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Food saving tips: Storing, freezing, refreshing and using up bread

From flat bread to focaccia, from buns to baguettes — bread is a simple and nourishing staple that accompanies numerous dishes across many cuisines. Consider these tips for storing, freezing, refreshing and using up bread.

Storing bread

• Store bread at room temperature for up to two days. This can be longer for bread baked with preservatives, usually found in the bread aisle at grocery stores.
• Keep bread in a paper bag or bread box to decrease moisture loss. Plastic storage bags are not recommended because they can encourage mold growth.
• Refrigeration is not recommended.

Freezing bread

• Tightly wrap bread in aluminum foil and seal in a plastic zip top bag. Freeze bread for up to six months.
• Thaw bread at room temperature. Keep it tightly wrapped to avoid moisture loss.
• Alternatively, unwrap bread and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for ten minutes or until heated through.
• Bread that was frozen in slices can be gently reheated in a toaster or pan. Tip: add a bit of butter/oil to the pan to restore moisture.

Refreshing stale bread

• Refresh stale bread by spritzing it with a little water (a spray bottle works well) and baking it for ten minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Bread should be used up right away to avoid mold growth.

Using up stale bread

• Toast stale bread slices and enjoy with your favorite butter, nut butter or jam.
• Try the easy and adaptable panzanella, a popular summer Italian dish.
• Make croutons to top soups and salads, and for snacking.
• Transform stale pita bread into sweet or savory pita chips.

You can find more tips at SaveTheFood.com. This article is part of a series. If you have ideas for future food saving tips, please email [email protected]