When I mentioned a few days ago on our Facebook page that the best way to store fresh bread was in a cloth bag, I had no idea that so many of my readers would ask the logical question: “why?” When I started to type the short answer, I realized something. There is no short answer.
Instead, there are several reasons why I believe that fabric provides the most hospitable environment for freshly baked bread. Those reasons are altogether simple and complex. The reason for my initial statement was the simplest of all: my friend Lisa from Fresh Eggs Daily had decided to treat me to one of her beautiful handmade linen bread bags.
A few weeks ago, we had been discussing the impending winter. While neither of us was happy to accept that we would soon need snow boots to travel out to our coops and barns, we were both looking forward to a few cold weather pastimes. One of those was baking fresh homemade bread.
I enjoy making bread, especially during the winter months. During the long, cold winter here in New England I don’t need much encouragement to turn the oven on and commit to baking something for an hour or more. Bread provides me with the perfect excuse to do just that. Add in that it also provides fresh bread for my family to enjoy and you can see why I look forward to my cold weather bread baking.
I have been baking bread for my family for over a decade. During that time, I’ve learned a few tricks, had a few failures, and developed several family favorite recipes. I’ve also learned a thing or two about how to store fresh bread in order to preserve its texture and extend its shelf life.
There are several ways to store fresh bread. There are also several decisions to make before doing so. The first decision involves the use of refrigeration. While it seems logical that fresh food will remain fresh longer if kept in the refrigerator, bread should always be kept at room temperature.
Obviously, the spoiling process occurs much more quickly in a loaf of fresh bread. Whether it is of the homemade variety or purchased from a local bakery, these loaves typically do not contain preservatives. Without preservatives to slow down the process, it doesn’t take long for the fresh bread to spoil.
In spite of this, bread should not be stored in the refrigerator. The cold environment in the refrigerator will dry out the bread and ruin its texture inside and out. In fact, a process called retrogradation takes place when bread is stored in the refrigerator. Retrogradation is the term used to describe the crystallization of the starch molecules in bread or other baked goods. This transformation is six times more likely to happen at refrigerated temperatures versus room temperature.
While the risk of molding is greater in a loaf of bread held at room temperature over a few days, refrigeration for a few hours can completely destroy the crust and crumb of a loaf. When this information is taken into consideration, it seems obvious that fresh bread that will be eaten quickly should be stored at room temperature.
If you find yourself with fresh bread that will not be consumed in a day or two, fresh bread can also be frozen. Frozen loaves should be allowed to thaw at room temperature and reheated briefly in a warm oven. The warmth of the oven will help to liquefy the starch crystals within the bread and help to return its crust and interior to its original texture.
Now that we understand where we should keep our bread for both short term and long term storage, it’s time to decide what to store the fresh bread in. Our best options include bags made from plastic, paper, or cloth. Each material serves a different purpose and results in a different outcome for the loaf of bread inside.
First, let’s start with plastic. I can’t help but think of sandwich bread when picturing a loaf stored inside a plastic bag. There’s a perfectly good reason that sandwich bread is so closely associated with its plastic bag storage. Soft sandwich bread and its plastic bag are a perfect match. The plastic bag serves two purposes with regard to the spongy textured sandwich bread.
Because the plastic does not breathe or allow for the passage of air in or out of the bag, the loaf inside tends to resist drying out. This helps to maintain the loaf’s soft texture. During the natural process of trace amounts of moisture dissipating from the loaf, that moisture is actually trapped inside the plastic bag. Therefore, at least some of that moisture is returned to the loaf, helping to keep it soft.
For sandwich bread, a soft crust and spongy interior are both admirable traits. For a fresh loaf of crusty Italian bread or a French baguette, it is a disaster waiting to happen. The same trapped moisture that keeps the sandwich bread moist destroys the crispy texture of the bread’s crust. Ironically, as the crust softens and overly chewy
Baguette or crusty loaves are better suited to storage in paper or cloth bags. Both of these offer an environment that allows the dissipating moisture to exit. While the bread will eventually become stale, the texture of both the exterior and interior will stand a much better chance of lasting a day or two.
Between paper and cloth, cloth is the clear choice for me. In my experience, loaves stored in paper tend to dry out more quickly than those stored in a cloth. In fact, before I received a linen cloth bread bag from Lisa, I sometimes kept bread wrapped in a clean kitchen towel. I think that you’ll agree that her beautiful bread bag is a bit more stylish.
In the end, great bread isn’t meant to be kept long term. It’s meant to be enjoyed as soon as you bring it home. The Europeans are far ahead of us on this tradition. They view day old bread as a component for soups, bread puddings, croutons, and bread crumbs. Day old bread is the very reason that Panzanella was born. What better way to utilize slightly stale bread than by allowing it to absorb the delicious flavors of tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and vinegar?
Of course, I am speaking of Europeans who live in urban cities and can walk to any of a number of bakeries that 
produce delicious breads that can be purchased and enjoyed daily. I don’t have that luxury, so I try to keep a loaf or two in the freezer and store today’s fresh bread in a cloth bag for tomorrow. If I store it well, I have the option to warm it slightly in the oven and serve bread that is still delicious. Of course, if it’s heirloom tomato season, I just might make Panzanella.
Now that you know how to store fresh bread, you need a good recipe for a homemade loaf and a fabric bread bag to store it in. You’re in luck on both accounts. You can give my recipe for Mocha Bread a try and enter to win a beautiful linen bread bag from Fresh Eggs Daily.
Follow the instructions from Rafflecopter below to earn up to six chances to win. Entries will be accepted until October 10, 2012. One winner will be randomly selected and announced on our Facebook page on Thursday, October 11. Thank you Lisa for sharing one of your beautiful linen bread bags with 1840 Farm and our readers! Good luck to all who enter!
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42 comments
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Jackie
October 3, 2012 at 8:53 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Living in Florida, I grew up with my mother always storing bread in the refrigerator. As a result, I have always done the same. Looks like I need to make some changes. Thanks for the information!
Tara
October 3, 2012 at 9:07 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ve never thought about a cloth bag, but a great idea. We usually don’t store it as fresh bread is quickly gone.
cheryl
October 3, 2012 at 9:16 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Love your post regarding storing bread to keep it fresh. I store mine in a bag with several celery stalks, which keeps it soft and crumble free for a longer period of time.
Megan from Minnesota
October 3, 2012 at 9:29 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love this idea! I am always looking for ways to get plastic out of our lives and out of our house. This is another perfect way to accomplish that! Also, it just makes sense! Thank you!
Amy
October 3, 2012 at 9:40 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
We keep it in a plastic sliding container! Ack! I can’t convince my husband to try something else lol.
Jamie Woodside
October 3, 2012 at 10:31 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This would come in so handy at my house! I wrap my bread in deli paper usually, not ideal, but better than plastic!
Anna
October 3, 2012 at 10:32 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I convinced my husband several months ago that we should make our own sandwich bread from then on. He agreed, and while he takes 2 sandwiches to work each day, the loaf may still sit around for a week or so. I keep it on the counter in a plastic ziploc bag and it stays soft and fresh for days.
Donna Hitchcock
October 3, 2012 at 10:33 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
would love to win a bread bag!
paulette
October 3, 2012 at 10:40 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
hello – thank you for sharing this incredible information!
Jennifer Janes
October 3, 2012 at 10:43 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I normally just keep it on the counter, I want to try a bag now though!
Sue
October 3, 2012 at 10:51 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I started making bread last winter — used the no-knead recipe from the NYTimes, cooked in a cast iron dutch oven. So good! I will store in fabric when i start baking again. Thanks for the info!
Sue Hiddink
October 3, 2012 at 10:52 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I usually freeze in plastic and the fresh loaf stays out most of the day and put in a plastic bag afterwards. The tip about thawing the loaf and then putting in the oven is great, thank you!
Abby Hoven
October 3, 2012 at 11:03 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Love this post! I always put homemade bread in a towel after it’s cooled, but then transfer into something else. No more! Cloth from her on out! Thank you!
Christa Lemons
October 3, 2012 at 11:03 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love fresh bread but sis not know about the bags…I use a towel as you do….but the bags are awesome!
Charlotte
October 3, 2012 at 11:06 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Who knew?! I usually skip the storage issue altogether and do my best to see that it gets eaten on day one. Otherwise I’ll turn it into croutons or bread pudding.
Bobbi
October 3, 2012 at 11:17 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I was storing it in a paper bag. The cloth looks like it wold be better though.
Thanks for the giveaway.
julie p.
October 3, 2012 at 11:34 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Good info! I am looking into baking some bread shortly and now I will know how best to store it. Thanks!
Amy
October 3, 2012 at 11:42 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I currently wrap fresh bread in wax paper…I would love to try the linen, though!
Theresa Cardillo
October 3, 2012 at 11:44 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Nothing like fresh baked bread! Stuff of Life! Thanks for the tips!
Sarah Miller-Kramer
October 3, 2012 at 11:49 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I wrap mine in a tea towel, but with 3 kids, a loaf of homemade bread doesn’t last long!
denise
October 3, 2012 at 11:50 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Great information, I didn’t know this. Thank you for sharing!
Jessica Wakeford
October 3, 2012 at 12:03 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I have never made my own bread but I am looking forward to learning!
Rachel
October 3, 2012 at 12:04 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I try to use paper bags, keep the humidity in the kitchen at a reasonable level. A cloth bag is a great idea!
Brenda
October 3, 2012 at 12:12 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This is a new one on me, but I am going to give it a try! THANK YOU MUCH!
Cathi Harp
October 3, 2012 at 12:25 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I usually wrap my fresh bread in plastic wrap or put in a zip lock bag. I tried storing in a paper bag & it dried out very quickly. The thought of using a cloth bag gives me hope that it will be a better way to store my bread!
Liz
October 3, 2012 at 12:48 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I store mine in a vintage pillowcase! I love the idea of stitching together old linen towels to make a drawstring bag – clever and repurposed.
Lisa Cox
October 3, 2012 at 12:50 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Well, until reading your post, I always stored my fresh bread wrapped in saran wrap.
Andrea G
October 3, 2012 at 1:34 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I never thought of storing bread in a cloth bag. What a great idea
Jesse McAvoy
October 3, 2012 at 1:35 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Right now I use recycled plastic bags from my partners work, and sometimes I just wrap up new loaves in a kitchen towel. A cloth bread bag is such a good idea!
Karen at A Glimpse Into My Reveries
October 3, 2012 at 2:52 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I never thought about using cloth bags. But now that I think about it, my hubby Mom always wraps her homemade bread in a towel. For quick breads, I guessing a cloth bag will keep the crust from becoming sticky! I’ll have to try this.
Tonya
October 3, 2012 at 3:10 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
We are also looking forward to baking bread with our fresh ground wheat. New at it so it should be interesting. This would help keep the occasional (lol) good loaf better =)
Tonya
October 3, 2012 at 3:12 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The couple loaves we have made so far we stored in plastic bread bags.
Rocky
October 3, 2012 at 4:05 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
My goal this winter is to bake the perfect loaf of bread! I need the perfect linen bag to put it in!!
D Jones
October 3, 2012 at 5:03 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I usually use tinfoil. After letting it completely cool.
Paula
October 3, 2012 at 9:13 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Fresh Eggs sent me and I love your site!
Norma
October 3, 2012 at 9:17 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I have a bread bag that I made a few years ago. It has a nice “country” look to it. I tie it with a braided leather cord. One of the things that I am super curious about, and plan to try, is melting beeswax into the cloth when I make the next one. My thinking is that the cloth would still be breathable, but the beeswax should lend some anti-microbial properties to the cloth. It is my hope that it would help to “preserve” the bread a little longer. If anyone has tried this, I’d love to hear about it!
Jennifer
October 3, 2012 at 11:10 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
What an interesting idea! I hope that you will share how you make it and how it works for you. I’d love to hear all about it!
Norma
October 4, 2012 at 7:14 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I plan to melt the beeswax over low heat and paint it onto the fabric with a brush. I will use that fabric as a liner for the bread bag. The first bread bag i made was for rectangular loaves. I sandwiched plastic between the liner and the outer covering. It works well for sandwich bread, but not for other types of bread.
Jan Chesser
October 4, 2012 at 12:08 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Great information. I am loving all of this good info for preparing and storing food at home.
Lynn
October 4, 2012 at 1:32 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks for the interesting information! Mom always had bread (in the plastic!) out on the counter, and later I was introduced to the “bread box”. I am looking to switch now!
mel boone
October 6, 2012 at 11:55 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Have a couple plastic bread wrappers at home
Simi
December 12, 2012 at 7:21 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
That was an amazing post !! I need to get myself a cloth bag for my loaf. U have a beautiful space, u sure are going to have me here more often