Do Breadcrumbs Go Bad?
Question: do breadcrumbs go bad? Read on to find out.
Due to their versatility, breadcrumbs have become an essential ingredient in most kitchens. You can either make them yourself at home or buy some from your local supermarket. No matter the kind you decide to go with, at some point in time you’ll find yourself wondering whether breadcrumbs can really go bad.
Breadcrumbs are normally used as a coating or breading in fried foods, for topping casseroles, to thicken the stew and many other things. In case you’re not a regular breadcrumbs user, you’ll find yourself thinking about how long they can be stored on the shelf without going bad. Or in other cases, you’ll find yourself wondering whether they can get spoiled or not, and if that occurs, what you can do to prolong their normal shelf life.
If you’ve found yourself in either situation, the information here is meant for you. here, you’ll learn about shelf life, storage, whether breadcrumbs can go bad, both store-bought and homemade. Read on for more regarding breadcrumbs.
How Breadcrumbs Are Stored
When it comes to store-bought breadcrumbs (or you can simply call them breadcrumbs) the storage is basically done in the same manner as other dry ingredients such as flour or oatmeal.
The first thing you need to know is that breadcrumbs should be stored in a tightly sealed container. Therefore, if you prefer making yours at home make sure that they are stored in a tightly sealed jar or container. On the other hand, if you’re dealing with store-bought breadcrumbs, once the seal is opened, you need to store them in the same manner. If the container or package can be resealed, then you can leave them there.
We can now proceed to discuss where the breadcrumb container is to be placed because not everybody has a pantry in their home. When dealing with breadcrumbs bought from the supermarket, you can store them in a dark kitchen cabinet or the pantry. However, if you’d like to store them for a lengthy period of time, the best way to go is by keeping them in the freezer.
When it comes to homemade breadcrumbs, you can choose from three different options. If you’re storing for a short time, then the room temperature of the kitchen or pantry will be fine. In fact, there are recipes that require the breadcrumbs to always be kept in the refrigerator. Also, when it comes to store-bought breadcrumbs, the best way of storing them for a lengthy term is in the freezer.
How Long Do Breadcrumbs Last?
Most varieties of breadcrumbs, with an exception of “fresh breadcrumbs,” can be made using bread that is toasted and crushed, meaning it is really a dry ingredient. The breadcrumbs don’t get spoilt easily, and at the same time, the product won’t maintain the original quality forever. However, if they are stored in the right manner, a container of breadcrumbs can stay for several months.
On the other hand, breadcrumbs bought from the supermarket have a sell-by date. Generally, since they are dry products, they should maintain their crispy nature and freshness for a couple of months past the expiry date provided on the package.
Once the package is opened, it doesn’t change anything in terms of the product’s shelf life especially if it is stored well. If you’d like to store them for a longer time, or you find that the breadcrumbs have begun losing their quality when in room temperature, then you can freeze them.
When it comes to breadcrumbs that were made from home, the overall rule is to keep them fresh for two weeks on the kitchen shelf or pantry, about one month or two in the fridge, or at least six months if they’re in the freezer. Of course, the periods mentioned are just general guidelines because every bread differs with regards to the ingredients, also the method used to make the breadcrumbs matters.
| Pantry | Fridge | Freezer | |
| Store-bought breadcrumbs | Best-by + 1 – 3 months | Best-by + 1+ year | |
| Homemade breadcrumbs | 2 weeks | 1 – 2 months | 6+ months |
Note that all the durations stated above are just estimates.
How You Can Tell If Breadcrumbs Are Spoiled
Normally, when moisture goes into the package or storage container and you spot some traces of mold, you have to discard the entire product. It’s not a good idea to only remove the moldy parts but instead throw everything out.
Second in line is the sniff assessment. Normally, breadcrumbs have a nice but mild aroma and in case the scent changes with time, then it means that it might have gotten spoiled. Since breadcrumbs aren’t very expensive, don’t risk keeping the contaminated batch, just get rid of it especially when the aroma seems a bit off.
The final test is conducted through tasting the breadcrumbs. If you notice that the breadcrumbs have a bitter taste, just throw them away. On the other hand, if they have become hard, turned dry, or have a crusty texture, then it means that the original quality has diminished, but they are still safe for consumption. You can decide whether you still want to use them or not.
