When it comes to storing bread, the fridge is your biggest enemy. Bread spoils faster if stored in the refrigerator than if it is at room temperature. The best way to store bread is to put it at room temperature for a day or two, then wrap and freeze it for a longer storage time. When you defrost it and reheat it, the bread will taste like it was freshly baked again.
Step
Step 1. Wrap the bread in plastic or aluminum foil
This type of bread wrap will seal in the natural moisture of the bread, which will prevent the bread from drying out and hardening. If your bread is still wrapped in paper, discard the paper and replace it with plastic or aluminum foil for storage.
- If you have sliced bread, you can seal it in its original plastic packaging. Manufacturers of this type of bread recommend keeping the bread in the package to keep it moist.
- Some types of artisanal bread are left wrapped in paper, or even left unwrapped on the display table with the cut side down. This will keep the outer crust of the bread crisp, but because the bread is exposed to air for several hours, the bread will spoil quickly.
Step 2. Put the bread at room temperature for no more than two days
The room should be at a temperature of about 20ºC. Keep out of direct sunlight and store in a cool, dry place, such as in a kitchen cupboard or in a bread box.
If your home is very humid, your bread may mold faster when placed at room temperature. If this happens, you can freeze the bread immediately after eating as much of it as you want while the bread is still fresh
Step 3. Freeze the excess bread
If you have excess bread that you can't eat before it spoils in a few days, the best way to store it is to freeze it. The freezing process can lower the temperature of the bread to stop the crystallization of the starch contained in it. This starch can cause damage to bread.
- Be sure to store bread in a plastic freezer bag or heavy-duty foil, as regular light foil is not suitable for freezing.
- Mark and write the date on the bread wrapper to make it easier to identify.
- Consider slicing the bread before freezing it. That way, you won't have to slice the bread while it's still frozen, and often times that have gone through the defrosting process will be difficult to slice.
Step 4. Do not store bread in the refrigerator
Scientific research shows that storing bread in the refrigerator will attract moisture and bread will spoil three times faster than at room temperature. This occurs from a process known as "retrogradation", which simply means the starch molecules will form crystals and the bread will harden.
Step 5. Defrost the frozen bread
If you have frozen bread, let it thaw at room temperature. Remove the freezer pack and let it rest. If desired, you can bake the bread in the oven or toaster for a few minutes (no more than 5 minutes) to restore the crispness. Be aware that bread can only be reheated once to restore its crispness, otherwise you are only reheating bread that has spoiled.
Tips
- Some people believe that the crust/tip of the bread acts as a "cover" to help retain moisture on the inside of the bread.
- If you brought home freshly baked bread or you baked it yourself and chose to place it in a plastic bag, wait for the bread to cool. Bread that retains heat in it will become soggy. Freshly baked bread will still do well if placed on the counter for a few hours to cool before wrapping.
- Bread with oil or fat content can last longer; for example bread made from olive oil, eggs, butter, etc.
