1 Cup Breadcrumbs in Grams

1 cup of breadcrumbs weighs 112 g (spooned and levelled, King Arthur Baking). Fine, dry crumbs from baked bread. All the figures on this page are approximate conversions based on the King Arthur Baking value, so when a recipe really matters, verify with a kitchen scale.

Why weighing breadcrumbs beats measuring it in cups

Breadcrumbs weigh 112 g per cup, and the figure depends on how fine the crumbs are. Fine, dry breadcrumbs pack tightly and weigh more per cup than coarse, fresh breadcrumbs, which are fluffy and full of air. The 112 g figure is for fine, dry breadcrumbs, the kind sold in a box or made from dried bread, and it is the form most recipes mean when they call for a cup of breadcrumbs. Fresh breadcrumbs made from soft bread can weigh as little as 60 g per cup, so the two are not interchangeable by volume, and a recipe that calls for dry crumbs and gets fresh ones will be short on crumbs and long on moisture.

Breadcrumbs play three different roles in cooking, and the weight matters for each. As a coating, they need to cover the surface evenly, and too few crumbs leave bare patches while too many make a thick, heavy crust. As a binder in meatballs, they absorb moisture and hold the mixture together, and the ratio of crumbs to meat decides whether the meatballs are tender or dense. As a topping on a gratin, they need to be just enough to crisp without forming a thick layer. In all three cases, weighing the crumbs is more reliable than measuring them by the cup, because crumb size varies by brand and by how they were made.

Breadcrumbs cups to grams conversion table

Cups Grams Tablespoons
1/4 cup 28 g 4
1/3 cup 37.3 g 5.3
1/2 cup 56 g 8
2/3 cup 74.7 g 10.7
3/4 cup 84 g 12
1 cup 112 g 16
1 1/2 cups 168 g 24
2 cups 224 g 32
3 cups 336 g 48
4 cups 448 g 64

One tablespoon of breadcrumbs weighs about 7 g, since a cup is 16 tablespoons. That is useful when a recipe calls for a spoonful or two rather than a whole cup, though for small amounts a scale that reads to the gram is far more reliable than a spoon, because a heaped tablespoon can weigh half as much again as a level one.

Worked examples

Breading chicken for four

Breading chicken for four people uses about 1 cup of breadcrumbs, which is 112 g, seasoned with salt, pepper and herbs. Set up a breading station with flour, beaten egg and the breadcrumbs, and weigh 112 g so the coating is even. Press the crumbs onto the chicken firmly so they stick, and let the breaded chicken rest for ten minutes before frying so the coating sets.

Meatballs for six

Meatballs for six people use about 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs, which is 56 g, mixed with 500 g of minced meat, an egg and herbs. The breadcrumbs absorb moisture and keep the meatballs tender, and weighing 56 g keeps the ratio right: too many crumbs and the meatballs are dry and bready, too few and they fall apart.

Gratin topping for a family dish

A gratin topping for a family-sized dish uses about 3/4 cup of breadcrumbs, which is 84 g, mixed with grated cheese and a drizzle of oil. Scatter the crumbs evenly over the top and bake until golden and crisp. Weighing 84 g gives you a thin, crisp layer rather than a thick, heavy one, and the crumbs will brown evenly without burning.

How the weight was measured

Spooned and levelled means spooning the ingredient into the measuring cup until it is heaped, then sweeping a straight knife across the top to level it off. Never scoop the cup through the bag or jar, and never tap the cup down, because both pack the ingredient and add weight. The difference between a spooned cup and a scooped cup can be 15 to 25 percent, which is enough to change a bake from tender to tough, so the method matters as much as the number.

The source for the figure on this page is King Arthur Baking, and the confidence in the value is high. King Arthur Baking publishes a standard ingredient weight chart that recipe developers use as a reference, and this page follows that chart rather than any single cookbook. Where the chart gives a range or a note, we say so plainly instead of hiding the uncertainty. All the figures here are approximate conversions: natural ingredients vary by brand, variety, moisture and how finely they are chopped or ground, so when a recipe really matters, verify the weight with a kitchen scale.

Practical guidance

Store dry breadcrumbs in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months, because they go stale and pick up kitchen smells quickly. Make your own by drying stale bread in a low oven and blitzing it in a food processor, and sieve the crumbs if you want them fine. Check whether a recipe means dry or fresh breadcrumbs, because the two weigh very differently per cup: dry crumbs are 112 g per cup and fresh crumbs can be half that. Season the crumbs before using them, because plain crumbs are bland, and do not press them down in the cup when measuring, because that packs them and adds weight. If you do not have a scale, spoon the crumbs loosely into the cup and level it, remembering that the 112 g figure is approximate.

Common mistakes with grains and crumbs

The most common mistake is measuring grains and crumbs by scooping the cup through the bag. Scooping compresses the contents and a cup can easily hold a fifth more than a spooned cup, which changes the liquid balance of a porridge, a stuffing or a coating. Spoon and level, or weigh. The second mistake is confusing cooked and uncooked weights: a cup of dry barley and a cup of cooked barley are entirely different ingredients, and recipes that mix them up fail badly. This page covers the dry ingredient only. The third is storing crumbs and grains in the open bag: they go stale and pick up kitchen smells within weeks, so decant into an airtight jar. Finally, do not substitute panko for fine breadcrumbs cup for cup: panko is far lighter, so the same volume weighs less than half as much and the coating comes out thin and patchy.

Frequently asked questions

How many grams is 1 cup of breadcrumbs?

1 cup of fine, dry breadcrumbs weighs 112 g when spooned and levelled, according to King Arthur Baking. The figure is approximate, because crumb size varies, so verify with a kitchen scale when it matters.

Are dry and fresh breadcrumbs the same weight?

No. Dry breadcrumbs are 112 g per cup, while fresh breadcrumbs made from soft bread can weigh as little as 60 g per cup, because they are fluffy and full of air and moisture. Check which kind a recipe means before measuring.

How many cups is 100 g of breadcrumbs?

100 g of breadcrumbs is about 0.89 cups, or just under 1 cup. At 112 g per cup, divide 100 by 112 to get the answer, and use a scale for the most accurate result.

Can I use panko instead of breadcrumbs?

You can, but weigh it rather than measuring by volume. Panko is far lighter at 50 g per cup, so a cup-for-cup swap leaves the coating thin and patchy. Use about twice the volume of panko, or weigh the same weight and accept a lighter, crispier coating.

How do I make breadcrumbs at home?

Dry stale bread in a low oven until crisp, then blitz it in a food processor until you have the fineness you want. Sieve the crumbs if you want them fine, and store them airtight for up to 6 months.

Related conversions

If you need a different amount, the table above scales in both directions, and the converter tool will do the maths for any quantity. When a recipe really matters, weigh the ingredient on a kitchen scale rather than trusting the cup alone, because the figures on this page are approximate and natural ingredients vary by brand, variety and moisture.