Bread Crumbs – Making and Storing at Home

Bread Crumbs

Bread crumbs are a valuable pantry ingredient, whether in their fresh form or dried for more extended storage. Here you will find it easy to make bread crumbs and some tricks for its storage. Keep both white and whole-wheat breadcrumbs for use in stuffings, coatings, or toppings. Breadcrumbs add texture and interest to both sweet and savory dishes.

Making Dry Bread Crumbs

Dry leftover bread to make into breadcrumbs. Arrange slices on a baking sheet, and bake at 300°F(150°C) or until completely dry and lightly browned. Place in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.

Seasoning Bread Crumbs

Add seasonings to fresh or dried breadcrumbs to coat fish and chicken, or to use as toppings for baked and grilled dishes. Stir in crumbled dried herbs, finely grated Parmesan cheese, spices, salt, and pepper to taste.

Making and Storing Bread Crumbs

Using a food processor: To make fine fresh or dried bread crumbs quickly, drop pieces or slices of fresh bread or toast into the moving blade of a food processor.

Making small amounts: If you only need a small amount of bread crumbs, use a clean coffee grinder to grind small pieces of toast into crumbs.

Freezing crumbs: Keep freshly made bread crumbs in a plastic freezer bag in the freezer for up to six months.

Storing in a jar: Use a screw-top jar to store dried bread crumbs for about a month. The crumbs must be completely dry before storing.

Cakes and Muffins

Most people enjoy eating cakes, whether their choice is a simple cupcake or a luxurious layer cake. The very many different kinds of cake present a range of storage problems. The longest-keeping cakes are rich fruit cakes and sponge cakes made with honey. Most cakes freeze well.

Storing and Using Cakes

Slicing in half: Improve the storage life of a large fruit cake by cutting it in half across the middle, taking slices from the inside of the cake, then sliding the two halves back together. Store in an airtight container.

Placing on the lid: Store an iced cake on the lid of a cookie tin with the inverted tin over it. You can then slice and remove pieces without risking damage.

Making trifle: Crumble leftover stale sponge cake in a dish, sprinkle with liqueur, and top with fruit and whipped cream to make a quick, trifle-like dessert.

Topping desserts: Make dry cake into crumbs and sprinkle over desserts and ices.

Storing Cake Slices

When freezing a large cake, cut it into slices before freezing, and interleave each slice with a piece of waxed paper. Reassemble the cake, and freeze as usual. You can then remove as many slices as you need without thawing the whole cake first.

Moistening Muffins

If muffins or cupcakes have become a little dry in storage, refresh them by brushing with milk and placing them in a warm oven for 6-8 minutes, or until warmed thoroughly. If they are very dry, dip them in milk before placing them in the oven.

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