Bread will ‘taste as fresh as the day you bought it’ with expert’s ‘best’ storage method
A good loaf of fresh bread is a staple in most kitchens, so it's frustrating when bread is suddenly stale sooner than it should be, or even worse - moldy. Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, one expert has shared their "best" tip to avoid this for as long as possible.
The first sign that bread has gone past its prime is by seeing what the texture is like.
As it becomes stale, bread will harden and become dry. As long as there’s no mold, it’s safe to eat this bread—but it might not be an entirely pleasant experience.
To avoid this, Sophie Carey, bakery development manager at Matthews Cotswold Flour, has shared her top bread storage tips.
The expert first touched on where bread should “never” be stored or it can ruin the taste and freshness.
She said: “Bread should never be stored in the fridge! Although the cooler temperature of the fridge does slow the growth of mold, refrigerated conditions will speed up the staling of a loaf making it inedible far sooner than it could go moldy.
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“This is due to the starch present in the bread re-crystalising when it is chilled.”
Instead, it’s best for households to freeze their bread, but for the very “best results” make sure to double wrap the loaves with cling film and then add a layer of tin foil.
Sophie explained: “This will prevent the bread from developing freezer burn and will help keep it tasting fresh.”
A “great way” to refresh frozen bread is to let it defrost at room temperature, then sprinkle it with a little water before baking at 180 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes.
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The expert claimed that this would make the house smell fantastic and “the bread will taste as fresh as the day you got it”.
For bread that is left outside the freezer, Sophie noted that the “best place” to store it is in an air-tight bread bin on the counter rather than a plastic bag.
She exclaimed: “Keeping bread fresh means keeping it at a stable cool temperature, away from direct sunlight and pests.
“Keeping a loaf well wrapped and in an airtight bread bin prevents additional bacteria from growing into mold and the stable temperature and humidity stops it from going stale.”
The bread itself should never be stored directly in a plastic bag. The plastic bag prevents the bread from breathing which in turn keeps the moisture inside the bag - creating the perfect environment to grow mold.
If stored properly, your bread should stay fresh for about three to five days.
