*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.
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.
A large bread bin helps to balance humidity with just the right amount of air circulation, preventing your bread from drying out without making it damp. As tempting as it is to store everything in your bread bin, it's best to avoid over-stuffing it, as that prevents proper air circulation.
While there are some breads, like baguettes and ciabatta, that taste better when left on the counter, there is nothing inherently wrong with storing bread in the refrigerator. Refrigerated bread will still be safe to eat, and depending on the type of bread you store in the fridge, it will taste just fine.
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.
The bread will develop a stale flavor and texture. If you tightly wrap your bread in plastic and put it in the refrigerator, you can help slow the staling process. Freezing bread is an option to help prevent it from going stale and developing spoilage microbes.
And if you're using a sealed plastic bag, it'll cause your bread to get moldy. You should keep your bread far away from the stove, the top of the fridge, or any area that's near sources of heat. Instead, your best bet it to keep it in a dark, cool section of your kitchen counter or your pantry.
Yes, you can refrigerate bread to stop mold from forming. However, we don't recommend this option because it almost always guarantees stale bread, and reviving stale bread is never a good thing. On the other hand, putting bread inside the freezer is a better choice than refrigerated bread.
How long a loaf of bread lasts before it gets moldy or stale depends on the type of bread. In general, most loaves will last up to a week at room temperature, and three to five days longer in the fridge—though keep in mind that refrigeration can make bread go stale.
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.
Storage and hygiene considerations:
Store unpackaged bread in a clean, well-ventilated container. Placing bread on wooden or plastic slats inside a container enhances air circulation, reduces moisture and prevents mould. Unventilated bins are unsuitable because they promote condensation and encourage mould growth.
This comes from all the heat your fridge is putting out. Same for storing near a dishwasher; the excess heat and moisture these appliances give off is not bread-friendly. Try to store bread in a cool and dry area of your kitchen. If not out on the counter, then in a cabinet or a deep drawer."
Does bread go bad in the fridge? Bread will quickly dry out and get stale in the fridge, making it unusable as fresh bread. It may also develop mold and germs in the fridge, so it should be used fresh or frozen right away.
The best way to store bread is at room temperature in a dark, dry, cool location such as a pantry, drawer, or bread box.
The answer is yes, breadboxes have been proven to keep bread fresh. With the help of a closed box, tasty baked goods can stay pristine well past their prime. Bread lovers can get that right-out-of-the-oven taste, even days later.
It usually takes five or so days for mold to grow, but you'll want to take extra precautions for bread that's fresh from the farmers market or baked at home. That type of loaf is made with fewer preservatives than the store-bought variety. It's likely to grow something green faster than usual!
Climate of Bread
Mold grows best in dark, warm environments. If you did an experiment measuring which type of bread molds the fastest and put one slice in the fridge and one in a cabinet, the slice in the cabinet would mold faster because it is in a warmer and darker environment.
Sandwich loaves can be refrigerated too!
Use a cover that won't touch the dough itself but will keep the surface moist. A shower cap or bowl cover is perfect. In a pinch, you can lay greased plastic wrap over the dough's surface.”
It is also advisable to keep the end crust to keep the top slice fresh. Bread will keep fresh for several days at room temperature. However, in very hot weather the loaf should be wrapped in polythene or foil and stored in the refrigerator to delay the onset of mould, although this will speed up the staling process.
Freeze your bread
Bread might go stale ASAP when it's refrigerated, but freezing it is actually one of the best ways to extend its shelf life. Freezing your bread will prevent mold growth and stop staleness in its tracks.
Store in Kitchen Cabinet
A kitchen cabinet will also work well to store bread and keep mold from growing. Place the loaf of bread into a paper bag or an open plastic bag. There will be just enough air circulation in the cabinet to prevent mold from developing yet not enough air that bread will dry out too quickly.
USE A BREAD BOX
You can keep your fresh loaf in a bread box for a few days. 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.
PLASTIC: NOT THE BEST WAY TO STORE HOMEMADE BREAD
Plastic, either as a wrap or a bag, does not allow for the passage of air and maintains the bread at a soft texture, so the loaf inside does not dry out. Plastic may work for softer breads but does not work well for sourdough or other crusty breads.
Commercially baked breads and rolls can be stored at room temperature for 2 to 4 days or 7 to 14 days in the refrigerator. Bread products retain their quality when stored in the freezer for 3 months. Any breads containing meat or hard cooked eggs must be refrigerated within 2 hours.