How to Keep Sandwich Bread from Growing Mold

Homebaked bread is especially likely to grow mold, because it has no artificial preservatives.

Once mold starts growing on sandwich bread, it quickly spreads to the rest of the bag. Mold spores are present in the air and on surfaces all around. With some simple tricks you can keep your sliced bread from growing mold before you get a chance to eat it.

Instructions

1. At the grocery store search for the bag of sandwich bread with the "sell by" or "use by" date furthest in the future. Look over the bag to make sure there are no holes in the plastic, like slash marks from the box cutter the store employee used to open the box of bagged bread. This is the easiest way for mold or bacteria to get into the bread.

2. At home, make sure you keep the bag of bread airtight whenever you're not actively getting slices of bread out of the bag. With a twist-tie or rubber band, seal the bag each time right after you take out the bread. Airborne mold spores will easily blow into and settle onto the sliced bread if you leave the bag open while you're making or eating your sandwich.

3. Wash and dry your hands before reaching into the bag. Clean hands reduce the chance of mold spores being transferred from your fingers to the inside of the bag or other slices of bread.

4. When reaching into the bag, try to only touch the slices of bread you are removing now. Don't touch any other slices. Also, just as importantly, try not to touch the inside of the bag. These precautions help prevent any mold spores from being deposited inside the bag.

5. If, despite your best efforts, you see that mold has started to grow on some of your bread, all is not lost. As long as the mold appears to be isolated to just a few slices, remove and discard those pieces of bread. Put the remaining bread in a new, unused plastic bag and close with a twist-tie.

Tips & Warnings

• Store your bread in a cool, dry place like a bread box on the counter. Mold loves warm and humid environments, so try to avoid them if possible.

• Storing bread in the refrigerator slows the growth of mold, but the cold air makes the bread turn stale more quickly.

References

• CNN Health: Student Diet 101: Don't Eat Mold

Resources

• Captain Dave's Survival Center: Food Storage FAQ: Molds in Food