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Storing bread at home can lead to unwanted mouldy patches that mean slices are thrown out and another trip to the store is needed.
Consistently throwing away half a loaf of bread every week becomes very annoying, especially when you feel like you’re literally throwing money in the bin.
If you’re fed up with unnecessary food waste, then baker Madelyn has some helpful top tips to share that should put you in a better mood.
“Freezing bread is the best way to preserve that crusty loaf for the longest time possible,” Madelyn revealed. “Wrap tightly in a freezer bag, either whole or sliced,” she told Food and Wine magazine.
“I like to put wax paper between slices when I freeze, as this makes it easier to take out just what I need.” Madelyn added: “Defrosting a whole frozen loaf in the refrigerator overnight is the best way.”
If left on the counter to defrost, there is the risk that the bread will turn soggy. Also remember to defrost the bread unwrapped from the freezer bag, Madelyn insisted. “This keeps any water from pooling while it defrosts,” she explained.
Alternatively, frozen bread can be baked straight from the freezer into the oven at 325 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.
If freezing the loaf doesn’t appeal to you, then another tip to take from baker Madelyn is to take the bread out of the plastic bag and put it into paper.
“A fresh loaf of bread is best eaten within two to three days,” admitted Madelyn. “If you plan on devouring it right away, then keeping it in a paper bag on the counter is the move.”
Storing bread in plastic can encourage mould growth, which could be why you notice mouldy patches on your slices of bread if you keep them in the plastic bag.
If kitchen space allows, baker Madelyn is a fan of bread storage boxes, which have “small holes” to enable air circulation to keep bread from moulding.
Bread requires a “cool and dry” space to be stored, which can be in a bread box, in a cabinet, or in a deep drawer. “If you’re looking for a more versatile or eco-friendly way to preserve your bread, try a reusable bread bag,” said Madelyn.
“There are more on the market these days and many are machine washable and work great in the freezer.”
