Can you freeze bread with paper towels (+ 5 tips)

In this brief guide we will address the question, “can you freeze bread with paper towels?”, as well as other questions pertaining to the subject at hand like how to ensure maximum shelf life of bread and tips about storing bread in the freezer. 

Can you freeze bread with paper towels? 

Yes, you can freeze bread with paper towels. Freezing the bread with paper towels is an excellent approach, provided you seal it with another wrapping on top. 

Paper towel will absorb excess moisture from the bread and will prevent it from getting soggy when you thaw it. However, paper towels do not ensure a properly sealed environment for your bread, therefore, you have to be vigilant and careful about proper sealing of your bread. 

Paper towels are mostly recommended for areas where there is a humid environment. Paper towel will prevent the bread from absorbing too much moisture, and will keep your bread nice and crispy.

How to freeze bread with paper towels? 

When using paper towels, it must be kept in mind that only using the paper towel is not a good idea. You should cover the paper towel with a freezing bag and remove the excess air out of the bag. Just using the paper towel will make your bread dry after you freeze it. 

Paper towels are usually recommended for places with humidity. You can either put a paper towel inside the plastic bag or you can wrap the bread completely and properly and then place it all inside the freezing bag.

It is important to note that paper towels are used only when you want to freeze the bread. At room temperature, paper towels will probably make your bread dry. Paper towels absorb moisture and prevent the bread from getting dry. 

How to keep bread fresh? 

Besides freezing, if you want your bread to last just a day longer, you don’t necessarily have to freeze it. 

Simply use a plastic wrap and then cover it up with aluminum foil to ensure proper sealing. Remove excess air and just put it on the dining table at room temperature. Proper sealing will prevent the air contact with the surface of the bread, retaining the original crispiness and prevention from drying out too much.

However, if you want to consume it after a week or 2-3 days, you might as well want to refrigerate it because the quicker you refrigerate your fresh french bread, the fresher it will stay when you thaw it out from the freezer. 

Other FAQs about Bread which you may be interested in.

How long does bread last in the fridge after expiration date?

How to freeze bread without plastic?

Why does my no knead bread taste yeasty?

Tips for storing bread in the freezer.

Proper cooling.

When going for freezing bread, you need to make sure that the bread is not very hot to go into the freezer. This will just make your bread soggy when you freeze it and you won’t get the desired results. You don’t have to refrigerate it to cool it down, just wait till the freshly baked bread reaches room temperature and then you can store it.

Use double freezing bags

The first step while freezing is to make sure that you use food-grade freezing bags. Freezing bags can be sealed airtight and they do not stick to the surface of your food, making them an ideal storage method for thawing and handling frozen products.

 
Doubling the freezing bags will ensure air-tight conditions and prevent the bags from puncturing if exposed to sharp edges in the freezer. 

Remove excess air from the bags

If air is allowed to enter bread, there are possible chances of mold growth which we definitely don’t want. Therefore, removing excess air from the plastic bags is the way to go!  

Make small portions

Portion sizes are the key element to freezing. If you have purchased too much fresh french bread and don’t want to waste it, you can just make small portions of it before you freeze it. This will not only allow the bread to thaw quicker, but will also save the other portions from getting exposed. 

Taking out the bread from the freezer and cutting it again and again will only take up more of your time and affect the unused portion of the bread that you’re putting back in the freezer.

Refrigerate whole when needed

If you’re a bread lover and like to serve it whole, only then you should refrigerate without making small portions. This method is ideal for when you need to serve it to your guests because small pieces will just ruin the flavor and wholeness of the bread being served.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we have addressed the question, “how to freeze bread with paper towels as well as other questions pertaining to the subject at hand like how to ensure maximum shelf life of bread and tips for storing bread in the freezer. 

References

https://www.favoritefreezerfoods.com/freezing-bread.html#:~:text=Try%20putting%20a%20paper%20towel,and%20there%20is%20less%20condensation.

https://michelpoudrier.com/bread/2920-can-you-freeze-bread-wty-paper-towel.html