How to Make Your Own Breadcrumbs From Scratch

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Simple instructions on how to make your own breadcrumbs from scratch. These breadcrumbs can be made using bread ends, stale bread, or even fresh bread. This recipe is my go to zero waste kitchen hack! Get all the info you need in this post…

My Favorite Zero Waste Kitchen Recipe

I would love to say I have a “zero waste” kitchen, that is the goal! However, I rarely achieve this goal to perfection. This recipe is one of my favorite ways to use up all of our stale, from scratch bread. I make all of our bread from scratch. If you know the world of sourdough you know this bread can take a while to make, sometimes up to twelve hours. While we usually eat all the bread with no problems, occasionally we will end up with the last bit of a loaf going stale or on the verge of molding.

That is when this recipe for breadcrumbs really comes in handy. The process of making the breadcrumbs masks all taste of staleness. You can also use this recipe with any kind of bread like hamburger buns, whole wheat bread, etc.

What Bread is Safe to Use?

While this is a great way to use up all that bread, there is a time when you have to trash the bread instead of using it. For instance, you should not use bread that has the visible appearance of mold. Bread that looks, or even smells moldy should be trashed instead of turned into breadcrumbs.

Any bread that has no visible mold or rancid smell can be used safely to make breadcrumbs.

Making Your Own Bread From Scratch

You can definitely make this recipe with store-bought bread. However, if you are interested in learning to make your own bread from scratch that is what we are all about around here! Making your own bread is an easy way to start incorporating more from scratch recipes in your kitchen.

All you need to start making your own sourdough bread is some flour, water, a jar, and about a week! You can learn all about how to make your own starter here. We also love sharing our dehydrated starter with you! You can get that over in our Etsy shop (here!).

Making Breadcrumbs

Making breadcrumbs is very simple. They take just around 15-20 minutes to make from start to finish. Here are some basic steps to follow…..

• Collect all the bread you would like to turn into breadcrumbs- sandwich bread, buns, biscuits, etc.
• Crumble the bread on a parchment lined sheet pan. (The breadcrumbs cook much more evenly if you crumble them up before baking. You can do this by hand or using a food processor.)
• Pour butter and seasoning mixture over the crumbs. Mix well by hand.
• Bake at 250 F for about 10 minutes then stir. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the crumbs are golden brown and completely crispy.

Storing Your Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs are best stored in a glass jar with a lid in a cool, dry place free from moisture. They can be stored this way for six months to one year. Use within four months for best freshness.

Note: I am constantly adding/using breadcrumbs that I keep in the same jar. If you are using the breadcrumbs on a semi-regular basis this is totally fine and you should not have to worry about dating the jar or using a separate jar for different batches.

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Using Your Breadcrumbs

What good is a zero waste recipe if it just sits on your shelf? That is why you need some recipes in your regular routine that use them up. You can make some really delicious dishes with these breadcrumbs! Here are a few I would recommend….

• Meatloaf. We have personally used these from scratch breadcrumbs in meatloaf and they are absolutely delicious. They add great flavor!
• Fried Chicken
• Burgers
• Topping for casseroles (broccoli, chicken, etc.)
• Salad topping (used in place of croutons)

Have more ideas to use these breadcrumbs in? Share them in the comments!

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