Crumbs

Crumbs are small pieces of food that are broken off from a larger piece, often as a result of cutting, breaking, or eating. They are commonly associated with baked goods such as bread, cake, and cookies. Crumbs can be used in various culinary applications, including as a topping, a coating, or an ingredient in recipes.

Types of Crumbs

Crumbs can be categorized based on the type of food they originate from:

• Bread Crumbs: These are made from dried or fresh bread and are often used as a coating for fried foods, a topping for casseroles, or a filler in meatloaf and meatballs.
• Cake Crumbs: These are derived from cake and can be used in desserts such as cake pops or as a base for pie crusts.
• Cookie Crumbs: These come from cookies and are commonly used in pie crusts, ice cream toppings, and dessert bars.

Uses of Crumbs

Crumbs have a variety of uses in cooking and baking:

• Coating: Bread crumbs are frequently used to coat foods before frying or baking, providing a crispy texture. Common examples include fried chicken, fish fillets, and vegetable cutlets.
• Topping: Crumbs can be sprinkled on top of casseroles, gratins, and other baked dishes to add a crunchy texture.
• Binding Agent: In recipes like meatloaf and meatballs, bread crumbs help bind the ingredients together.
• Thickening Agent: Crumbs can be used to thicken soups and stews.
• Desserts: Cake and cookie crumbs are often used in dessert recipes, such as pie crusts, cake pops, and layered desserts.

Preparation of Bread Crumbs

Bread crumbs can be prepared in several ways:

• Fresh Bread Crumbs: Made by processing fresh bread in a food processor until fine.
• Dry Bread Crumbs: Made by drying bread slices in the oven and then processing them into crumbs.
• Panko Bread Crumbs: A type of Japanese bread crumb that is lighter and flakier than traditional bread crumbs, often used in Asian cuisine.

Related Pages

• Bread
• Cake
• Cookies
• Fried chicken
• Food processor
• Asian cuisine