There’s nothing better than a slice of fresh-baked bread, loaded with sweet cream butter and a thick spoonful of jam. But how do you keep your bread at its freshest? Where is the best place to store bread in your kitchen for optimum freshness and taste? We have researched this to give you the best answer possible!
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Bread can be stored in the following ways in your kitchen:
- In a bread bag on the counter
- In a breadbox
- In the bread drawer of the pantry or cupboard
- In an airtight bin on the countertop
- In the freezer
We’re going to break down each method and look at the pros and cons, as well as address a few other questions you may have about bread storage. So keep reading to find out the exact information you are looking for.
The Best Kitchen Storage For Bread
Let’s take a tour around the kitchen and look at common option for bread storage.
Storing bread on the Countertop
Many people like to have their bread accessible and easy to reach. The counter, often near your toaster, is an ideal spot for bread storage. This is great if you don’t mind things on the counter, but keep in mind, even in a bag, the bread won’t stay fresh for more than a couple of days when kept out.
Breadboxes
Breadboxes have been popular in the kitchen for years. There are so many cute versions available online.
Like this vintage enamel metal version from AuldHome. It’s a fresh retro design that will hold an entire loaf of sliced bread from the grocery store. Perfect for a farmhouse vibe. (For more vintage kitchen design tips, go to our blog post here: 12 Vintage Inspired Kitchen Designs)
Click here to see this on Amazon.
Or this retro number in red with a peek-a-boo window to see your loaf. The curved door rolls up easily and holds two loaves of grocery store bread.
Click here to see this on Amazon.
Do Bread Boxes Keep Bread Fresh Longer?
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Is the reason to have a bread box to keep your bread fresh longer? Well, no, not really, but if you’ve bought a gorgeous loaf with a crusty exterior, the last thing you want to do is stuff it into a plastic bag. Your delicious crust will go soft and rubbery. But, if you store it in a bread box, your gorgeous fresh bread will keep for several days, and you won’t risk it being uncovered on your counter. There’s a great article here from the New York Times on why breadboxes are back in fashion for just this reason.
What Is The Best Material For A Bread Box?
According to this article from Southern Kitchen, the most common bread box materials are wood, stainless steel, ceramic, and clear plastic. Each has advantages and disadvantages. From a cleanliness standpoint, stainless steel is your best choice. Clear plastic allows you to see your bread and how it’s faring. Wood is traditional and fits with many decors. And ceramic can help keep your bread moist a bit longer.
This lovely ceramic breadbox fits about a loaf and a half and looks super stunning on the kitchen counter.
Click here to see this on Amazon.
This double-decker bamboo box from Laura’s Green Kitchen keeps moisture in and allows you to see your bread. The trim design works on many countertop surfaces.
Click here to see this on Amazon.
Is It OK To Store Bread In The Cupboard?
The one disadvantage of storing bread tucked away in a bread drawer, cupboard, or pantry is that it will be out of sight. And if it’s out of sight, then you may not notice if mold starts attacking your fresh bread. However, it’s okay to store bread tucked away if you follow the same rule-of-thumb as with bread boxes and counter storage. After a few days, you’ll want to transfer any unused bread to the freezer.
There are so many great storage options available in the kitchen nowadays (see this great article from Better Homes and Garden on savvy kitchen storage) that even if new cabinets aren’t in your future, you can convert an old cabinet into a bread drawer. (If you are thinking of new cabinets then check out our comprehensive post on types of kitchen cabinets here: 36 Types Of Kitchen Cabinets You Should Know About)
Bread Drawers
Bread drawers take an existing drawer and convert it into a covered and ventilated bread drawer.
This conversion kit from Rev-A-Shelf is an easy solution if you prefer to keep your fresh bread tucked away and out of sight. It’s also helpful if you go through bread quickly and need to store more bread than a countertop space will provide.
Click here to see this on Amazon.
Can You Store Bread in an Airtight Container?
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Absolutely! Keeping it in an airtight container will keep it fresh longer. The one disclaimer to that is if the environment is moist or warm (like putting freshly baked bread in an airtight container before it’s cooled completely) will hasten the opportunity for mold to grow on the bread’s surface.
This great airtight container allows you to mix sliced bread loaves and rolls.
Click here to see this on Amazon.
This is a great crush-proof keeper for a loaf of bread. Great for traveling or camping.
Click here to see this on Amazon.
Storing Bread In The Freezer
Your three to five days is up, but you haven’t finished all your bread. What to do? Don’t worry. The best thing you can do now if you don’t want to toss your loaf is to put it in the freezer. Sliced bread will thaw more quickly than whole loaves, so you may want to consider pre-slicing before you freeze. If you don’t, remember to give yourself enough time to defrost when it’s time to eat the yummy bread.
Use zip-lock baggies and get as much air as possible out before freezing. You may even want to use a slice of wax paper between each slice for ease of taking out a piece at a time. If you’re going to use a vacuum-seal, that may be trickier as bread needs the air within it to taste soft and not like a lumpy mold of dough.
Does Freezing Bread Prevent Mold?
Yes, freezing your bread should prevent mold from growing. However, if mold is already on your bread, it won’t kill it. It will merely make it dormant while in the freezer.
How Do You Keep Bread Rolls Fresh?
When handling rolls, use all the same techniques as for bread. Keep it fresh until it starts to go stale, then freeze it. Wrap your rolls separately in wax paper, then put them into a large zip lock freezer bag to keep them from getting freezer burn.
Where Not To Keep Your Bread
We’ve talked about where to keep your bread, but where shouldn’t you keep your bread in the kitchen. The principal place that you should not keep your bread is in the refrigerator. Though this may seem like a logical place, it will cause your bread to toughen and lose its fresh taste faster than any other storage area.
Best to look at one of our other storage ideas: the countertop, a bread box, a bread drawer or cabinet, an airtight container, or the freezer. These storage solutions will keep your bread fresh and delicious until the whole loaf is gone and in your belly.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens
