The Best Ways to Keep Bread From Going Stale (2024)

FAQs

The Best Ways to Keep Bread From Going Stale? ›

Storing bread is a matter of managing temperature and humidity. It's best to keep bread at room temperature in a dark and airtight box. Traditional bread boxes were created for this specific purpose. If you don't have a bread box, you can store your loaf in a microwave, plastic food storage container or pantry.

Storing bread is a matter of managing temperature and humidity. It's best to keep bread at room temperature in a dark and airtight box. Traditional bread boxes were created for this specific purpose. If you don't have a bread box, you can store your loaf in a microwave, plastic food storage container or pantry.

The best thing you can do to truly prolong the life of your bread is to keep it in the freezer. Slicing it first (or cutting it into big chunks) allows you to remove portions as necessary so you don't run into the same problem of handling a whole loaf of bread. In this case, you can store your bread in plastic.

Bread storage takeaways

Store airtight with the two cut halves facing each other and pressed together. Wrapping bread to retain moisture keeps it soft, though it robs crusty artisan bread of its crispy crust. Wrapping in plastic (or foil) rather than cloth keeps bread soft longer.

Hydrocolloids can retain moisture in the bread. This is important because moisture plays a crucial role in the freshness and softness of bread. By holding onto water, hydrocolloids help prevent the bread from drying out too quickly, thus maintaining its moistness for longer.

The best container to keep bread in is one that provides airtight protection against moisture and air exposure. Wesco's bread bins are the best choice because of their level of quality and their stylish designs. If you're looking for the perfect bread storage solution, explore Wesco's Bread Bins Collection.

*Never keep your bread in the fridge. The starch molecules in bread recrystallize very quickly at cool temperatures, and cause the bread to stale much faster when refrigerated. *Shop-bought loaves should be kept in an air-tight plastic bag at room temperature rather than in the fridge.

Honey and pectin.

It was as simple as replacing the sugar with honey and adding 1 teaspoon of fruit pectin for every cup of flour in a recipe.

Calcium propionate: This is a commonly used preservative that is added to bread to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. Sorbic acid: This preservative is added to bread to inhibit the growth of molds, yeasts, and bacteria.

Paper bags are more breathable than plastic, which is great for brioche rolls, soft buns, and other breads with added fat. But too much air will make the bread go stale quickly. Consider keeping these bags airtight as best you can. Then there's the bread box: it balances moisture and air circulation.

Where is the best place to store bread? ›

You should keep your bread far away from the stove, the top of the fridge, or any area that's near sources of heat. Instead, your best bet it to keep it in a dark, cool section of your kitchen counter or your pantry.

Sandwich, loaf, or bakery breads available at the store often contain preservatives to prevent mold and increase shelf life. Without preservatives, bread lasts 3–4 days at room temperature ( 1 ). Some common bread preservatives include calcium propionate, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and sorbic acid.

Paper bags, kitchen towels, and plastic bags

Plain paper bags and kitchen towels also work very well to keep the bread from drying excessively. And while many sources say never to use a plastic bag, sometimes it might be necessary, especially if your climate demands it.

Consider how the bread is stored.

Improper sealing, overly thin packaging or anything else that results in the loss of moisture to the environment can speed the rate of staling. On the other hand, a complete lack of ventilation can quickly turn a crisp crust soft and encourage mold growth.

Refrigeration accelerates bread staling, speeding up the recrystallization of amylopectin and amylose. Unless you need stale bread for French toast, it's better to store your bread at room temperature. Or better yet, try freezing your bread.

And if you're using a sealed plastic bag, it'll cause your bread to get moldy. You should keep your bread far away from the stove, the top of the fridge, or any area that's near sources of heat. Instead, your best bet it to keep it in a dark, cool section of your kitchen counter or your pantry.