stooopid question about bread crumbs . . .

[WhoseGotMyEyebrows]

I know this is a stupid question and I am slightly embarrassed to ask it . . . but, how the fuck do you make breadcrumbs? Recipes never say! I had to put them on a pie thing once but they didn't come out crunchy. I am guessing you need to crumble the bread and then put in on a tray in the oven to dry it out for a while?

I could just buy them in a box I suppose but that seems silly when there is always bread in the house!

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

Food mixer? Either that or use a grater

[slartybartfast]

i sometimes grate a crust with the cheese grater.
you dont need to let it dry, i think you use stale bread.

or i have a machine which is marvellous but i hardley ever use it.

you can use a machine and freeze it, but i can't be bothered.

[MrsCornish]

use stale bread, i grate it or blend it. then i freeze it if i'm feeling super-organised, so i've always got some even if the bread isn't stale/is crappy sliced stuff.

[4merlyknownasSHD]

pop the crusts/bread in the oven after you have cooked something else and turned the oven off. This will dry the bread out (you don't want the crumbs to go mouldy). Then whizz them in the food processor the next day and store in an airtight jar. You don't even need to freeze them then.

[4merlyknownasSHD]

Whoops, forgot to say that I then pass them through a sieve before jarring them.

[WhoseGotMyEyebrows]

Thanks everyone!

[frans]

I freeze crusts from home made bread, defrost them and cook them in the oven for 15 mins. When they've cooled I put them through the food processor.

[bigTillyMint]

I get a piece of sliced bread out of the freezer and toast it a bit to defrost it and then bung it in the blender. They always seem to go crunchy on top of cheesey pasta (DC's favoourite!)