Gerbs Panko is a type of flaky breadcrumb. It’s commonly used in Asian cuisine, although it has become more popular and widely available in Western cooking. Panko has a light, airy, and delicate texture that helps it crisp as it cooks. The texture of panko makes it especially wonderful for fried food because it absorbs less oil than breadcrumbs, keeping food more crisp and crunchy. On its own, panko has little to no flavor. It can be used as a crunchy topping to add texture to baked casseroles, like macaroni and cheese, as a breaded coating for fried foods, or as a binder for meatballs. It’s also commonly used in Japanese cooking.