Stale bread is a common occurrence when bread is left out for too long, or even worse, when it starts to mold. This is a natural phenomenon. However, experts point out that if bread is placed next to water, it can mold faster due to the moisture, thus shortening its shelf life.
According to a report by the UK’s “Daily Express,” the freshness of bread is crucial, and factors like packaging and humidity can greatly affect its longevity.
If you frequently find that the bread you buy goes bad before you can finish it, there are some effective strategies you can follow to keep it fresh for a longer period of time.
Sarah Taylor, a food hygiene expert from the UK educational website “High Speed Training,” shared her insights on storing bread.
Taylor addressed a common question: Can you eat bread that has started to mold?
She advised, “It’s best to discard bread that has mold on it because the mold could spread further inside the bread than what meets the eye. Buying pre-sliced bread is a good and cheaper option as it can help your bread stay fresh longer since mold takes longer to spread throughout the whole loaf.”
“To keep bread fresh for longer, it’s best to wrap it up well, whether in a bread box or a bread bag, try to keep the packaging intact and cover the bread as much as possible,” she further added.
Taylor also emphasized a lesser-known tip – avoid keeping bread next to water. She explained, “You should keep bread away from water as it accelerates mold growth. If you tend to eat bread slowly, refrigerating it is a good option.”
She mentioned that refrigeration can prevent mold from spreading. Simply using the defrost setting on a toaster can help thaw frozen bread.
Emilie Raffa, a chef and bread baker from “The Clever Carrot” website, also shared some tips on storing bread.
Raffa noted that some people store bread in plastic bags and place them in drawers between the fridge and dishwasher, but the heat generated from these appliances along with the trapped moisture in the plastic bag creates an ideal environment for mold growth.
To keep bread fresh for an extended period, Raffa recommended storing it in a cool, dry place, away from any heat source or moisture. This means avoiding proximity to appliances like ovens, stoves, fridges, and even fruit bowls.
But why avoid fruit bowls? This is because fruits like apples and bananas release ethylene gas as they ripen, not only speeding up the ripening of other fruits but also causing bread to spoil faster.
Raffa explained that ripe fruits release moisture, creating a damp environment that mold thrives in.
She advised using paper bags to store bread. “Paper bags are more breathable than plastic bags, making them suitable for storing buttery brioche, soft bread, and other fat-containing bread. However, too much air can cause the bread to spoil quickly. Consider sealing these bags as tightly as possible.”