1leftover piece of breadwhite bread like Italian or baguette, cut into chunks
¼teaspoongarlic powderoptional
¼teaspoononion powderoptional
Instructions
Cut the bread crust off and chop it into large chunks or cubes.
Place bread pieces into a food processor along with garlic and onion powders, if using and pulse for a few seconds. Alternatively, freeze the bread or use stale hardened bread and grate through a grater with large holes.
If using fresh bread, spread in a short-edged baking tin and bake for 5 to 6 minutes at 320ºF in the oven until crumbs are dry but not toasted.
Cool before use or store.
Notes
Store in an airtight container for 1 month or freeze for up to 3 months.Use stale or slightly dry bread. Fresh bread will not work well for making panko. Use bread that is at least a day old or freeze it for a few hours and then let it thaw to remove excess moisture.Choose the right style of crustless white bread: Use plain, unflavored bread with a dense texture, such as white sandwich bread, for the best results.Pulse, don't grind: Use a food processor to pulse the bread into coarse crumbs, rather than grinding it into fine bread crumbs. This will result in a light and airy texture.Spread the crumbs out: Spread the breadcrumbs out on a baking sheet and let them dry completely before using. This will help them maintain their light and airy texture.