Keeping Bread Fresh

Updated on March 12, 2009
S.H. asks from Akron, OH
28 answers

Does anyone have a good suggestion for keeping bread fresh? My husband and I buy it and try to keep it, but the longest we can get it to last is about a week and then it begins growing mold. Will it last longer if we put it in an airtight container rather than keeping it in the bag it comes in? We have this problem with different brands as well as buns. Thanks for your help!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all of the great advice! We will try the refrigerator and freezer options and see what works best for our family.

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K.E.

answers from Fort Wayne on

We buy several loaves at a time and freeze it. It seems to stay fresh for longer after having been frozen, for some reason. Even if you just stick it in the freezer the day you buy it and take it out the next day, it should help. To thaw, I just set it out--it thaws out very quickly. Hope this helps!

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L.H.

answers from Cleveland on

Hi S.! I freeze my loaves of bread and take out the pieces as needed. You can either leave the bread out for a few minutes to defrost or put in the microwave for 10-12 seconds (for 2 pcs.)

good luck!

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T.B.

answers from Columbus on

I used to keep mine on top of the fridge in a basket - it got old FAST!! I now keep it in the pantry where it's cooler on a shelf. . . it lasts much longer! I think the heat from the fridge made it go bad fast.

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L.M.

answers from Canton on

I store all of our bread in the original bag in the refrigerator. It keeps for weeks!

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M.L.

answers from Indianapolis on

We keep our bread in the fridge. We can go 2 weeks with 1 loaf. I don't really like my bread cold, but it doesn't take long for it to warm up and get soft again.

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D.Z.

answers from Dayton on

I have a family of 9, 7 of them full time. So, anytime bread is on sale, we stock up. I've always froze the extra loaves, but we discovered that the loaves that had been frozen for more than a week, once thawed, would start to get hard within a few days. So, my grandma (who always knows best) said to keep bread fresh, while frozen, always freeze them in paper bags. So, the bottom two shelves of my freezer has 4 brown paper bags that fit 4 loaves a piece, and we haven't had a problem since with the bread being hard, stale or getting moldy too quickly!

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D.G.

answers from Columbus on

I keep my bread in the refrigerator. No mold or unpleasant tastes. But I find it hard to believe any one would want to eat store bought bread after a week.

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M.C.

answers from Cleveland on

We keep our bread in the refrigerator. It takes away some of the softness, but it lasts a lot longer than just leaving it on the counter in the kitchen.

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S.H.

answers from Cincinnati on

I keep ours in the fridge and it doesn't get moldy. It does get stale, but not near as quickly as when it sits on the counter.

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M.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

If I am using it regularly, I keep it in the fridge. It seems to last a long time in the refridgerator.
If I am not going to use it for a few days, I keep it in the freezer and just take out a few pieces at a time.

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D.F.

answers from Cleveland on

I always put our bread in the fridge. It will last a few weeks then.

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B.R.

answers from Columbus on

S.,

I can tell you what doesn't work-those special bags specifically for keeping bread fresh. Oh, they do work-once. If you use it again for another loaf of bread, it goes moldy even faster in it! The first time is great, but they're are too expensive for a one shot deal. They say they work several times, but they don't.

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M.A.

answers from Cleveland on

Hi S.
Like all the others I freeze my bread when I buy in bulk. My sister gave me a hint one day when visited her. They store their bread in the oven because it takes so much space in the fridge and it dries out a bit. So I started too and so far so good. Just make sure the oven is cold when you put the bread.Otherwise it will get moist with the packaging and heat and mold will built up in no time.

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A.J.

answers from Cincinnati on

We always keep the bread in the bag that it comes in and keep it in the fridge. I have had a loaf for a week with no mold....not sure if the brand matters, it shouldn't, but we buy Brownberry 100% whole wheat.
We have even had the loaf a day or 2 over the expiration date with no problems. Good luck!!!

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C.C.

answers from Indianapolis on

we keep ours in the fridge

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A.C.

answers from Muncie on

We keep ours in the refrigerator...it keep MUCH longer! Good luck!

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E.W.

answers from Cleveland on

I put my bread in the refrigerator. If I want to have it longer then I freeze it.

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J.H.

answers from Columbus on

HI S. - My family puts their bread in the Fridge. I personally like mine room temperature, but this keeps it moist and lasts for weeks. I on the other hand buy bread in bulk and freeze it. sometimes I will separate the bread into 1/2 loaves so it does not go bad to quickly. Hope this helps!

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K.B.

answers from Cincinnati on

i buy multiple loaves when it's on sale to save on money. We freeze what we don't use. Of course my son packs a PB&J sandwich daily and therefore we go through bread quickly...but buns can take months.
They arne't necessarly as fresh and super tasty but they work--they stay better in a freezer safe bad verses then one they come in. :)

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K.D.

answers from Toledo on

We put ours in the refrigerator. It seems to keep it fresher longer. An airtight container may help too, but that is what we do.

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P.R.

answers from Cincinnati on

We keep it in the fridge. I think it is temperature more than packaging.

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S.J.

answers from Dayton on

Dear S.,

If your bread get mold that is a good sign that it is alive. If you keep it in the fridge it may last longer. If you don't go through a loaf in a week try splitting the loaf, freezing half and keeping the rest in the fridge.

God Bless,

S.

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D.K.

answers from Indianapolis on

Keeping it in the fridge helps. In addition, have you ever thought about freezing part of it, maybe half the loaf? If you don't keep it in the freezer for a long period of time, it won't taste weird or anything. Just put half in a ziploc freezer bag and freeze. Buy bread half as much.........

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D.L.

answers from Cleveland on

Freeze half of it, or whatever you know you won't use in a week. Or refrigerate the whole loaf. You can zap the individual slices in the microwave for 5 seconds to bring it back to room temp.

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J.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

When I was single, or when it was just me and my husband, I kept the bread in the refrigerator. It stayed fresh until it was gone. Now, I buy 3 loaves at the store when I grocery shop. I stays in the cupboard, and the extra 2 stay in the fridge. I never have any trouble with them not staying fresh.

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T.O.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hi S.,

Keeping your bread in the fridge will keep it good for at least two weeks. You can even keep it in the plastic it comes in.

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M.B.

answers from Columbus on

S. I just store my bread/buns in the freezer. Because bread has a low moisture content it thaws very quickly. You can just take a slice out at a time and either leave it out to thaw for a few minutes or pop it in the microwave for a few seconds. It stays fresh this way until you use it!

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S.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

Bread is easy enough to freeze. Just put 1/2 of it in a Ziploc freezer bag. It will unthaw fairly quickly too. Or you can keep it in the fridge. I have noticed that for some reason, when I store it in the fridge it seems a little drier than when kept on the counter. But, it's still good and perfectly edible. It seems to last a really long time that way too. I don't think I've ever had bread go bad when I kept it in the fridge.

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