1. Fresh Out of the Oven
Fresh bread is one of the tastiest things around, but you have to follow some rules in order to keep the bread fresh. If you are going to eat the bread within a week, to keep it the freshest, you need to find a dark, dry place to store it, like a cupboard. Direct sunlight will harden bread, and a damp area will hasten the development of mold. If you are serious about keeping the bread fresh, you may want to purchase a clay breadbox. The more cost-conscious can simply put the bread in paper grocery bag.
2. Longer-Term Fresh Bread
If you are not going to use the bread within a week, then freezing the bread is the best option to keep it fresh. Typically, the bread will stay fresh for about two months in cold storage. Before putting the bread in the freezer, be sure to wrap it in single piece of aluminum foil so that the entire area of the bread is covered, leaving no part exposed during freezing. You can also store the bread in a plastic freezer bag, but make certain that most of the air is out of the bag before freezing. If there is too much air in the bag, the bread can develop ice formations on its surface and damage it freshness when you thaw it out.
3. Refreshing
To refresh frozen bread, there are few rules to follow for optimum freshness. First, you can let the bread thaw at room temperature, but you may want to hang the bread in a plastic bag to ensure consistent thawing. Another option is to place the bread in aluminum foil and heat it in the oven at 350 degrees F for eight to 12 minutes. This method will most likely result in a crispy crust, but a moist and fresh interior.
4. Refrigeration
Refrigeration is something you do not want to do with bread. While it does hinder mold growth, it actually increases the chances that the bread will go stale quickly. In addition, bread freshness can depend on where you live. If you live in a place with high humidity, the bread will not last as long at room temperature due to the excess moisture in the air that will speed mold development on the bread.
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