What's the Difference Between Panko and Bread Crumbs? (2024)

FAQs

What's the Difference Between Panko and Bread Crumbs? ›

Panko are made from a crustless white bread that is processed into flakes and then dried. These bread crumbs have a dryer and flakier consistency than regular breadcrumbs, and as a result they absorb less oil. Panko produces lighter and crunchier tasting fried food.

Panko and breadcrumbs can certainly be used interchangeably. Both items are used to serve the same purpose — a crispy topping for baked casseroles, breaded coating for fried foods, and binder for meatballs and veggie burgers.

Panko has a crispier texture that makes it perfect for crusting foods. If you're looking to add a crackly crunch, we suggest panko over bread crumbs, which, while also crunchy, have more chewiness. That subtle chew makes bread crumbs superior when blending into recipes and binding ingredients together.

Bread Crumb Substitutes

For ¼ cup fine, dry bread crumbs, substitute any of these items: ¾ cup soft bread crumbs. ¼ cup panko. ¼ cup cracker or pretzel crumbs.

Panko breadcrumbs unlike regular breadcrumbs are made from a particular crustless white bread. The consistency of panko breadcrumbs is a lot drier than regular breadcrumbs, creating a crispier, less greasy result when fried.

Crackers. Crushed-up crackers make an excellent bread crumb substitute in baked dishes like meatballs or meatloaf. The crackers work just as well as the bread crumbs to hold the meat mixture together, and using varieties like salty saltines or buttery Ritz is a great way to add an extra burst of flavor to your dish.

Panko crumbs are prepared using only the inside white part of the bread. Since no outside crusts are used, they are much whiter than traditional breadcrumbs that are made by grinding all of the bread including the crusts. For these reasons, Panko crumbs tend to be more expensive than traditionally prepared breadcrumbs.

The simple answer is YES. Panko bread crumbs are fluffier than regular breadcrumbs. As it bakes, the regular breadcrumbs can cause the meatloaf to become mushy. While there is a lot of debate from the best chefs on the perfect meatloaf recipe, they all agree you need to use panko bread crumbs.

They actually aren't really crumbs at all but instead flakes, and senior food editor Claire Saffitz says that's what makes their texture so damn good. Panko is super airy (while other breadcrumbs are too fine to support air pockets), which delivers an unparalleled crispiness from a short toasting time under high heat.

If you don't have any bread, you can substitute it for breadcrumbs, crackers, cereal grains, oatmeal, instant rice, instant barley, or even potato flakes! However, bread is still the best choice of all the potential options.

What is the difference between Japanese panko and regular panko? ›

Standard Panko products have the potential to make food taste oily with a hard and dense texture. In addition to the noticeable visual differences, a true Japanese Panko will have a simple, clean, non-GMO ingredient list, ideal for any dish – including plant-based and vegan menus as well.

"Instead of using bread crumbs or crushed crackers, I use rice krispies and they work great!

You can use panko and regular breadcrumbs interchangeably, but the texture will be a little different. Other panko substitutes you might want to try include cracker crumbs, crushed melba toasts, matzo meal, crushed tortilla or potato chips, dry stuffing mix, or crushed cornflakes.

Believe it or not, panko breadcrumbs are healthier than golden/natural breadcrumbs. That's right. Despite your parents' constant proselytising about crusts being the most nutritious part of the bread, crust-less panko breadcrumbs are lower in fat, salt and calories than regular breadcrumbs.

Dip each piece of chicken into the flour, first one side and then the other, and shake it to remove the excess. Repeat with the eggwash. Last, lay the chicken on the panko and press it gently to get the panko to adhere, then turn it over and repeat. Make sure it is well covered.

Sunflower seeds, almonds, and sesame seeds are all great breadcrumb alternatives. Chop larger nuts finely in a food processor.

Rolled Oats

Oats are the perfect substitutes for breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf. While they aren't ideal for a crispy coating, they add the right amount of texture to bind meat, eggs and flavorings together into a delicious Italian-inspired feast.

You may substitute crushed saltine crackers for the panko bread crumbs.