How To Make Dry Bread Crumbs

After posting a recipe last week calling for dried bread crumbs, we received a message from Tanya in the UK asking if she could make them herself by following our directions for making fresh breadcrumbs, but using very stale bread instead.

Some people DO use this method for making dry bread crumbs, but we wouldn’t recommend it. For one thing, it doesn’t seem to produce the correct level of ‘dry-ness’ in the crumbs – and for another, bread crumbs made from stale bread taste… stale!

We’ve also been asked in the past if it’s OK to substitute fresh bread crumbs for dry. It really depends on the recipe you’ll be using them in – but, in general, the answer is no. Whilst we sometimes use dry bread crumbs in place of fresh (adding a little extra liquid to the mixture to compensate), fresh bread crumbs – particularly when used as a coating – are a poor substitute for dried.

How to make dry bread crumbs

It’s very easy to learn how to make dry bread crumbs – it’s also cheaper than relying on the store bought variety and the bread crumbs can be seasoned (without salt) to suit your baby’s tastes!

All you need to do is place several slices of bread – whole grain is most nutritious – on a baking sheet. The number of slices you use depends, of course, on the quantity of bread crumbs that you need. 4 slices of bread will make around 1 cup of dried bread crumbs. We usually make more than we need for one recipe, then store the rest in a covered container in the fridge.

Next, you place the baking sheet in the oven and ‘cook’ for approximately 25-35 mins at 200 deg F (100 deg C), turning half way through, until the bread has completely dried out. Raising the temperature a little will intensify the flavour of the crumbs, but we like them best at the temperature given.

Please note that – whilst we suggest drying out the bread in our post about making fresh bread crumbs – this will not dry them to the extent needed to make proper dry bread crumbs! Therefore, the times and temperatures given here must be followed in order to get the texture just right!

When the bread is good and dry, remove it from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool – if you set it directly on a plate or work surface to cool, condensation may form underneath… ruining the texture of your crumbs!

Finally, break the bread into pieces and process in a food processor until it forms crumbs – they will be a little finer and drier than those you’d obtain from the store. If you don’t have a food processor, then you can place the dried bread in a food safe bag and pound it with a rolling pin (a fun job for one of your older children!).

Voilà  – your homemade dry bread crumbs are ready for use – and you can easily add any extra herbs or spices that your baby enjoys.

Gluten free dry bread crumbs

If your little one needs to avoid gluten, make dry bread crumbs with gluten free bread or substitute bread crumbs with crushed rice crackers, cereals or very low salt potato chips (crisps).

Now try using your homemade dry breadcrumbs in our baked chicken nuggets recipe