How Do I Make Breadcrumbs Wihout A Food Processer?

[Stargazer]

I have just decided to make Queen of puddings and got all I needed before being snowed in. However, on reading various recipes online, they all say use fresh breadcrumbs and one says make them in a food processor. As I haven't got the latter can I make fresh breadcrumbs by hand? I bought a fresh thick sliced loaf for this purpose but imagine that it will be too soft and rubbery tio make into breadcrumbs. Any advice welcome.

[TheWinner]

Use just the crusts then, and use a cheese grater.

[rockyracoon]

I suppose you could use a cheese grater, it'd be hard work though.

Good luck.

[losgigs]

You should be able to use the fine side of a standard metal box-grater. Will do the main part of the bread but not the crusts.

[NID1]

Try a colander but dry the bread first(not in a microwave though) in a
convential oven

[Psybbo]

Do you have a blender?

[Stargazer]

I have got a blender. Can I use that? It says "fresh" bread crumbs. I know that my mother's home made bread would have been easy to "crumb" but not this rubbery sliced stuff.

[Smowball]

Would it work if you ever so slightly toasted the bread first to firm it up and then grate it??

[Psybbo]

I use my blender to make breadcrumbs, works fine

[SueMoneyRowley]

I make Queen of Puddings by breaking the bread into rough lumps and then heating the milk with the bread in it until the bread goes soggy, then I use my stick blender. It's much easier than grating breadcrumbs!

[society]

If the bread is not stale and hard, first toast it, then put it in a Ziploc bag and give it a good bashing with a rolling pin.

[Kiki-frog]

Fresh breadcrumbs just means crumbs from fresh bread, so stale or toasted bread won't be quite right. Your blender should be fine for this.

[Stargazer]

Thank you for your help. In spite of phoning Kenwood and being told not to use the blender, I did in fact use it to make perfect soft nhew breadcrumbs. I had to cut the bread into smallish squares and ony do about an ounce at a time though, otherwise the top pieces did not get crumbled. This is now in the over and my next problem is how to make perfect merangue. One online poster said to warm th egg whites in a bowl over hot water and add sugar before whisking until the egg white is shiny. I have never heard of this have you?

[Stargazer]

5. Whisk the egg whites and remaining sugar for about 4 minutes in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water until the sugar has dissolved (check by rubbing a little between your fingers; if it’s still grainy beat for a bit longer) and the whites have formed soft peaks. Spoon over the top of the pudding and swirl the top to form peaks. Bake for about 10 minutes, until the meringue has set and is lightly browned and crisp. Serve immediately.