Bread is a basic product that exists in
different forms, made of different types of flour and is an inseparable
part of many people's diets. Some people bake their own bread and
pastries while others buy them at the supermarket or bakery, but all
bread poses the same problem; how do you keep it fresh and tasty for
longer?
Usually, 24 hours after the end of the
baking process, bread loses its crispness and taste, and many people
just accept this situation instead of realizing that they may be storing
it in unsuitable conditions. That’s why we've put together a number of
methods to help you keep your bread fresh for longer than usual.
2 ways and 5 methods to keep bread fresh
Pantry Storage
This is the most common method of keeping the bread fresh on the shelf
or in the pantry, and for it to be as effective as possible, you need to
know what kind of wrapping you should use on different types of bread.
Method 1: Different bags or covers
Plastic bags: When you buy bread in the supermarket, it usually
comes packaged in a plastic bag. In such cases, when you finish eating
the desired amount of bread, make sure the bag is well closed after use.
The bread should be placed on a shelf or in a pantry so that it can
maintain maximum freshness for about 2-3 days. It is important to note
that this method is not suitable for sourdough, home-baked, or artisan
bread since these types don’t contain preservatives and the fermentation
process which still occurs can lead to sweating conditions in the
plastic bag, making a great environment for mold.
Paper or cloth bags: Wrapping bread in these bags, beyond being an
economical, simple and ecological choice, is also recommended because it
does not allow dry air to penetrate and cause the bread to dry out,
thus keeping it moist and crisp. Paper and cloth bags also help prevent
the process of sweating which often leads to the formation of mold, and
they can be used for almost all types of bread.
Method 2: Wooden or tin bread box
One of the most effective ways to keep the bread fresh out of the
freezer is to store it in a wooden or tin box with an appropriate lid
that allows air and gases to be released from the box. If you want to
provide your bread with double the protection, you should wrap it in a
cloth or paper bag while storing inside a bread box. The box should be
placed in a dark, dry and cool place.
Tips for keeping bread fresh without freezing:
Don’t store bread above the refrigerator, as the heat from the back
of the refrigerator rises and can dry out the bread. The same heat also
can cause condensation in the storage bag which speeds up mold
formation.
A whole loaf of bread should be sliced from the middle out and not
from the end. This allows you to cut as many slices as you want and when
you're done you can “close” the loaf back up by placing the two ends
back together and storing.
Do not store bread, in any packing method, in a place that is too
hot and/or exposed to direct sunlight.
Bread should be kept in a dark, dry place.
It is not recommended at any stage to store bread in the
refrigerator, which speeds the formation of mold by up to 6 times,
causing bread to lose its taste and texture.
Freezer storage
Storing bread in the freezer is considered the most efficient method of
all and there are a number of good and easy ways to implement this
storage method which will help us keep our bread fresh over time.
Method 3: Double-wrapping bread in plastic
If you choose to store bread in the freezer, it is best to double wrap
it in plastic to prevent the penetration of unpleasant odors and to
prevent the formation of freezer burn on the bread.
Method Number 4: Do not freeze a whole loaf of bread
The reason why it is not recommended to keep a whole loaf of bread in
the freezer stems from the fact that it is very difficult, even almost
impossible, to slice frozen bread. This action is dangerous because the
center of the bread is an area that contains some liquids that freeze
into a block of ice which can cause the knife to slide when pressure is
applied. In addition, if you want to eat only a few slices of bread,
you’ll need to thaw the whole loaf, which will lead to the beginning of
the aging of the bread again, after which it is also not recommended to
freeze whatever is left. Therefore, freezing the whole loaf is only
recommended if you plan on eating it all in one sitting, however, it’s
always better to freeze bread that has been sliced, which leads us
directly to the next efficient method.
Method 5: Freeze slices
Freezing bread in slices is the best way to keep bread fresh for a long
time, because if you want to eat a few slices of bread, you don’t need
to thaw the entire loaf, only to get the desired amount. Here are tips
to help you do this effectively:
Storing a few slices of bread in a ziplock bag
Ziplock bags are commonly found in many homes, and in order to store
slices of bread in such a bag, all you’ll need is a simple plastic straw
and to do the following.
1. Put the bread slices into the bag and arrange them one on top of the
other, no more than 3-4 slices - depending on the size of the bag.
2. Put half of the length of the drinking straw in the bag and zip the
bag closed as much as you can without removing the straw.
3. Hold the bag in the area of the closing strip, place the straw in
your mouth and suck the air out of the bag forming a vacuum.
4. Remove the straw and quickly close the seal.
5. Now that the bag contains only a small amount of air and is sealed,
put it in the freezer until use.
Storing slices of bread with dividers
When bread sizes are frozen, the slices stick together, and when
separated, they sometimes break or crumble. It is therefore advisable to
use the following method, which will allow you to freeze a loaf of
sliced bread as a single unit but will still allow you to separate as
many slices as you want:
1. Take parchment paper and cut it into equal-sized squares slightly
larger than the size of a slice of bread.
2. Remove the bread slices from the bag in which they’re stored, and
place a piece of parchment paper between each slice.
3. Return the bread with the parchment paper back into the bag - it is
recommended, but not mandatory, to remove the air from the bag - and put
it in the freezer until your next use.
4. When you want a few slices of bread, simply remove the amount you
want easily by separating them without having them stick to each other.
5. Place the papers aside to dry (they will be slightly damp at first),
so you can use them again in your next loaf of bread.
Tips for keeping frozen bread fresh:
It is not recommended to freeze bread that has already been thawed.
Freezing bread, which has been outside for several hours or days and
has gone stale, or whose texture is no longer soft, will not cause it
to be fresh again once thawed. It will come out dry and exactly the same
texture it was when you put it in the freezer.
The maximum amount of time recommended for freezing bread is between
two and three months. Beyond that, it loses its taste and some of its
nutritional value.
Thawing frozen bread should be done in a natural cloth bag (without
heat) and at room temperature, or by wrapping the loaf of bread in
aluminum foil and placing it into a preheated oven at 300 degrees F (150
° C) for 5-10 minutes.
It is recommended to double-bag bread you intend to freeze: the
first bag should contain as little air as possible (you can use the
straw method) and the second bag will contain some air to create a space
that will prevent ice from forming on the bread.