Bread should be stored in a breadbox naked. Meaning not in any sort of plastic or paper bags. Just a plane bread in the box. This will ensure you will keep your loaf fresh and your crust crispy. Bread boxes should not be 100% airtight as to let a small amount of air in and out of the box.
USE A BREAD BOX
With its dark and dry interior, a bread box helps maintain a decent balance of moisture to keep the inside of the bread soft and its exterior crusty. Make sure there is plenty of room inside for good air circulation.
Store in paper, never plastic
While storing in plastic seems like the right idea, this actually encourages mold growth, resulting in the bread going bad much faster.
To save bread so it stays fresh longer, you can store it in plastic wrap, a reusable zip-top plastic bag, or a bread box. Avoid storing bread in damp, airy locations, which can speed up molding. If you're not going to eat the loaf in two or three days, the best option is to freeze it for later.
Bread boxes aren't just for looks (although some can definitely improve the look and feel of your kitchen). They're also ideal for storing bread to keep it from molding. Just place the loaf directly into the box without putting into a paper or plastic bag first.
Breadboxes, or “bread bins” for our friends across the pond, were quite popular until fairly recently. They serve to keep bread at a cool, constant temperature, keep the mice away, and help keep the bread from going stale.
Whether you're baking bread from scratch or picking up a loaf from your favorite bakery, a quality bread box is an excellent way to keep your bread crust crunchy while leaving the inside soft and chewy. Alternative storing methods simply don't hold up.
But now that the fresh stuff, the bread with a great crust and moist interior, is back, the reasons for the breadbox are clear: store one of those beautiful loaves in a plastic bag and it will turn into a tough hunk of foam overnight. A breadbox should keep it fresh for up to three days.
One of the best ways to store bread is to keep it in a bread bin. Those with a tight seal will help to keep your loaves fresher for longer. It should be kept in a cool place, but avoid keeping it in the fridge. Bread freezes well whole or in slices.
Although plastic bags and airtight containers may seem like a good way to keep your bread from going stale, the lack of airflow will foster an environment for mold growth, because the moisture is contained and mold loves moisture. If you want to put your bread in a container, a bread box is the way to go.
Keep store bought bread in its original packaging, tightly closed with a tie. If you've made a loaf of fresh bread, or picked up a loaf of artisanal bread, wrap it securely in plastic wrap, then wrap the loaf in a clean tea towel to keep it at its best.
Ceramic. Bread storage containers made from ceramic are really great at keeping bread moist and fresh. They are however very fragile and prone to breakage at the slightest fall. If you are big on aesthetics, then a ceramic container would be great as they come in different beautiful colors and designs.
Wrapping bread and storing it at room temperature will help it retain moisture for a few days. But what if you can't finish the whole loaf in that amount of time? Freezing is the answer. The takeaway: If you're storing bread longer than a few days, it's best to keep it in the freezer.
*Never keep your bread in the fridge. The starch molecules in bread recrystallize very quickly at cool temperatures, and cause the bread to stale much faster when refrigerated. *Shop-bought loaves should be kept in an air-tight plastic bag at room temperature rather than in the fridge.
The fridge
According to Harold McGee, author of On Food & Cooking, refrigerating fresh bread can cause it to stale up to six times faster than bread left out on the counter. That said, the fridge is a decent place to store your store-bought bread because it will prevent mold and dryness.
Should a breadbox be airtight? No, a bread box should not be completely airtight. If it is, moisture will build up inside the box over time and cause the bread to mold quickly. On the other hand, bread should not be left out in the open air either, because that will cause it to go stale.
In short, store your bread at room temperature in a cool, dark, dry place such as a pantry, breadbox, or cabinet if you plan to eat it quickly, and freeze it if you want it to last longer. Bread stored at room temperature should be in its original packaging or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.
Temperature. Bread will inevitably grow mold the fastest when left at room temperature, which is anywhere between 68 to 72°F (20 to 22°C) because mold grows at 40 to 140°F (4 to 60°C). What is this? On the other hand, the colder the temperature is, the slower mold will grow.
The best way to store bread is at room temperature in a dark, dry, cool location such as a pantry, drawer, or bread box. We also recommend keeping our bread sealed in its original packaging, as this will help retain its moisture.
To maximize the shelf life of packaged white bread, keep tightly closed in original packaging and store at room temperature. Properly stored, packaged white bread will last for about 5 to 7 days at normal room temperature.
Bread should be stored in an air-tight container, but still have some room to breath. Any kind of tin or bread box will work, as long as the lid fits tightly enough to keep air out.
Stainless steel bread boxes are the most durable and often have a modern look. Wood offers a more traditional or rustic design. Some types, such as bamboo (a sustainable material) are eco-friendly.
Homekoko Wood Bread Box
This simple bamboo bread box has plenty of ventilation to help keep bread fresh and mold-free. The front is plexiglass and allows you to see what's in there so you don't forget about that last cinnamon roll or slice of banana bread.