The tips you need to make bread last longer (2024)

FAQs

The tips you need to make bread last longer? ›

Shop-bought loaves should be kept in an air-tight plastic bag at room temperature rather than in the fridge. For bakery breads that are usually sold in a paper bag, remove them from the bag when you get it home, wrap tightly in cling film and store at room temperature.

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.

Store fresh bread in a cool, dry place away from excess heat, moisture and air. Paper, plastic bags & bread boxes? They all work.

Antimicrobials such as calcium propionate, sodium benzoate, or potassium sorbate, meanwhile, help to inhibit the growth of mold on the loaf, which also helps to give store-bought bread its long shelf-life.

Keep Them Tightly Sealed

Baked goods don't last long if they are exposed to air, so you need to keep them airtight. If you are going to eat the goods in the next few days, then an airtight container will suffice. For bread, keep it cool and dry in a breathable bag or quality bread box.

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.

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.

Freeze your loaf

Ultimately, freezing bread is the best way to stop it from molding or getting stale too early. While not required, it helps to freeze bread in slices so you don't have to defrost a whole loaf.

Toasting bread has minimal influence on its nutritional content, but it does trigger chemical changes that increase the shelf life of the bread.

Keep Bread In A Dry Place

Consequently, storing bread in a dry place, preferably in a paper or plastic bread bag, can help to reduce moisture and prevent contamination, which preserves its quality and freshness. Keeping bread in a dry place helps to extend its shelf life.

What to add to bread to extend shelf life? ›

Add in a Bit of Pectin

It is most commonly used as a gelling agent in jams and jellies, but it can also be used to help preserve the life of your home-baked sweets and savory breads. A tablespoon or two of powdered pectin can help improve the consistency of baked goods while also giving them a longer shelf life.

Some types of freshly baked bread will last longer than others. "Enriched breads like brioche, challah, and some sandwich loaves are higher in fat and sugar and will keep longer due to their ability to maintain higher moisture levels," says Schreiber.

Maintain optimal storage conditions: Store bread in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Excessive heat can promote bacterial growth, while exposure to light and humidity can accelerate staleness and mold development.

Propionic acid, as well as its salt, are the most widely used chemical preservatives in bread [7].

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.