Bread in a Fridge vs. in Bread a Box
A staple in many a household, bread is a welcome addition to nearly any meal, especially when it's fresh. But extending the shelf life of your loaves of bread, rolls, buns, bagels, pita and English muffins doesn't happen by accident. It requires proper storage techniques. Does this Spark an idea?
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Refrigerator Storage
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Bread stored in the refrigerator goes stale more quickly and tends to lose moisture. The cooler temperature, however, does prevent mold from growing on the bread, so some people opt to keep it in the fridge during hot humid weather.
Breadbox
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Bread at room temperature will stay fresh longer than bread in the fridge. Keep bread inside its original package -- either in a breadbox or out -- and use it in five to seven days, though the sooner the better, especially when it is hot and humid. Breadboxes serve mostly a decorative purpose, allowing you to put your bread out of sight rather than on the counter. Simply keep bread in a cupboard if you don't have a breadbox.
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Longer Storage
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Bread will keep for two to three months in the freezer. If it is sliced, you can simply remove the desired number of slices and put them directly in the toaster, or thaw them for other uses.
Bread Bag
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A reusable twill bread bag with a drawstring closure is an environmentally friendly way to store homemade bread or French bread. Look for one with a permeable inner poly lining that minimizes moisture loss and keeps the crust crisp.
Stale Bread
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Toss out bread if you see mold growing on it. If, however, the bread has just gone stale, you can use it to make French toast, stuffing, bread pudding or a baked egg casserole. You may also label and freeze the stale bread and then remove it from the freezer and grate it when you need breadcrumbs for a recipe.
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References
Resources
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