5 ways to make bread last longer
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5 ways to make bread last longer
How to store your bread so that it stays fresh for as long as possible.
Bagels, sourdough, flatbreads, and rye: bread comes in all shapes and sizes and forms part of our staple diet. But while we enjoy munching through a plethora of bakes, it’s one of the most wasted food products.
With a short shelf life, bread is quick to turn dry, and is promptly banished to the bin. And there’s certainly no hope left for this staple food once it turns fuzzy with mold.
So, if you want to cut your food waste and save money on your food shop, make sure you follow our five tips on how to keep your bread fresh for longer.
1. Freeze your bread
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Is that amount of bread too much to eat in one sitting? Have you accidentally put your bread machine into overdrive? Put it in the refrigerator for a few hours. If you can only eat one or two slices at a time, slicing the loaf and placing each slice between two pieces of wax paper will make it much simpler for you to remove the slices. To prevent the bread from becoming contaminated with ice crystals while it is being frozen, make sure that it is well-wrapped and placed inside a freezer bag before being placed in the freezer.
Because a whole loaf has a propensity to go soggy if left out on a workstation while it is defrosting, it is best to place it in the refrigerator overnight when you are ready to use it. If you don't have the time to wait, you can put the loaf in a warm oven that has been preheated to 325 degrees Fahrenheit for thirty minutes. Additionally, frozen bread slices can be toasted without any additional preparation. Simply add some butter!
Freezing bread is the most effective approach to prevent a loaf from becoming stale and assures that you will always have a supply available. The one and only drawback is that you have to take a mental note to remove the loaf from the refrigerator at the appropriate time so that you can consume it.
2. Buy a bread box
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Your bread will maintain its quality and aroma for approximately three days when stored in a bread box, which offers the ideal atmosphere for storage and protects it from dust and other contaminants. How exactly do they function? When the bread is well sealed, it maintains its freshness for a longer period. This is because there is less air flowing, which is what causes the bread to go stale more quickly.
On the other hand, you should opt for a bread box that has small holes in it. These holes will allow some air to circulate, which will keep the bread from becoming moldy. In addition, keep in mind that keeping the bread wrapped in a paper bag will yield the finest possible outcomes.
Although storing bread in a bread box is a fantastic option for freezing it, there will still be some humidity. This means that the more bread you keep, the higher the humidity will be; thus, for the best results, make sure that your bread box is balanced. On the other hand, if your household is anything like mine, there is never enough bread around for it to get stale or moldy because it is never there for long enough.
3. Keep bread away from heat
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Because of the high potential for heat and humidity in the kitchen, it is not always the ideal setting for maintaining the bread's freshness. The bread will dry out more quickly when exposed to heat, resulting in a crunchier mouthfeel as opposed to a silky one.
If you want your bread to stay fresh for as long as possible, you should keep it in a cool, dry place that is out of direct sunlight and away from any heat sources, such as the top of the refrigerator or freezer. Instead of storing your bread in a warm place, it is preferable to store it in a cold area (at room temperature or lower), such as on your kitchen countertop or, if you have a pantry, in a dark pantry.
4. Wrap it in paper
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Even though many loaves are offered in plastic wrappers, this packaging could be better for maintaining the bread's freshness. Plastic actually promotes the formation of mold because it prevents moisture from escaping the bag and also makes the crust more pliable. Consequently, if you want to keep your crust fresh for a longer period, you should use a paper bag rather than a plastic wrapper. A paper bag will permit just the right amount of air to flow without retaining any moisture or fostering the growth of mold.
After you have sliced your loaf, another piece of advice is to make sure the end that was cut off is covered so that it does not dry out any further. If you are unsure whether or not it is sufficiently protected, place it inside a second paper bag.
5. Know your bread
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If stored at room temperature, bread has a shelf life of anywhere from three to seven days; however, the longevity of your bread will ultimately be determined by the ingredients it contains. Therefore, even while you can select a method of storage that will assist you in maintaining the freshness of your bread, the rate at which it will grow stale or moldy will be in part determined by the components.
Consider whether your bread is made with whole grains or refined flour as one way to think about this. If your bread only has the essential elements—wheat, water, salt, and yeast—it will get stale much more quickly than enriched bread, which includes fats and sugars that keep the bread fresher for a longer period. Basic ingredients include flour, water, salt, and yeast. Your homemade loaf is therefore much more likely to become dry much more quickly than a commercially prepared loaf, which typically contains preservatives to extend its life and keep it fresh for longer.
If you want to bake your own bread or buy a loaf that has a longer shelf life, it is helpful to know which types of bread last longer so that you may select the appropriate recipe or decide which type of loaf to buy.
Top tips to use up stale bread
Despite your best attempts to maintain the freshness of your bread, there will be occasions when you are only left with dry pieces that are simply not appetizing enough to be turned into sandwiches or even toast. However, you may make a wide variety of delicious delights that are much better when you use stale bread. In addition to that, they are useful in reducing the amount of food that is thrown out.
Devour some scrumptious French toast, indulge in a bread and butter pudding, or chow down on some crunchy croutons that have been liberally sprinkled on top of a bowl of comforting soup. You could also grind up some bread into crumbs and keep them in the freezer to use as a topping for food.
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