How to Keep Homemade Bread Soft

Store bread properly to ensure freshness.

Homemade bread fresh from the oven is one of life's simple pleasures. Whether you make cinnamon raisin, sourdough, white, rye or wheat bread, you will come up against how to keep your bread soft, or fresh, for the greatest amount of time possible. That will depend on the method of storage you choose and for how long you want to preserve the bread. Bread that will be consumed the day it is removed from the oven doesn't need to be stored in the same way as bread you want to preserve for weeks.

Things You'll Need

• Aluminum foil
• Airtight plastic bag (optional)
• Bread box (optional)
• Plastic wrap (optional)
• Freezer bag (optional)

Instructions

1. Allow bread to cool completely after it is taken from the oven.

2. Wrap bread in aluminum foil or place it in a plastic bag as airtight as possible. A bag with a zipper works well. Push out as much air as you can before you seal it.

3. Put the loaf in a bread bin or leave it out (wrapped) at room temperature in a cool, dry place. Bread should be consumed within two or three days for this storage method. For longer storage, proceed to Step 4.

4. Slice the bread and wrap it in plastic and put it in a freezer bag. Seal the bag and place it in the freezer; it will keep for up to two or three months.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are using frozen bread, remove only the slices you intend to use. Defrost it in the microwave or thaw it at room temperature.

• Do not store bread in the refrigerator, as it will grow stale faster.

• Do not store bread in a paper bag unless you are going to consume it in one day.

• Do not store bread in high heat or areas with moisture, as mold will grow on it.

References

• Cooking Corner: Bread Storage