In the first few weeks of lockdown way back in March, people quickly learned that eating out and ordering in wasn't on the menu. Very early on, they were hit with the fact that they'd have to cook two to three meals a day, every day for the foreseeable future.
Not ever being in this kind of situation before, they also had to take on the extra responsibilities that come with cooking that frequently, particularly meal planning and making what food they have last longer. That's what led to a massive surge for the following Google searches:
- "Freezer meal prep" (this has increased by 130%)
- "Best non-perishable foods" (this has increased by 50%)
- "Easy baked chicken recipes" (this has increased by 50%)
- "Freezing bread" (this has increased by 550%)
Since search terms for "freezing bread" have increased massively over the past few weeks and continue to do so, we wanted to write a quick article on the best ways to freeze bread.
These methods are for whatever bread you have, whether you want to freeze them in slices or as a whole loaf, and they allow you to maintain the freshness and flavour of your bread for months!
Editors Note: Check out our 6 Tips for Meal Planning (No Matter How Good a Cook You Are)
How to freeze slices of bread
One of the best ways to freeze bread is to cut them into slices or to divide the slices up if the bread already comes pre-sliced. Why? Because not many people eat a whole loaf at a time!
Freezing bread this way helps to make it last longer and minimise waste. Plus, you have delicious, butter-ready pieces of toast on hand!
Method:
- Slice the bread or divide the slices into twos or fours. If you baked a fresh loaf or you bought one fresh (and still hot) from the bakery, let it completely cool before cutting it into slices. If you want to freeze bread rolls of bagels, cut these in half.
- Seal tightly in cling film and then place in a resealable freezer bag. The double wrap is the secret to preserving freshness so don't skip it! Before sealing, squeeze out as much air as possible. Write what type of bread is in each bag (so you don't grab the wrong one) and the date of when you freeze it.
- Place in the freezer and try to use it within the first month or two. Although bread can be frozen for up to 8 months, you'll get the best results if you use it within the first month or two.
- Toast from frozen. You don't have to wait for it to thaw unless you want to. You can unwrap the slices and put them straight in the toaster or under the grill.
Find out how to freeze food without using plastic...
How to freeze a whole loaf of bread
If one of the best ways to freeze bread is in slices, why bother freezing a whole loaf? Put simply, you may have a big family or you're planning to have a dinner party so you need lots of carbs!
Method:
- Double-wrap a whole loaf of bread in foil and then cover with cling film or a resealable plastic bag. You can reuse some long-life bread bags so these are great for this. Again, don't forget the double wrap for freshness!
- Place in the freezer and try to use it within the first month or two. Although bread can be frozen for up to 8 months, you'll get the best results if you use it within the first month or two.
- When thawing, unwrap the cling film or take it out of its plastic bag and put it in the oven with the foil still on. Place it in a 200 degree C oven for 15-20 minutes. Remove the foil and then return to the oven for a few minutes so that the crust becomes crispy again.
- Slice to serve. Your guests won't believe that it's not fresh bread!
Make your bread last longer
Bread is one of life's most delicious pleasures yet it is something that we also waste more often than we'd like. Well, no more! If you want to make your bread last longer (so you'll never have to throw mouldy slices away ever again), use the best ways to freeze bread that we've outlined above.
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Whether you're cooking from whatever's in your pantry and freezer, or what's left on market shelves, our goal is to bring everyone to the table.
As a kitchen designer, I love creating a stunning space where life is easy and memories are made! So, if your kitchen needs upgrading, modernising or a complete renovation, let’s have a conversation and see what you could do with your space.
A new kitchen with a specialist design is more cost-effective than you may think – just get in touch with us today for a free in-store kitchen design consultation and we’ll show you how.
Emma Reed – Kitchen designer – 01792 712000
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Looking for more kitchen advice and inspiration? Check out some of our other articles!
- 4 Tips for Disinfecting Your Kitchen Worktops
- 6 Fun Recipes to Cook With Your Children in the Kitchen
- Is Your Kitchen a Recipe for Success?
- Speedy Cleaning Tips for Killing Household Germs
