Salt to panko ratio?

Anyone have a good, workable ratio for Kosher salt to panko for breading mixtures (barring other salty elements, like Parmesan)? I always salt to taste but I tend to feel like it's kind of a crapshoot b/c Kosher salt seems to concentrate at the bottom of the mix so it's hard for me to gauge how it'll turn out. I'd love to just have a reliable "go-to" ratio. Also wondering if people season flour AND bread crumbs when breading, or just bread crumbs?

Kristen W.
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10 Comments

Kristen W.
Kristen W. April 23, 2012
Thanks so much for all the great information -- I found the Wondra flour today at Target, btw, and am looking forward to trying it out. I am so appreciative of this hotline!
 
Sam1148
Sam1148 April 21, 2012
To expand a bit on my answer. Look up "wondera flour" it's a old product sold in shaker top blue tubes in your baking section. "Instant Flour" as it's sometimes called.

It's extremely handy to keep on hand, especially for things that need a light dusting of flour. Especially good for fish and chicken. It also incorporates very well to thicken a sauce while cooking the sauce when warm.

It's all the rage now with 'modernist' cooks that have rediscovered it...but grandmothers used all the time in the 60's and 70's for fish, chicken cutlets and sauces.
http://www.food52.com/blog/2316_le_bernardins_crispyskinned_fish
 
Kristen W.
Kristen W. April 21, 2012
P.S. Sam1148, specifically I was wanting to bread and pan fry some eggplant (and I know that brining the eggplant in salt will provide seasoning, but I've had the dish with no seasoning in the breading and it tasted totally bland to me). I was also thinking of this as a general question but I see it might not be applicable as such.
 
Sam1148
Sam1148 April 21, 2012
Eggplant is kinda tricky. The small Japaneese or Asian types typically don't need much attention as their seeds very tiny and not bitter. For those I'd just lightly salt them and slice into 'french fry' cuts.
And use a tempura batter to fry.

The larger ones with dark seeds can usually require some salting and resting, rinsing and drying with some towels to remove the salt/brine...a dry salt not a technical brine.

I'd treat them like steaks..with a 45 min kosher salt seasoning. (it takes that long to let the salt move moisture out and then back in with the salt to season)
And a bit of salt in the breading mixture.

As for ratios, I usually go 1/2 tsp salt to 1 cup of breading...but then again I really love salt.
 
Kristen W.
Kristen W. April 21, 2012
Sam1148, yes, that makes sense. I've just gotten frustrated lately with a bit of inconsistency in the seasoning department due to lack of experience. But there's no substitute for experience other than experience, I guess.
 
Kristen W.
Kristen W. April 21, 2012
ChefOno, yes, I thought of that just as I pressed "submit"!

I don't know where I got the idea that I should salt breading before cooking. Perhaps I was generalizing from a specific recipe without realizing it. Also, at some point think I must've waited too long after cooking to salt b/c I had this idea that the salt would just bounce off the coating if I did that. If that won't happen, then I'll try that.
 
Sam1148
Sam1148 April 21, 2012
I'd have to ask what are you making? There's no hard answer here as it can change depending on the dish; was it brined before like a chicken or pork cut? or a Fish breaded and fried?

You have to use your judgment there as each element can often it's own salt to the mix.
 
Kristen W.
Kristen W. April 21, 2012
ChefOno, do you have a ratio with respect to salt for making your own seasoned bread crumbs, or do you just salt to taste?
 
ChefOno
ChefOno April 21, 2012

I don't think you can transfer that information to your panko because the seasonings include shallots, garlic and herbs; the whole mixture needs to be in balance.

Is there any reason you can't season after cooking?
 
ChefOno
ChefOno April 21, 2012

If I'm making my own seasoned bread crumbs, I'll add salt then because it will stick to the butter and other ingredients. Otherwise, I finish with salt after frying.

I know some chefs salt the flour but I think I have more control salting the meat.

 
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