One common way to increase the shelf life of bread is to freeze it until it's time to use it again. That's why you can actually buy several loaves of bread at once, then freeze the rest so that you don't have to go to the supermarket every time you want to eat bread. After all, some supermarkets offer lower prices for bread purchased in bulk, you know! However, in contrast to bread slices which can be softened easily when consumed, whole breads such as baguettes, sourdoughs, or focaccia require a few tricks to soften perfectly. Come on, read this article to find tips on storing, freezing, and softening bread so that fresh and delicious bread is always available whenever you need it!
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Part 1 of 3: Softening Frozen Bread Slices
Step 1. Soften the bread slices as much as needed
If you only want to eat a few slices of bread, simply soften the amount you want to eat. Don't soften the whole loaf if you don't want to use it all up, or the leftovers will need to be refrozen in the freezer.
- Be careful, freezing bread repeatedly can make the texture dry, hard, or taste not fresh.
- Prepare as many frozen bread slices as you want to soften, and put the rest back in the freezer.
- If the bread slices stick together, try separating them with the help of a fork or knife.
Step 2. Arrange the bread slices on a heatproof plate
Remove the bread slices you wish to soften, and arrange them on the prepared plate. Most tableware is actually safe to heat in the microwave. However, if you're not sure, try checking the bottom of the plate to see if there's a "microwave safe" printed on it.
- Do not cover the surface of the bread with anything. Just arrange the slices of bread with a little space.
- Some bakers recommend wrapping frozen bread in paper towels before rewarming it in the microwave.
- Use dishes that are safe to heat in the microwave.
- Do not use disposable plates or other plastic containers.
Step 3. Use the microwave to warm the frozen bread slices
While it can't be used to soften most whole breads, a microwave can do a good job softening and warming slices of bread. As it softens, the starch in each slice of bread will crystallize. As a result, all the moisture contained in the frozen bread will come out (known as the retrogradation process). Then, the microwave is also able to destroy the crystals and make the texture of the bread soft again, even the temperature is warm again.
- Set the microwave to full power.
- Warm the slices of bread in the microwave at 10 second intervals. In other words, check the condition of the bread every 10 seconds to determine if the condition of the bread is suitable for serving.
- It shouldn't take more than 15 to 25 seconds for the bread slices to soften completely. However, the time may vary depending on the type of microwave you are using.
- Do not warm the bread in the microwave for more than a minute to prevent the bread from getting too hot. Make sure the temperature of the bread is not too hot when eating!
- Remember, microwave-warmed bread tends to be too tough or even hard, especially since the microwave will turn the water into steam, which can evaporate the moisture in the bread.
Step 4. Warm the frozen bread slices with the help of a toaster
Don't have a microwave or don't want to use it? Try warming frozen bread in the toaster. However, be aware that this method will not work effectively for whole breads. That's why it's best to use a toaster only to warm sliced bread!
- Set the toaster on the “defrost” or “frozen” setting to warm frozen slices of bread.
- Again, make sure the bread doesn't get too hot and end up scorching.
Part 2 of 3: Softening Frozen Whole Bread
Step 1. Let the bread sit at room temperature
If you don't have an oven or aren't in a hurry, allow the bread to soften at room temperature. However, understand that the time it takes will depend largely on the size and thickness of the bread. To check the condition, you can either slice some of the bread or squeeze it gently and observe how soft it is.
- Remove the bread from the freezer.
- Leave the bread in the bag, and place it on the kitchen table.
- At room temperature, it will generally take about three to four hours for bread to soften completely.
- When it is ready to be consumed, the texture of the bread will soften even though the temperature is not too warm. In addition, the skin of the bread will not feel crispy. If the interior of the bread feels too soft, it is likely that the bread is stale or has become too soft after freezing.
- Softening bread in the oven is the method most bakers recommend.
Step 2. Use the oven to soften the frozen bread
In fact, this is the fastest and most efficient method of thawing frozen bread rather than refrigerating it at room temperature. With this method, the temperature will return to warm and the taste will resemble freshly baked bread.
- Preheat the oven to 175°C first.
- While waiting for the oven to heat up, remove the bread from the freezer and remove the bag that was wrapping it.
- Place the frozen loaf onto the middle rack of the oven.
- Set the timer at 40 minutes. This should be enough time to warm all the bread.
- Remove the bread from the oven and let it rest on the counter for a few minutes until it cools down.
Step 3. Soften bread that feels hard, dry, and no longer fresh
When it will be softened, sometimes the bread feels no longer fresh or very dry. Do not worry. This condition can actually be easily restored by applying the following tips:
- Try slightly dampening the surface of the bread with cold, clean water. For example, you can run the bread under tap water, or wipe the surface with a damp paper towel until it's damp.
- Then, wrap the damp loaf in aluminum foil. Make sure the bread is wrapped tightly to trap the moisture in it well.
- Place the bread wrapped in aluminum foil on the middle rack of the oven. Make sure the oven is preheated to allow the bread to warm up gradually.
- Set the oven to 150°C.
- Smaller whole breads (such as baguettes or bread rolls) generally only need to warm up for 15 to 20 minutes. Meanwhile, larger, thicker buns may need to warm up for 30 minutes.
- Remove the bread from the oven, remove the aluminum foil, then return the bread to the oven and warm for five minutes to allow the crust to return to a crisp.
- If the condition of the bread is no longer fresh, this method is only able to maintain the soft texture of the bread within a few hours. Therefore, try to finish it in that time before the texture of the bread gets dry again.
Step 4. Restore the texture of the softened crust
If the crust is no longer crispy after being kept at a very humid temperature or frozen, don't worry, you can actually restore the crust texture with the help of the oven. However, don't forget to monitor the process so that the bread doesn't end up burning, instead it's crunchy and delicious when eaten.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C.
- Unwrap the softened bread bag and place the bread in the oven. Bread can be placed directly on the oven rack so that the skin texture is more crispy. However, you can also place the bread on a baking sheet, if you wish.
- Set the timer for five minutes, then warm the bread in the oven.
- After five minutes, remove the bread from the oven and let it rest at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. If it's sliced warm, chances are the slices won't be as neat.
Part 3 of 3: Storing Bread Properly to Maintain Its Quality
Step 1. Understand the average shelf life of bread
Generally, different types of bread can be stored in the freezer for the same amount of time. However, if the bread is frozen after its expiration date has passed, surely the quality will decrease. Therefore, if the bread has already been stored in the refrigerator, it is best not to freeze it when the bread has reached its expiration date.
- Generally, store-bought bread will remain good for two to three days after its expiration date if stored at room temperature. However, bread that has expired and is stored in the refrigerator usually will not be of good quality.
- Packaged bread slices can be consumed up to seven days after their expiration date if stored at room temperature. However, if the bread is stored in the refrigerator, you should not eat it past the expiration date printed on the packaging.
- Properly stored and frozen bread, regardless of type, should last up to six months in the freezer.
Step 2. Use a good quality clip-on plastic bag
Generally, plastic clip bags that are specifically used to store food in the freezer are made of a thicker material than ordinary plastic bags. In addition, the plastic bag is also designed to prevent food from crystallizing. Therefore, always use good quality containers that you can find in various supermarkets to ensure the freshness of the bread can be maintained properly.
- Place the whole loaf in a plastic clip bag. Then, blow any remaining air inside, and squeeze the remaining space tightly before closing the bag.
- Then, put the wrapped bread in a second plastic bag. Packing bread in two containers can help minimize the risk of deterioration.
Step 3. Freeze the bread properly to maintain its quality
The best way to keep bread fresh when it is softened is to use the correct method of freezing it. With the right temperature and storage conditions, bread should come out of the freezer in good condition.
- Try freezing bread right after you buy it to make sure it's still really fresh and not moldy, mushy, or even stale.
- Make sure your freezer is at -18°C so that the bread temperature remains stable and doesn't rot easily when stored.
- Write the freezing date on the plastic surface so you can monitor the expiration date. If you're freezing multiple loaves of bread at the same time, place the freshest bread on the very back so you can finish the lower-fresh bread first.
- Leave the bread in the freezer until it's time to eat it. Do not expose bread to significant changes in temperature.
- As much as possible, avoid packing and freezing bread in humid weather. Be careful, excess air humidity can make the bread soggy or even damp.
Step 4. Store bread the right way, before and after freezing
Bread that has not been frozen and has been softened must be stored properly to maintain its quality and taste in the future!
- It's best not to store bread in the refrigerator. Although it can prevent mold growth, the cold temperature in the refrigerator can also dry out the texture of the bread in a short time.
- Quality crusted bread will hold up well if it is stored in a paper bag and consumed the same day it is purchased. That kind of bread won't freeze as well as whole white bread!
- Whole white bread should always be stored at room temperature.
- It's best to store whole white bread in its container, plastic bag, or bread container with proper ventilation.
Step 5. Finish the bread in the right time
Although the freshness of bread will generally be well preserved in the freezer, understand that the quality will not be excellent forever. In other words, frozen bread also has an expiration date so it's best to use it within a few weeks of being frozen, if possible.
- Some bakers recommend that you finish frozen bread for a maximum of three months. However, some bakers recommend taking just one month to finish frozen whole bread.
- So, what factors can determine the storage time of bread? Some of them are the type of bread that is frozen, the condition of the bread before it is frozen, and the stability of the temperature of the bread in the freezer.
- Whole bread can deteriorate if it's frozen for too long or if it's left exposed to too drastic temperature changes.
