In this brief guide, we will answer the question “Does putting bread in the fridge make it last longer?” and discuss why it happens. We will also tell you what stale bread means and if it is still good to eat. We will also list down ways in which you can use stale bread. Lastly, we will discuss how to properly store bread to make it last longer and what is its shelf life.
Does putting bread in the fridge make it last longer?
Yes, putting bread in the fridge makes it last longer but it will make the bread go stale quicker. Putting bread in the fridge prevents it from getting mold as mold thrives in warm temperatures while it can not grow or finds it hard to grow in cooler temperatures.
However, cooler temperatures will also cause the bread to go stale. You can eat stale bread and it can be made better but you can not eat moldy bread, you will have to discard it. So, technically, putting bread in the fridge does make it last longer.
Does stale bread mean it has gone bad?
No, stale bread does not mean that it has gone bad. What happens is that starch present in the bread crystallizes due to cooler temperatures and causes the bread to become hard and crumbly. It does not mean that the bread has lost its moisture as it can be made soft again by heating it.
What can I do with stale bread?
Reheating stale bread will make it soft and enjoyable again. This is how you should do it.
- Take the stale bread and put it under running tap water until it is completely wet.
- Place it on a sheet pan and in the oven.
- Heat it in the oven for a couple of minutes.
Alternatively, you can use stale bread in a lot of recipes.
- Use it to make bread crumbs. Blend it up in a food processor and use it at the same time or put it in the freezer for later use.
- You can also use stale bread to make bread pudding.
- Stale bread can be used to make french toast.
- Croutons can be made with stale bread as well.
There are a lot of recipes in which you can use stale bread so as to reduce waste and not having to throw a good piece of bread away.
How to store bread properly to make it last longer?
Bread is a staple in most houses but it has a short half life. Let us share some tips with you which can help you in keeping your bread good for longer periods of time.
Wrap it up in paper
Wrapping up the bread in paper and keeping it on the countertop keeps it fresh for a long time. Although you can also keep it wrapped up in plastic wrap, this promotes mold growth. You can not eat moldy bread so it is better to wrap the bread in paper.
Use a bread box
Bread boxes not only keep the bread fresh, but also add to the look of your kitchen counter. They prevent the growth of mold by allowing passage of only enough air and not too much.
Freeze it
Freezing the bread is a great way of making it last longer as it halts the staling process and also does not let any bacteria grow on it. Place your bread in a freezer safe bag or a heavy duty freezer bag before putting it inside the freezer to avoid freezer burn.
Learn how to defrost frozen bread here.
What is the shelf life of bread?
Fresh homemade bread lasts for about 3-4 days on the countertop while store-bought bread lasts for about 7 days on the countertop.
As discussed above, if you refrigerate the bread, the shelf life will increase for 3 to 5 more days. Use the clip already present on the packaging to reseal the bread before refrigerating it.
Other FAQs about Bread that you may be interested in.
Can I eat bread past its expiration date?
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question “Does putting bread in the fridge make it last longer?” and discussed why it happens. We also told you what stale bread means and if it is still good to eat. We also listed down ways in which you can use stale bread. Lastly, we discussed how to properly store bread to make it last longer and what is its shelf life.
