We’ve all been there, you head to your counter or bread box only to find your bread is moldy, stale, or worse yet, eaten up! And, while it’s easy to leave your frozen bread out on the counter the night before, sometimes you remember too late or you’re just craving bread and don’t want to wait.
Luckily, I’ve got some tips for storing your fresh bread in the freezer and how to thaw it out quickly no matter if it’s frozen in slices or whole.
Best Practices for Storing Bread in the Freezer
As a bread fanatic, on more than a few occasions, I’ve had to freeze my homemade bread because it was just too much to eat in too little time. I’ve frozen all kinds of loaves from denser rye bread to fluffy brioche and of course a classic sourdough loaf. I’ve learned a few things along the way that have helped me determine a couple best practices:
1. DECIDE: CUT YOUR BREAD IN SLICES OR LEAVE IT WHOLE
If your plan is to eat the bread little by little each day, your best bet is to cut the bread first into individual slices before freezing. This will make it so much easier to simply take out one piece rather than having to commit to defrosting the entire loaf. And, don’t worry, freezing your bead in slices doesn’t make it go stale faster, it keeps really well for about a month.
If you’ve got individual bread rolls or are planning to use your bread loaf to feed a crowd for an event like a holiday meal or get-together, feel free to freeze the loaf whole.
First, make sure that the bread is completely cooled before placing it in the freezer. This will help to prevent the formation of condensation, which can make the bread soggy. Additionally, you should try to remove as much air as possible from the bag or container before sealing it to help prevent freezer burn.
My Method for Reheating Slices of Bread
The best part about freezing your bread in slices is that you can take out the exact amount you need and leave the rest for later without worrying if you’ll have time to eat it before going stale.
Take as many slices as you want out of the freezer bag or container and wrap in a paper towel or place on a microwavable plate.
Microwave on high for 30 seconds.
After 30 seconds, take it carefully out of the microwave and place it directly in your toaster or oven. Toast until it reaches the desired consistency. Top with your favorite bread toppings (i.e. extra virgin olive oil and tomato, butter, jam, avocado, etc.)
My Method for Reheating a Loaf of Bread
If you’ve got a loaf of bread in the freezer and want to heat it up to enjoy for an event or with family, try this method. Originally, I simply placed the entire loaf in the oven and let it heat straight from the freezer which works, but I’ve since learned of a better method.
Let your loaf sit and come to room temperature (I’ve had success both leaving my bread loaf out for only 30 minutes or completely overnight before continuing to step 2).
Run water all over the bread on top and bottom (this helps to add moisture back into the bread).
Place in the oven at 175℃ (350℉) for about 10-15 minutes or until it is soft and crispy. Remove from the oven, let it cool and slice.
Did you try either of these? Have another method that works best for you, let me know below!