Paul Hollywood is most widely known as a judge on The Great British Bake Off, where he is often hailed as the King of Bread. His career began as a teenager when he started working in his father’s bakery, and he later went on to serve as head baker at a number of British and international hotels.
So, it’s safe to say that Paul knows a thing or two about the humble loaf. Whether you’ve taken a leaf out of his book and started baking your own or you still rely on trusty shop-bought slices, we could all learn something from the bread master himself.
In a recent TikTok video, Paul imparted some words of wisdom on how to properly store your bread.
While most kitchens have a container known as a bread bin for storing baked goods, not everyone uses it for bread. You may even find that if you don’t eat your loaf quickly enough, it can go mouldy before you’ve had a chance to eat it, which might make you look for alternative storage arrangements.
But Paul has said there’s one place in your kitchen you should absolutely never put bread – the fridge.
Your first thought might be that fridges help things like fruit and vegetables last longer without spoiling, so the same must be true for bread. But according to Paul, doing this will actually make your loaf go stale.
He said: “Don’t put your bread in a fridge. It will stale quicker because [the fridge] takes the moisture out and dries it quicker.”
If you are struggling to eat your loaf before it goes mouldy, Paul recommends freezing it instead – especially if you can separate it into well-wrapped slices.
He added: “You can freeze it. Slice it up, wrap each individual slice in cling film, and pop it in the freezer. All you have to do is bring it out, unwrap it, and pop it in the toaster. Job done. Fresh bread, fresh toast, every morning.”
Commenters on the video were torn, however. Many claimed their bread goes mouldy very quickly if they don’t store it in the fridge. Several of those arguing against Paul’s advice were based in the US, as they said in warmer states like Florida and California, bread goes mouldy within days if not stored in the fridge.
One person argued: “I’ve tried and tested. It’s better to put it in the fridge (despite the drying-up theory). It lasts longer.”
Another agreed, stating: “I have put my bread in the fridge for years. As long as the packaging isn’t removed, the bread stays fresher for a lot longer. I hate bread from the freezer; when it defrosts, it doesn’t taste fresh at all. So this man doesn’t know what he is talking about.”
How to store bread
For short-term storage for 1-3 days, store at room temperature and follow these tips:
- Keep bread in a breadbox, paper bag, or loosely wrapped in a clean kitchen towel.
- Avoid plastic bags, as they trap moisture and can make the bread soggy or mouldy.
- Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
For longer storage of up to three months, freeze the bread and follow these steps:
- Slice the bread first, so you can take out only what you need.
- Wrap tightly in cling film or aluminium foil, then place in a freezer-safe bag.
- To use, thaw slices at room temperature or toast directly from frozen.
