I usually make two loaves of bread at once: one for now, and one that goes in the freezer for later. This is a fantastic arrangement... except for when I forget to take the second loaf out to thaw before I actually need it.
But here's a tip I picked up from a former roommate: freeze your bread pre-sliced. Amazingly, the slices don't stick together (with the occasional exception), and you can just take one or two slices as you need them. Back then, I thought she was kinda weird. Now I think she's brilliant.
These thin slices of bread thaw very quickly, and amazingly, retain their texture very well. You can pop a slice of frozen bread right in the toaster and be spreading it with jam a few minutes later. My old roommate also used to make her lunch sandwiches using frozen bread, saying that it kept her sandwich cool and was completely thawed by the time she ate it.
This is a great solution for those of us who take a while to work our way through a loaf of bread (or forget to thaw their bread ahead of time). It becomes an extra-brilliant solution in the humid summer months when bread starts going moldy in a few days.
Do you ever slice your bread like this before freezing?
Related: No Knead Bread Hack: Making a Sandwich Loaf Instead
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I always do this! And your roommate is right, it's a perfect way to keep sandwich ingredients cool until lunch time, and rest assured, by the time you're read to eat lunch the bread will be thawed and pleasantly soft. Great tip!
I really need to get back on the bake-my-own-bread horse. my boys are all about pb&j sandwiches, so I really should see if they'll eat my whole wheat sandwich bread.
Yep, I always slice before I freeze. Unfortunately, I am parallel challenged. So, I often end up with the last piece badly skewed; or too thin, or too thick. At this point I must force myself to eat that misshapen piece of bread right away. Can’t have ugly bread in my freezer. I Think that’s a law.
When I was a kid my mom always made my lunch with frozen bread. It really works and I find the bread stays moister. I actually really dislike sliced bread that's kept at room temperature: it always seems dry to me.
I think this is the most important rule of baking your own bread. I'm also "parallel challenged" and that last wonky slice goes into the scrap bread bag in the freezer, where it waits with it's friends to become croutons or breadcrumbs.
Haha, greybeard, you just brought a smile to my day.
I just got back on the bake your own bread bandwagon. I have been slicing before freezing but I hadn't thought of making my sandwiches with frozen slices. Great idea. i will try it tomorrow!!!
Gosh, I thought this was common knowledge! I've been doing this...since always!
@Greybeard: I have this problem too. I think it's because I'm not very tall/my counter is higher than I can have good control of my knife for bread slicing. So, I think if you're cutting from much higher than the counter (I kneel on a stool/bar chair), it's easer to get more even slices. Maybe just a fluke, though.
Great tip! My bread keeps getting moldy before we can finish a loaf, so now I'll just take out the slices we need for the day until the weather gets cool again.
Always slice your bagels before freezing, too. Pop in the toaster to defrost and crisp.
I'm finding it hard to imagine throwing a whole loaf into the freezer unsliced! We always slice first, whether it's a loaf, rolls or bagels. It is really cool how the slices never seem to freeze together.
Yes, it really is the way to go and not waste. I have a white plastic gizmo with notches for slices so you can slice a loaf evenly, but the ends can be a challenge. Make sure to not store smushed or separating will be difficult.
I know someone who uses an electric knife to slice the bread after it's been frozen, but this seems like a better idea.