Does Bread Go Bad?

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Bread is a combination of flour and water and is used in the whole world as a staple food. It is prepared by baking the dough formed by the combination of the above two ingredients. Bread is commonly used in breakfast and brunch.

It is high in calories and low in carbohydrates. It is one of the oldest human-made foods. There is bad news for bread lovers as bread does not usually last for long at room temperature. If it is kept in the refrigerator, then it may last for a little longer.

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How to store bread?

Unfortunately, the shelf life of bread is very short. It goes bad very quickly because of the fast growth of mold on it. There is no proper recipe for extending its shelf life, but we can store it maximum for a week. Following are the steps we can follow to store bread.

In your pantry

Storing bread in your pantry is the most common way. We can store bread at room temperature in the kitchen but with some precautions. The bread that is opened and used should be packed properly so that no moisture interacts with it.

Moisture makes the mold grow on bread. You can also convert the leftover bread in an airtight container. If it is already packed and unopened, then there is no need to pack it more.

In refrigerator

Refrigerating the bread is the other way to store the bread. If the bread is fresh and unopened, you can store it in the refrigerator without any more layering. The bread remains moist for almost a week.

If the bread is opened, then preferably convert it into an airtight and sealed container. If the bread is placed in the refrigerator without any cover, it hardens and becomes difficult to eat. So, make sure to wrap it properly.

In any cool and dry place

We can also store our loaf or slices of bread in any cool and dry place. The bread should be placed away from sunlight to increase its lifespan. Heat, humidity, and light all are bad for bread but good for mold.

Dry places also keep the bread good because moisture is not good for it. The mold and bacteria act very quickly on flour products if they have interacted with moisture. Just wrap the bread properly in any paper bag and put it in any dry and cool spot for longer use.

Can you freeze bread?

If you want to make your bread last longer, go for freezing it immediately. Bread lasts longer than ever in the freezer. Mold does not act on the bread if frozen, and the bread does not go stale. Bread lovers can freeze loaves of bread for later use.

You have to transfer the leftover bread in any freezer bag or airtight container. And at the time of use, defrost them and enjoy the same taste. On the other hand, you do not have to put unopened bread in any separate container.

How long does the bread last?

The shelf life of bread is short. It does not last for longer except for in the freezer. There is a slight difference in the lifespan of the store and home-baked bread. The home-baked bread turns stale and soggy faster than the store bread.

The life of bread also depends on the condition of its storage. If the bread is stored at room temperature and wrapped properly, it lasts for five to six days.

On the other hand, home-baked bread stays fresh for two to three days. If the bread is refrigerated, it lasts for a week, but the bread’s softness does not last anymore. It hardens and becomes dry in the refrigerator.

The bread stays good for months in the freezer, but it is safe to use it within two months. Also, if the expiration date of bread has passed, do not use it because it does not stay good after that.

How to tell if the bread is bad?

It becomes visible if the bread has turned bad. The appearance of the bread changes and the smell also does not remain the same. Following are the measures you can follow to see if your bread has gone bad:

Foul Smell: If the bread does not smell good and some sour and sharp smell appears, then the bread is bad. Stop using it immediately.
Dry and Rough: If the bread becomes dry and rough, stop using it. These signs indicate that the bread is stale. Stale bread is not good for the intestines.
Mold Formation: If the mold appears on the bread, then, of course, stop using the bread. Mold has some harmful bacteria on it. The mold is visible with the naked eye. It is mostly green in color.
Bad Taste: If the taste of bread changes, then it is bad. So, stop using it.