Bread, like most baked goods, comes with a short shelf life and can begin to spoil just days after it’s sliced or opened
Bread, like most baked goods, has a short shelf life and can start to go off just days after it’s been sliced or the bag opened. While many know that the best place to store bread is in a cool, dark spot, maintaining such conditions can be difficult, especially during the summer months.
Food safety experts caution that high temperatures and humidity can make even a bread bin unsuitable for storing this staple food item. These loaf-shaped containers, typically made from metal, plastic, or wood, are designed for baked goods, but they fail to keep bread fresh when the surrounding air is warm.
Some might consider the fridge as an alternative storage option, but this moisture-rich environment can cause similar damage to fresh loaves, reports the Express.
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When bread is kept at low temperatures, around 0C or below, moisture rises to the crust’s surface and evaporates, changing its weight and flavour. Instead, German nutritional specialist Birgit Brendel recommends using ceramic or pottery containers for bread storage.
She clarified that these materials allow for an exchange of air and humidity, which helps prevent mould growth and keeps the bread from spoiling. However, this doesn’t mean you need to ditch your bread bin entirely, just opt for traditional ceramic ones.
According to a specialist at fridge and freezer retailer Liebherr, the open pores of an earthenware container will absorb excess moisture and even return moisture to the bread when it starts to dry out. They added: “Also, mildew doesn’t stand much of a chance in a good, well-made clay or ceramic bread pot.”
The Liebherr expert said: “Bins without an airtight seal, which allow air to circulate, offer similar advantages, and bread will also remain relatively fresh for a good length of time in a wax-coated bread bag.”
If you’re missing a bread bin in your kitchen, don’t fret there are other ways to keep your loaf fresh. Wrapping your freshly baked bread in a cloth can extend its freshness for several days, and some folks recommend placing the cut side of the bread down on a chopping board and covering it with the cloth.
For those store-bought loaves, ditch the plastic bag and transfer your slices into a wax-coated bread bag for optimal freshness.
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