How to Freeze Bread
Fresh bread that doesn’t contain preservatives goes bad within 5-7 days. Oftentimes, we don’t have enough time to finish it and eventually have to throw it away. But this can be prevented before the product’s shelf life expires.
5-Minute Crafts is telling you what bread is suitable for freezing, how to freeze and defrost it correctly, and how long it can be stored in the freezer.
Types of bread that are suitable for freezing
Almost any type of bread is suitable for freezing, including buns, muffins, pies, and sandwich bread. However, it’s not recommended to freeze bread with a hard, crispy crust, such as baguettes or ciabatta. After defrosting, this type of bread will lose its freshness and won’t be that crispy anymore.
How to freeze bread
- Let the bread cool down if you’ve just baked it or bought it in a bakery.
- Cut the bread into pieces. If you’re going to freeze buns or muffins, separate them from each other.
- Wrap each slice, muffin, or bun in plastic film.
- Put them in a thick bag with a zip-lock. Try to remove as much air from the bag as you can without pressing the bread.
- Put a sticker on the bag indicating the type of bread and the date of freezing.
- Put the bag into the freezer.
Freezing bread without cutting it into pieces
Freezing the bread in pieces is convenient because you can defrost as much bread as you need at the current moment.
Nevertheless, you can freeze the whole loaf of bread. While it will be enough to wrap separate bread pieces with one layer of the food film, the whole loaf is better off packed in a double layer. It will help preserve its freshness, protect it against the accidental rupture of the packaging, and from coming in direct contact with the cold in the freezer.
However, keep in mind that defrosted bread is recommended to be eaten within one sitting, otherwise, it will quickly lose its freshness.
How long bread can be stored in the freezer for
Bread can stay in the freezer for up to 8 months. However, it’s recommended to consume it within 1-2 months. It will help you to be sure that the bread has preserved its taste and freshness.
How to defrost bread
Defrost bread at room temperature and consume it within 1-2 days.
There is no need to defrost toasted bread. Take the frozen pieces from the bag, place them in the toaster, and toast them as usual.
There is no need to defrost other types of bread as well. Slightly sprinkle the bread with water, place it on a baking sheet, and put the sheet in the oven. Bake for 5-10 minutes at 390°F.