How Many Grams in a Cup of Panko Breadcrumbs?

Panko is Japanese-style breadcrumb made from crustless white bread, processed into large airy flakes that fry up lighter and crispier than standard fine dry breadcrumbs. One US cup of Panko weighs approximately 60 grams when spooned into a dry measuring cup and leveled—roughly half the weight of fine dry breadcrumbs at 108 grams per cup because the flakes trap more air.

Spoon Panko gently without packing or tapping the cup. Scooping directly from the bag compacts flakes and can push a cup past 70 grams. Weighing 60 grams per cup is the most reliable method for tonkatsu, katsu chicken, and baked casseroles where coating thickness matters.

The most common mistake is substituting Panko cup-for-cup using standard breadcrumb weights—108 grams of fine crumbs is nearly double the coating of 60 grams of Panko. Another error is confusing Panko with fresh soft breadcrumbs (about 120 grams per cup) or with regular dry crumbs on our breadcrumbs converter.

Store Panko sealed in a dry pantry for several months or freeze for longer storage. Substitute standard dry breadcrumbs at 108 grams per cup only when you accept a denser, less flaky crust—or use roughly 1.8 cups of Panko by volume for every 1 cup of fine dry crumbs by weight in adapted recipes.

At 60 grams per cup, Panko excels where excess breadcrumb weight would make fried foods heavy. Tonkatsu and chicken katsu recipes often specify Panko by cup; converting those cups to 60 grams keeps coating light. Brand variation exists—some boxes measure closer to 50–65 grams per cup depending on flake size—so weighing remains best for consistent results when switching brands mid-recipe.

When baking Panko-topped mac and cheese or gratins, toast Panko in butter after measuring by weight so the fat coats the measured 60 grams per cup rather than an unweighed mounded cup that may contain extra flakes.