How to Store Bread

Last Updated: March 29, 2023 References Tested

When it comes to storing bread, you've got a whole lot of choices. Some are better than others, depending on what kind of bread you're looking to store. Whether you've just baked a loaf or recently bought fresh bread from the store, this article is here to help. Read on for how to store your bread to keep it tasting fresh!

1

Let the bread rest uncovered on the day that you make it.

Make sure it's kept at room temperature at around 68 °F (20 °C), too. After you bake the bread, leave it uncovered on the counter until you store it for the night. This lets the bread breathe.^{[1]
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- To make sure your fresh bread doesn't go stale, you might want to skip straight to freezing it after you've eaten as much as you want while it's fresh. Just wait 3-4 hours to let the bread cool down first.^{[2]
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- If your baked bread goes stale, it doesn't have to go to waste. Use the bread to make breadcrumbs or croutons.^{[3]
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2

Wrap store-bought bread in plastic or aluminum foil.

Both trap the bread's natural moisture to keep it from drying out. If your store-bought bread came in paper wrapping, toss it out and wrap it in plastic or aluminum foil to store it. Keep sliced, processed bread that's been wrapped in plastic in its original plastic packaging. This helps the bread retain its natural moisture. Store it in a breadbox overnight for maximum freshness.^{[4]
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- Some swear by leaving unsliced artisanal bread in the paper wrapper or even leaving it unwrapped on the counter with the cut side face-down. This retains the bread's crispiness, but it may cause the bread to go stale faster.^{[5]
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3

Wrap your homemade bread in foil and store it in a breadbox overnight.

Both keep the bread from going stale. If you don't have a breadbox, wrap homemade or fresh, store-bought bread in aluminum foil and leave it on the counter overnight. To ensure maximum freshness, stick it in a breadbox for the night after you've wrapped it in foil. A breadbox provides the perfect amount of ventilation so that your bread maintains its moisture as well as its crispy crust.^{[6]
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- Just make sure you don't overstuff the breadbox. Overfilling it raises the humidity level, which may cause your bread to get soggy.
- Don't store your bread in a breadbox if you wrap it in a paper bag. This can lead to excess moisture, which damages the crust. Wrap it in aluminum foil instead.

4

Avoid putting bread in the refrigerator.

Scientific studies show that this draws out the moisture. This can cause the bread to become stale 3 times faster than it would at room temperature. This happens from a process known as "retrogradation," which simply means that the starch molecules crystallize and the bread gets tough.^{[7]
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5

Freeze your bread to ensure it lasts.

This method works for homemade and store-bought bread. Freezing your bread stops the starch in the bread from recrystallizing and getting stale.^{[8]
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Research source} If you have more bread than you can consume within 2-3 days, the best way to store it is by freezing.^{[9]
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- Freeze store-bought and homemade bread in plastic freezer bags or heavy-duty foil, as lightweight household foil isn't suitable for freezing.^{[10]
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- Label and date it to prevent it from becoming a mystery cube.
- If it's homemade or unsliced, consider slicing your bread before you freeze it. That way you won't have to slice it while it's frozen or thawed, which can be pretty difficult.^{[11]
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6

Thaw frozen bread.

If you have frozen your bread, allow it to thaw at room temperature. Remove the freezer wrapping and let it stand. If you'd like, crisp it in the oven or toaster for a few minutes (no more than 5) to restore crustiness. Be aware that bread is only good for reheating once to return crustiness, after which you are simply reheating stale bread.^{[12]
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- Crisp your bread in the oven at 350 °F (177 °C) for 10 minutes.

7

Store slices in individual plastic bags when you're camping.

Take the slices in pairs and keep them in their own bags. Seal each bag shut and make sure there's not any air left inside. Store all of the bags in another plastic bag (preferably the one the bread was originally packaged in). The individual, airtight bags help your bread stay fresh while also protecting it from extra moisture and bacteria.^{[13]
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- Use a breadbox to cut back on plastic. These are ventilated storage containers that keep your bread cool and free of excess moisture.^{[14]
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- While you're camping, keep the bread out of direct sunlight. The heat (and moisture it brings along with it) can be a breeding ground for bacteria.^{[15]
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- Bring pre-packaged bread to go camping if you don't want to worry. Fresh-baked bread doesn't keep as long as pre-packaged bread since it doesn't have any preservatives.^{[16]
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Community Q&A

Question

How can you prevent homemade yeast bread from molding or going stale?

Community Answer

Wrap the bread tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap, then freeze it. Before you defrost your bread, remember to unwrap it first. Otherwise, the water from the melting ice crystals get trapped on the surface of the bread, leaving you with soggy slices.
Question

Will air in my bag of bread make it go stale faster?

Community Answer

Yes, having air in the bag will make the bread go stale faster.
Question

How should I store the bread if I don't have electricity?

Community Answer

Simply store it in a cool, dark place.