Breadcrumbs are a pantry staple in most American’s household. With their wide spectrum of uses and vast versatility, breadcrumbs can be used in meatballs and crab cakes as a binder, in breaded meats to give them that crispy texture, or on top of pasta dishes for an added crunch. It is often assumed that breadcrumbs are vegan or vegetarian friendly. It doesn’t sound like it would contain animal products, but are breadcrumbs actually vegan?
No, most standard breadcrumbs are not vegan friendly because they often contain milk, egg, cheese, or honey. There are many different varieties of breadcrumbs on the market. When searching for a vegan friendly breadcrumb product, be sure to read the nutrition label on the back for common non-vegan ingredients or look for the Certified Vegan logo on the container.
Because breadcrumbs are such a big staple in many dishes, choosing the right one can increase the nutrition of your recipes. Let’s take a deeper look at breadcrumbs and how to find the perfect vegan breadcrumb for you.
Contents
Are Breadcrumbs Healthy?
Packaged breadcrumbs often contain preservatives and additives as well as high amounts of sodium. Because there are so many different brands and varieties of breadcrumbs, the nutrition content will vary with each product.
If we look at a common store-bought brand, such as Progresso Italian style breadcrumbs, you will see a large ingredients list with only a few that appear familiar. Because this product is highly processed to be shelf stable, it contains ingredients such as calcium propionate and potassium sorbate to act as a preservative along with a heft serving of salt.
Containing 400mg per ¼ serving, Progresso’s Italian style breadcrumbs contain roughly 18% of the Daily Value (DV) for sodium. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) general guidelines for sodium include a DV under 2300mg a day.
Progresso Italian Style Breadcrumbs
Ingredients:
- Breadcrumbs
- Enriched flour
- High fructose corn syrup
- Corn syrup
- Vegetable oil
- Contains 2% or less of
- Salt
- Yeast
- Honey
- Molasses
- Sugar
- Wheat gluten
- Whey
- Soy flour
- Whole wheat flour
- Rye flour
- White corn flour
- Oat bran
- Rice flour
- Potato flour
- Butter
- Dough conditioners
- Yeast nutrients
- Distilled vinegar
- Nonfat milk
- Buttermilk
- Lactic acid
- Calcium propionate
- Potassium sorbate
- Sesame seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Egg
- Enriched flour
- Salt
- Parsley
- Spice
- Onion powder
- Garlic
- Natural flavor
Nutrition Information (serving size – ¼ cup):
- Calories 100
- Fat 1g
- Saturated fat 0g
- Carbohydrates 18g
- Sodium 400mg
- Sugar 2g
- Fiber 2g
- Protein 4g
Panko style breadcrumbs are a healthier alternative to traditional because they often contain less calories, fat, and sodium. Panko style breadcrumbs do not use the crusts from bread. They tend to be drier and flakier than traditional breadcrumbs therefore they absorb less oil in cooking. When comparing a common store-bought brand of Panko, such as Kikkoman Japanese style panko breadcrumbs, to the Progresso breadcrumbs, you can see the difference. Not only are panko style breadcrumbs more often vegan friendly than traditional, but they also contain less ingredients overall and are not as heavily processed.
Kikkoman panko breadcrumbs contain only 40mg of sodium compared to 400mg in the Progresso. They also contain only 110 calories in ½ cup while Progresso contains 100 calories in ¼ a cup, almost double that of the Kikkoman.
Ingredients:
- Wheat flour
- Contains 2% or less of
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Soybean oil
- Salt
Nutrition Information (serving size – ½ cup):
- Calories 110
- Fat 0.5g
- Saturated fat 0g
- Carbohydrates 24g
- Sodium 40mg
- Sugar 2g
- Fiber <1g
- Protein 3g
Simple, whole food ingredient breadcrumbs, or ones that you make yourself, are going to be a better option than those that are heavily processed as far as healthy options go. If choosing packaged breadcrumbs, look for limited ingredients.
Let’s look at some great healthy vegan options for traditional breadcrumbs.
Vegan Alternatives to Traditional Breadcrumbs
Pereg Breadcrumbs Classic
Vegan, non-Genetically Modified (GMO) and made in the United States, Pereg breadcrumbs contain whole food ingredients without the added animal products.
Ingredients:
- Wheat flour
- Sugar
- Sesame seeds
- Spices
- Salt
- Less than 2% of
- Yellow corn flour
- Yeast
Nutrition Information (serving size – 28 grams):
- Calories 100
- Fat 2g
- Saturated fat 0g
- Carbohydrates 19g
- Sodium 115mg
- Sugar <1g
- Fiber 1g
- Protein 3g
Gerbs Original Plain Breadcrumbs
Gerbs is known for its allergy friendly products, made without gluten, peanut, soy, mustard, lupine, dairy, crustacean, wheat, tree nut, egg, legume, soy, fish, and shellfish ingredients. These breadcrumbs are also preservative free, keto, vegan and non-GMO. Gerbs original plain breadcrumbs contain only 5, whole food ingredients.
Ingredients:
- Rice flour
- Water
- Sugar
- Salt
- Yeast
Nutrition Information (serving size – 1-ounce):
- Calories 70
- Fat 0g
- Saturated fat 0g
- Carbohydrates 16g
- Sodium 35mg
- Sugar <1g
- Fiber <1g
- Protein 2g
Edward and Sons Organic Breadcrumbs Italian Herbs
USDA certified organic and certified vegan, this zesty Mediterranean mix of herbs and spices is a winner in flavor and ingredients.
Ingredients:
- Organic wheat flour
- Organic onion powder
- Organic garlic powder
- Organic parsley
- Organic oregano
- Organic basil
- Yeast
- Salt
- Organic expeller-pressed palm oil
Nutrition Information (serving size – 1/3 cup):
- Calories 110
- Fat 1g
- Saturated fat 0g
- Carbohydrates 22g
- Sodium 190mg
- Sugar 1g
- Fiber 1g
- Protein 4g
Cooper’s Crumbs All-Natural Gluten Free, Low Carb Breadcrumb Alternative
Cooper’s Crumbs breadcrumb alternative is made from almonds and spices. Gluten free, Kosher, Paleo and vegan, this breadcrumb alternative is low in carbs and high in protein.
Ingredients:
- Almonds
- Spices
- Onion powder
- Parsley
Nutrition Information (serving size – 1/8 cup):
- Calories 80
- Fat 7g
- Saturated fat 0g
- Carbohydrates 3g
- Sodium 150mg
- Sugar 0g
- Fiber 2g
- Protein 4g
Ian’s Original Panko Breadcrumbs
Free from common allergens including wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, gluten, eggs, milk or casein, Ian’s original panko breadcrumbs are gluten free and vegan friendly with no artificial flavors or colors.
Ingredients:
- Rice flour
- Xanthan gum
- Salt
- Leavening
- Cane sugar
- Yeast
- Ascorbic acid
Nutrition Information (serving size – 1/4 cup):
- Calories 100
- Fat 0g
- Saturated fat 0g
- Carbohydrates 21g
- Sodium 270mg
- Sugar 0g
- Fiber 0g
- Protein 2g
Edward and Sons Organic Panko Japanese Style Breadcrumbs
Organic, vegan, certified Kosher, non-GMO and low in sugar, Edward and Sons Organic panko breadcrumbs are a lighter, vegan friendly option for traditional breadcrumbs.
Ingredients:
- Organic wheat flour
- Yeast
- Salt
- Organic sustainable sourced expeller-pressed palm oil.
Nutrition Information (serving size – 1/3 cup):
- Calories 110
- Fat 0.5g
- Saturated fat 0g
- Carbohydrates 23g
- Sodium 125mg
- Sugar 1g
- Fiber 0g
- Protein 4g
How to Make Your Own Vegan Breadcrumbs
For those who are tired of the endless search for vegan breadcrumbs at the store, consider whipping up a batch at home instead. This is a simple solution that lends a healthy option for your recipes and only takes a few minutes to make.
The first step to making your own vegan breadcrumbs at home is to find a vegan bread. Just as with breadcrumbs, bread often contains added non-vegan ingredients such as milk, egg, cheese, and honey.
Some popular vegan bread options include Dave’s Killer Bread Good Seed and Power Seed varieties, Ezekial 4:9 sprouted whole grain bread and Arnold whole grain oatnut bread.
The simplest way to make vegan breadcrumbs is to grab the heels of your bread, stale or not, and toss in a food processor with whatever spices you choose. Pulse until desired crumble is achieved.
Be sure to use your homemade breadcrumbs within a day or two since they do not have any stabilizers or preservatives to keep them from going bad. You can also toss your breadcrumbs in the freezer where they will keep for 3-6 months.
How to Make Your Own Vegan Panko Breadcrumbs
You can easily make your own panko style breadcrumbs by taking a vegan white bread of choice, removing the crust, and grating it or pulsing it in a food processor. You would then take the bread and bake it at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-7 minutes on a parchment lined baking sheet until brown.
Related Questions
Are Breadcrumbs Vegetarian?
For vegetarians who simply avoid meat products, most breadcrumbs are considered vegetarian friendly. For those who wish to avoid eggs, such as Lacto-vegetarians, it’s important to check the label to ensure the product does not contain eggs.
Can Breadcrumbs Be Frozen?
You can extend the shelf life of your breadcrumbs by placing them in the freezer. They will stay good for up to 6 months. Any longer and the texture might be compromised. When you are ready to use them, simply place them in the refrigerator to thaw. If you want them for adding a crunchy texture, you can dry them out in the oven on very low heat until they regain their crisp. This is best when using homemade breadcrumbs.
Traditional store-bought breadcrumbs can last up to 8-10 months if stored properly in a cool, dry place and tightly sealed. For these, it is not recommended that you freeze them since their shelf life is already extended.
Can You Eat Breadcrumbs Raw?
Yes, most breadcrumbs you can eat raw. Store-bought or homemade, the ingredients in breadcrumbs are usually safe to consume as is as long as you aren’t adding any egg to your homemade breadcrumbs. Be wary of reading the label prior however, as some encourage them to be fully cooked prior to using, such as Ian’s original panko breadcrumbs mentioned above.
Why Do Meatballs Need Breadcrumbs?
Breadcrumbs act as a binder. This is why you will find them in recipes such as meatballs, crab cakes, burgers, and the like. When mixed with wet ingredients, breadcrumbs help to hold things together so they can maintain their shape while cooking.