Bread though simple food but part of our everyday meal. It brings joy to our table. But the most disappointing factor is that its life is very short. It becomes stale faster which makes them unfit for consumption. It is very difficult to preserve them. Bread should be stored in a dry and dark environment. Any bread on average could be stored for 3-4 days not more than that. Before knowing how to store the bread let’s know how they grow mold.
There are two ways in which bread can go bad when not stored properly: (i) Bread will grow mold due to lack of airflow. this will happen when bread is stored in a plastic bag or a warm place that traps moisture and there is no air circulation. (ii) The bread goes stale or dry due to dehydration. This happens when the bread is exposed too much to air. The water or the moisture content that keeps the bread fresh sift and fresh is now evaporating. This makes the bread crumbly and cracks easily. This makes bread unfit for consumption. Too much of anything is good for nothing therefore it is necessary to ensure that bread is stored properly without much exposure to air or less exposure to air. Both conditions are dangerous. Therefore ensure that you place them in right place.
8 Ways To Store Bread For A Longer Period
Here are some ways to store them for a longer period:
Know Your Bread
To know how to keep your bread fresh longer you must first know the nature of your bread. Naturally fat is the best preservative. The bread that has butter or egg will become stale at a slower rate than others like French bread. Therefore it is important to know the composition of your bread. Even the type of flour used in the bread will make difference when it comes to the shelf life of bread. Bread that is made with almond flour will preserve better than the one baked with red wheat or Russian wheat. Also, bread that has high moisture after baking molds faster. Therefore before knowing how long it can be preserved, know its ingredients.
Ideal Temperature And Humidity
The normal room temperature ranges between 20-22ºC. In preserving the bread the temperature also plays an important role. Bread usually grows mold in humid temperatures, therefore if the atmosphere where you live is humid store it in the freezer. Also if you stay in a cold area then leave it in an airtight place so that it does not dry out quickly. Therefore you must know your locality before storing them at the right place.
Freeze Your Loaf
Freezing your bread can retain its moisture, fat and its form, and texture. Bread when frozen can prevent crystallization of starch to preserve all attributes of a fresh loaf. Before freezing the bread ensure that you have placed them in an air-tight bag and that it is completely dry the moisture content in plastic bags can lead to fungus or bacterial formation. This can preserve bread for two months. Before using this frozen bread leave them outside for an hour. And if you have a full loaf and wish to reheat it use the oven.
Store Your Bread In Your Bread Box
Using a bread box is a greener way to store your bread: no excess plastic is needed. These bread boxes have a small hole in them which allow just a little air to circulate keeping the bread from molding. If you prefer to store bread in an air-tight container then toss a slice of bread with your loaf, which will help control moisture content in your container. These bread boxes are still popular as they were decades ago.
These are also stylish and provide the kitchen with a great accent. These bread boxes are of great use when it comes to storing bread. It provides a dry and dark environment that prevents your bread from growing mold. These bread boxes should not be 100% airtight. Bamboo and wooden boxes are good and are available in the market. They have small holes that help to vent air in. therefore before buying a bread box don’t look for its shapes and sizes alone look if they are beneficial too.
A Drawer
These drawers are simple to place in a kitchen that is already built in. they are used by many since this bread box takes up so much space which will be a trouble for those with a small kitchen. But these drawers are the built-in structure that is fully covered and mainly used for storing bread. If these are properly having a place to keep bread with a covered top then you can go ahead and use them. But if you don’t have proper space then you can go ahead and use paper bags to seal them and store your bread. Since these bags are 100% airtight they are the right fit for storing your bread.
An Appliance Garage
An appliance garage is a place that is used to store appliances that are not used frequently these are spaces used to hide out small appliances perfectly. This is similar to a drawer when it comes to storing the bread. All you have to do is to put the bread in a small airtight bag preferably a paper bag or silicon bag and store them in the garage. This would be the perfect place for houses that have space constraints in the kitchen.
A Paper Bag
Paper bags are ideal for storing bread this is the reason behind bakeries selling their bread in brown paper bags. These bags are super cool for the storage of bread. If the plan is to leave the bread on the countertop then these paper bags can be used for such storage, within the plastic bag. While doing so ensure that the paper bag is completely closed and the plastic bag is open which allows the circulation of air.
Linen Bread Bag
These linen bags are the best cost-effective method. It is also environmentally friendly. These bags are available in various shapes and sizes in the market. This can retain the freshness of bread for extra 3-4 days. It will also keep the loaf crust crisp better than other methods. These bags are usually cheap and range between 7-18$. These bags are not only used for storing bread but also for baguettes too. Hence these are seen as a feasible alternative for storing bread than all the above methods as it is cost-effective and environmentally friendly too.
Avoid Storing Bread In
Now here comes a few tips on how to not store your bread to keep it fresh for longer:
Plastic Bags
This might be surprising for many of us because most of us use plastic bags for storing this bread as it is available more easily. But this is the most blender mistake because these plastic bags trap moisture inside the bag and cause bread to mold more quickly than usual. Though it may look like plastic bags are ideal for storing bread as they are airtight but it is a bad idea for storing your bread.
Tinfoil
Tinfoil is similar to that of plastic bags. Many use this to wrap the bread and store them airtight. But the thing is that they grow mold faster as the moisture is trapped within the foil this causes the bread to expire much before the actual date, so before using tinfoil think well.
Storing Bread In The Fridge
This is another common mistake that people make. Storing bread in the fridge may look like a good idea but it dries out your bread. Once taken out of the fried they crumble or fall apart due to dryness which makes them unfit for consumption. Unless your environment is too humid or hot avoid placing them in the fridge. But if your environment demands so then you can continue storing them in the fridge but make sure that you leave them outside at least for an hour before consuming them.
Conclusion
Bread is an everyday item. It should be used within 2-3 days. Therefore to get the best from it is advisable to enjoy your bread as fresh as possible. But if you can’t finish them then you can freeze them or go for bread boxes for storing them. Always buy as per your requirement. Avoid dumping packets of bread at the same time. Know your need before you are adding them to your cart. Buy what you need and enjoy them as soon as possible because these are perishable products.
Therefore these were the few interesting and super easy tips that could enhance your bread’s life by 3-4 days. Do follow them and get maximum benefit. But as said earlier to have the maximum taste or to derive maximum benefit do not store them for more than 2 days. Eat them as fresh as possible and buy them only when you need them because bread is not a provision that can be stored for a much longer period. Eat healthily and stay healthy!