13 Ways To Prevent Fresh Bread From Going Stale

Few smells are more wholesome and appetizing than that of freshly baked bread. Whether you buy it at a bakery or make it at home, there simply is no substitute for bread that’s just come out of the oven. While it’s easy to buy and make great bread, keeping it fresh for several days is often more challenging.

To prevent fresh bread from going stale you must wrap or cover it. Use a paper bag, aluminum foil, an airtight container, or even a large Ziplock bag to lock in freshness. If you don't eat all the bread immediately, consider freezing some of it. Remember, not all bread stays fresh for the same amount of time, so consider buying breads known for their longevity.

Is your fresh bread constantly getting stale before you finish it? If it is, you need to figure out new ways to keep it fresh. If you follow the various methods to keep bread fresh listed below, you should be able to enjoy every slice of bread as if it was baked that day.

How Long Does Bread Stay Fresh?

Once you buy or make bread you can expect it to maintain its peak freshness for at least two days if it is stored properly. Some breads easily stay fresh for upwards of a week when stored at room temperature. Breads made with fresh ingredients and no preservatives go stale faster than those you find in the grocery store that are loaded with preservatives.

If you place bread in the freezer, it can stay fairly fresh and safe to eat for three months or longer. If you want to ensure none of your tasty bread goes stale, you need to take measures to preserve its freshness for as long as possible.

13 Top Tips To Help Your Bread Stay Fresh Longer

1. Wrap In Aluminum Foil

One common and great way to help prevent your fresh bread from going stale is to wrap it in aluminum foil. The foil acts as a barrier between the bread and outside elements. This helps lock in moisture, which is crucial in preventing bread from going stale. 

It also keeps outside odors from entering the bread and does a decent job controlling humidity.

2. Store In A Paper Bag

Another way to prevent bread from going stale is to store it in a paper bag. Paper acts as a barrier similar to foil, but it allows the bread to “breathe” a bit. This is helpful when it comes to storing moist bread, as foil and plastic may lock in too much moisture. This can make the bread taste wet and can cause mold. 

This method doesn’t lock in moisture as well as other methods though, so paper bags aren’t great for breads that tend to dry out easily.

3. Use A Large Airtight Container

If you bake bread regularly, or religiously buy bread from your favorite bakery, then consider purchasing a large container to store this glutenous treat. An airtight container makes it very easy to lock in a bread’s freshness, as long as it has cooled completely. 

It is also a great reusable method, as you can use the same container for years. Make sure you buy a container that is large enough to fit any loaf of bread you may buy. 

4. Large Ziplock Bags

Ziplock bags can come in gallon sizes and sometimes even larger sizes. These large bags can make a great vessel to store fresh bread at room temperature. The locking technology in the bag keeps in the freshness, and prevents exposed bread from going stale. 

Just make sure the bread is completely cool before closing the bag, as warm bread can give off moisture and make the inside of the bag wet.

5. Buy A Bread Box

Bread boxes used to be a household staple, but are far less common than they once were. If you always keep freshly baked bread in the house, and want it readily available, then consider placing a bread box on your kitchen counter.

A bread box offers a pleasant balance of protection and airflow. The small slits allow enough airflow to prevent mold, but protects the bread from drying out.

6. Store Whatever You Won’t Eat Quickly In Freezer

If you love bread but never eat it quickly enough, then consider forming a new habit. Once you buy or bake fresh bread, you can cut it in half and immediately freeze half of it. When you freeze fresh bread and store it in an air-tight container, it can stay fresh for three months or longer.

This allows you to enjoy half your loaf fresh out of the oven, and the other half whenever you feel like thawing it out.

7. Keep Bread Away From Humidity

If your bread gets moldy, you need to find a less humid place to store it. If you live in a humid climate, consider using a dehumidifier, or using other methods to lower humidity in your home. You can also freeze bread that you won’t use immediately. Regardless of how you do it, try to find the least humid spot in your kitchen to store fresh bread.

8. The Crustier The Better

The crust on a loaf of bread can act as a natural barrier against dry air, and in turn, can keep your bread fresh longer. The key with crusty bread is to ensure the exposed and sliced section of the bread remains covered, as this is where the freshness escapes. If you want your bread to stay fresh longer, remember the crustier the bread, the better.

9. Allow Bread To Completely Cool Before Wrapping

Bread continues to release moisture, even after it comes out of the oven. You may be tempted to cover your bread as soon as you buy it or once you take it out of the oven. Resist this urge. Make sure your bread cools completely before cutting into it or storing it. Cutting into it early can release extra moisture and make it go stale faster. Wrapping it too quickly can cause mold to form.

10. Keep Bread Out Of The Fridge

Your refrigerator keeps most food fresh for a long time, but this is not true with bread. Your fridge tends to be more humid than almost any other part of your home. This means bread will get moldy faster in the fridge than if it’s left on the counter. The only exception to this is stuffed bread with dairy and meat ingredients that require refrigeration.

11. Avoid Sunny And Hot Locations

Bread needs heat to rise and bake, but once the baking process is finished, you must do your best to keep it away from high heat and direct sunlight. High heat and direct sunlight will dry out bread faster, as heat facilitates the evaporation of moisture in the bread. Keep your bread somewhere cool and dark.

12. Opt For Bread Varieties That Stay Fresh Longest

Bread is an all-encompassing term for all sorts of unique loaves. It should come as no surprise that with so many types of bread out there, some last longer than others. Some bread known for their long-lasting freshness includes sourdough, as well as bread like brioche and focaccia, which have a high fat content. Bread with lots of preservatives you find in some grocery stores also lasts a long time, but keep in mind they are also loaded with artificial ingredients.

13. Don’t Slice It In Advance

Bread might come pre-sliced from the grocery store, but if you pre-slice fresh bread, it will go stale very fast. When you slice bread, you expose all the surface area to air, which will dry it out. Instead, only slice bread right before you eat it to ensure it stays as fresh as possible.

Summing Up How To Prevent Fresh Bread From Going Stale

Fresh bread is one of the tastiest foods on the planet. Unfortunately, this baked item can get stale very quickly, especially if you don’t store it correctly. To ensure your bread stays fresh longer, you can cover it using foil, a paper bag, an airtight container, or a large Ziplock bag. If you have fresh bread all the time, consider investing in a bread box. Remember, you can store bread in the freezer for several months, but you should avoid putting bread in the fridge.

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