Don’t throw out that stale loaf of bread! It takes less than 30 minutes to turn that into all natural and healthy breadcrumbs you can use in all kinds of dishes from frying to casseroles. These breadcrumbs store well and are the perfect addition to so many recipes!
Ingredients
- Stale bread
- Optional: 1-2 tbsp olive oil

How to Make Breadcrumbs from Leftover Bread
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Chop or tear your stale bread into pieces that are less than 1 1/2 inches long.
Place the bread into a food processor and pulse until the crumbs are adequately sized. For finer grain, you can process for longer.


Spread the crumbs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Optionally, you can toss the crumbs with some olive oil for extra flavor and crispiness.

Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the crumbs begin to brown. They should feel dry.


The bread crumbs are ready to use or store after cooling!
Store the breadcrumbs for up to a month at room temperature in an air-tight container. You can also freeze the breadcrumbs and keep them for up to six months!
Recipes to Use Homemade Breadcrumbs

Tips & Tricks
- Choose Your Bread Wisely: Opt for stale or day-old bread for the best texture. Fresh bread can work, but you’ll need to dry it out first. You can use white, whole wheat, or even specialty breads like sourdough or rye for different flavors. If your bread isn’t dry, you can leave slices out overnight or bake them at a low temperature (about 300°F or 150°C) for 10-15 minutes to dry them out.
- Grind to the Right Consistency: Use a food processor or blender to grind your dried bread into crumbs. Pulse in short bursts to control the size of the crumbs – finer crumbs for coatings or binding, coarser crumbs for toppings or texture in dishes. If you don’t have a food processor, a rolling pin or even a mortar and pestle can work, though it will take more effort.
- Season for Flavor: While plain breadcrumbs are versatile, you can enhance them with seasonings. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, dried herbs like oregano or thyme, or even grated cheese for more flavor. Be creative with spices depending on what you’re using the breadcrumbs for. Remember, seasoning can be adjusted later, so start light if you’re unsure.
- Store Correctly for Freshness: Breadcrumbs can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for about a week, or you can freeze them for up to 6 months for longer storage. If you’ve added perishable ingredients like fresh herbs or cheese, freezing is your best option. Label the container with the date so you know how fresh they are.
About Us


We are happy to share our collection of “Old Fashioned Cravings” with you! This is our collection of family recipes that we have to collected, modified and created over the years. Our favorite meals are comfort foods tweaked to be a little bit healthier! We hope you enjoy the content and we would love to hear your favorites and suggestions!