If you bake bread at home you know that your loaves don’t stay fresh as long as store-bought bread. Commercial baked goods are often made with preservatives like calcium propionate or lactic acid bacteria which can slow mold growth for a week or more. Without preservatives homemade bread typically only lasts three to four days when stored at room temperature. A loaf of bread can quickly become too dry or stale to slice let alone snack on. If you want to make at least a week’s worth of sandwiches out of your homemade bread it’s time to get serious about storage.
| Channel | Publish Date | Thumbnail & View Count | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
 Kitchen Tips Online | 2020-04-21 20:18:28 |  178,806 Views |
The secret of bread storage: bread stays fresh for 3 MONTHS!
Most of us make simple storage mistakes that ruin our favorite recipes and when there are so many different types of bread you can bake—from soft sandwich bread to compact quick bread—knowing how to store them becomes a little more complicated. You have to ask yourself what type of bread you’re making and how long you plan to store it. Are you working with a standard loaf or gluten-free bread? How long do you want to keep the bread? A week? Months? The ideal storage method ultimately depends on your specific situation. Here are a few tips worth trying to extend the shelf life of homemade bread.
The longer homemade bread sits the drier or staler it becomes. Staleness is caused by retrogradation a process in which the bread’s starches dry out and excess moisture is drawn into the crust making it leathery while drying simply involves water evaporating from the bread. Both processes result in a rougher tougher crumb but proper storage can slow them down.
If you plan on eating a loaf of bread within a week or so a bread bin is your best bet. Designed to create the optimal environment for freshness these handy containers provide ample ventilation to prevent condensation and mold growth while also preventing the bread from drying out. Without a bread bin you can wrap a loaf in a tea towel to preserve its texture or you can place it in a plastic bag. These options are best for softer sandwich breads as they unfortunately soften the crust of breads that require a crispy exterior.
