to make a very even crumb, you can also push breadcrumbs through a sieve to ensure a more powdery texture.
How to season breadcrumbs
You might like to season your batch of breadcrumbs to amplify the flavour of different recipes. A simple dash of sea salt and ground black pepper is all you need to make most breadcrumbs extra delicious. However, for recipes like macaroni cheese, adding a dash of something a little more striking like paprika or cayenne pepper will make your crunchy topping even more flavourful. When making stuffing or using breadcrumbs to create a crumbly topping for meat, adding a sprinkle of traditional garden herbs like sage, rosemary or thyme will give the coating a lovely savoury flavour.
Now that you know how to make breadcrumbs, why not explore our range of easy recipes?
