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Good Question: How Do I Store Bread?

2008_07_02-Bread.jpgTanner writes: Hi there! I recently started making bread (thanks to your link to the Times No-Knead recipe) and, and I'm loving it -- for the first day. My problem is storage!

In a zip-lock bag, the bread gets mushy; on the counter, it gets hard. I don't have room for a full-on breadbox, so what's the best solution for storing homemade bread? I live in Salt Lake City, so it's a really dry heat right now, with no humidity to worry about.

Thanks for all the great posts and help!

 
 

Tanner, first off, great job on making bread more often. We're glad the recipes have been inspiring! We also make bread so much more now with the no-knead recipe; it's one quick mix, an overnight rise, and plop! Bake! Fresh bread! So incredibly easy and better than anything from the grocery store. Here are links to our two favorite bread recipes:

No-Knead Bread in a Hurry
No-Time Bread

But homemade bread doesn't have any preservatives so yes, storing and eating past a day or two presents problems. Breads like the no-knead are called lean breads; they don't have any added fat to keep them soft and moist, so they dry out quickly.

Storing in plastic doesn't let moisture escape, so lean bread stored in a plastic bag will indeed get mushy and eventually mold if there is moisture present. Storing in the refrigerator is also very bad for bread; it dries out at that temperature. If you store the bread in the open it also dries out, especially in dry Western climates. A compromise with plastic wrap is to wrap the bread very tightly in a couple layers of plastic so there is no air between the plastic and the bread, and then to store it in a cool, dark place.

The most ideal situation is a ceramic bread box (not one of the stainless steel ones). The ceramic lets the bread breathe and stay moist, but it still shields it from the worst of the dry air. We really like this ceramic bread bin from Nigella Lawson's line. The top doubles as a bread board.

Nigella Lawson Ceramic Bread Bin, Blue with Beech Lid, $64.99 at ChefTools

If you do not have space for a bread box, try wrapping the bread in a clean bar towel, then put it in a paper bag. One of these linen bread bags is a good small-space solution:

Liking: Bread Bags from UMA, $27.50 at UMA

Ultimately you should eat homemade bread within a day or two of baking, or else freeze it, well-wrapped.

Lean breads also make great breadcrumbs and croutons, so you can also let the bread dry out completely in a paper bag and then grind in a food processor or chop up for croutons.

Recipe: D.I.Y. Dried Breadcrumbs

Any more good tips for Tanner?

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Comments (12)

I think aluminum foil works well, I read this in cooks illustrated around a year ago so I foil all my bread after its cool and throw any extra in the freezer (i.e. there is no way I am making a single loaf in the summer heat).

posted by sally599 on 2008-07-02 16:42:20
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I store mine in old plastic bread bags from the grocery store. It seems to work for me, no mold or "mushiness".

posted by spossberg on 2008-07-02 16:56:07
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I store mine in the microwave, when it's not running, of course. I don't run it very often, though. I don't eat much bread, but when I make it, I often end up with more than I need, and I freeze leftovers. When I need it, I thaw it, still wrapped, on the counter. As long as you let it cool completely before wrapping and freezing it, you shouldn't have any problems with moisture.

posted by OneWallKitchen on 2008-07-02 17:08:06
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Unfortunately, our sliced breads, English muffins, bagels and hotdog buns get moldy fast when left on the counter so we put them in the freezer (in their plastic bags with the air squeezed out). For no-knead bread, I slice up the leftovers first, then wrap it in foil then Ziploc before tossing in the freezer. I pop a frozen slice or two in my toaster for spaghetti, soup, etc. and it's as delicious as when it first came out of the oven.

posted by logarhythm on 2008-07-02 17:45:59
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If we're just saving it overnight, we store our bread in the plain brown paper bags that it comes from the bakery in. The key is to place any cut surfaces flush against the paper (usually by sticking the bread into the bag cut-side first) and then roll the top of the bag to close it. The paper allows the bread to breathe just enough to keep it from getting hard or soggy.

Freezing is also a great solution. That's what we do with bread that will not be eaten within 30 hours or so. Just make sure it's wrapped well. Take it out an hour before you want to eat it and run it in the toaster oven to crisp it up a bit.

posted by m! on 2008-07-02 17:48:35
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These are all great suggestions, but another thing I think worth mentioning is that bread made with whole grain flour will last longer than an all-white loaf. Sure, it's more dense to begin with, but I also think the added flavor is worth it. It doesn't have to be all whole grain either.

posted by sjbreeze on 2008-07-02 18:20:30
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I too couldn't get enough of no-knead bread. The following recipe for cinnamon raisin bread made an A bread:

3 c flour
2 tsp salt
1-5/8 c water
1/4 tsp yeast
1/4 c dark brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup raisins (grape or half/half with craisins)

Use normal recipe and be prepared for a struggle with a few raisins burning and sticking to the pan. I solved that with a cut-to-fit silpat inside the pan. This bread will also last for up to a week with proper storage.

posted by GlennG on 2008-07-02 23:12:21
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I throw a towel over it. Not as fancy and probably not as effective as techniques listed above, but it is definitely an improvement over open air.

posted by carrier on 2008-07-03 09:31:49
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Maybe there is a bread box or a hack of one that could be mounted to the wall?

My parents had a bread drawer, with some kind of metal top that you slid back to get to the bread.

This is sad, but we freeze ours or store it in the microwave because my cat will rip into any bread he smells.

posted by Pipsqueak on 2008-07-03 09:47:12
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Thanks Tanner for asking this question. I am having the same problem as I also live in an area where its very hot. Thanks for the answers, Faith and the rest of you bakers.

posted by jaudre on 2008-07-03 10:57:46
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The microwave is the modern breadbox. Why buy a separate thing?

posted by Monkeyme on 2008-07-03 11:32:21
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Freeze it. We don't use a a lot of it and I got tired of feeding stale bread to the birds. I buy it sliced, make sure it's a little loose in the bag, so it does not stick together, and chuck it in the freezer. When you need a slice just pop it in the toaster for a few seconds, or longer if you want toast.

posted by vudutu on 2008-07-03 16:37:28
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