Bread is at the top of most people’s shopping list. It is convenient for making a quick meal but it can be frustrating if it spoils before you have a chance to use it. It may seem simple to just store bread in a bread bin but if it is not sealed properly it will quickly harden and become stale.
Luckily, the bakers at Matthews Cotswold Flour have shared that an effective way to keep bread fresh is to wrap it in tin foil or cling film. They said: “This method works for fresh, store-bought bread and homemade bread. It will trap the bread’s natural moisture to keep it from drying out.
“If your bread came in a paper wrapping, toss it out and wrap it in cling film or tin foil for longer-lasting storage.”
Bread needs the right amount of moisture and airflow to stay fresh, as too much air will cause it to go stale while not enough air can encourage mould to begin growing.
Wrapping up the bread helps seal in enough moisture to keep it soft and maintain the bread texture but will also act as a barrier to protect it from air and bacteria.
This may seem simple but is a great way to control the moisture levels of bread so it stays fresh for a lot longer and helps you save a little bit of money on your shopping bill.
How to store bread properly
All you need to do is wrap your bread loosely in tin foil or cling film. Do not wrap it up too tightly as it can cause condensation, which can increase the risk of mould.
Once you have wrapped your bread up, store it in a breadbox if you have one, or simply keep it on your kitchen counter.
However, be careful not to store your bread near your oven, stove, microwave or any other warm appliances in your kitchen.
Heat can speed up decay as it will cause the bread to dry out or create a humid environment, which will encourage mould.
It can help to store bread in a cupboard or pantry to keep it away from heat but just make sure not to stuff it into an overcrowded space as this will also cause humidity.
Make sure to always store fresh bread at room temperature and never keep it inside the fridge.
The expert said: “Scientific studies show that this draws out the moisture, which can cause the bread to become stale three times faster than it would at room temperature.”
The best way to cut down on food waste is to only wrap up bread slices you are going to eat in the next two to three days, then freeze the rest of the loaf.
The expert added: “Consider slicing your bread before freezing. That way you will not have to slice it while it is frozen, and it is often difficult to slice once it’s thawed.”
If you follow this simple storage technique, then your bread should stay fresh and soft for much longer than it normally would last.