Proper food storage is really the only way to keep fresh produce at its best but when it comes to things like bread, there’s lots of conflicting advice.
While some people favour a bread bin or kitchen counter, others swear by the fridge to keep the dough soft and free of mould.
However, one home-hacks expert has claimed that neither is preferable for long-term storage.
Sharing her advice on the YouTube channel UKNOW How-to Videos, presenter Jody Gatewood claimed: “We can eliminate one option right away.
“Bread should not be stored in your refrigerator.”
She explained that though it may seem like a good way to keep a loaf fresh for longer, the cooler temperature “draws the moisture out”, making it go stale sooner.
Jody suggested that room temperature is a better option between the two, at which a loaf should last for about one week in airtight packaging.
But those seeking long-term solutions to keep bread edible and delicious must turn to the freezer for help.
The YouTube video presenter said: “Bread also freezes well. Perhaps you stocked up in a bread sale or simply cannot use the whole loaf, just place the bread in an airtight package.”
To demonstrate the storage hack, Jody sealed some slices of soft wholemeal bread (four to be exact), in a zip-lock freezer bag.
She then took a plastic straw and placed it inside the bag, leaving a small opening for it above the zip-lock strip.
Jody used the straw to “siphon the air out of the bag” by simply sucking inwards on the straw.
The plastic then became tightly sealed to the bread slices inside like a vacuum pack before being sealed up tightly at the top.
According to the home-hacks expert, this method allows breas to “keep up to six months”. Jody added: “When you are ready to use it, simply set the frozen bread out on the counter and it should thaw in about three hours.”
Alternatively, frozen slices can be microwaved in a few seconds but first should be wrapped in a paper towel.
In the case of bread that has already gone a little stale, Jody recommended using this for grilled sandwiches or breadcrumbs.
