Bread is one of the staple foods and can be found in virtually every household. Some people buy classic bread, others enjoy wholemeal bread. And then there are those who regularly bake their own. But everyone wants their loaf to stay soft for a long time. How do you store bread so that it tastes delicious even after a few days?

Bread can be enjoyed for breakfast or snacks and is equally suitable as a side dish for lunch or dinner, for example. In short, it is a versatile food, but sometimes it can’t be eaten within a few days. And nobody wants their bread to get hard in the kitchen and then get mouldy. We know a way to make bread last for a week, maybe two, and still be tasty and soft.

How long should bread last

Of course, it depends on the type of bread. But according to some experts, store-bought bread should last up to two weeks. Fresh homemade bread, by contrast, is usually only edible for a few days. Usually, the bread tends to harden sooner because the natural moisture leaves the bread and it dries out. The hardening process begins the moment you open the wrapper. How quickly the bread hardens depends on the circumstances.

Not only does the ambient temperature have an effect, but of course also the preservatives used. And then the type of packaging also plays a role. And then there’s mould. You can prevent mould, for example, by putting the bread in the fridge. But it will probably harden much more quickly there. It’s complicated. Little moisture means hardening, a lot of moisture means mould. Too much of everything is bad for the bread. So how do you make bread last longer?

━━ ( Source: Vicky Ng /  Unsplash+ )

Breadbox? But where

You’ve probably heard of the breadbox. And you’ve probably tried it, too. But it’s not exactly the ideal solution. We’re not saying you shouldn’t use a bread machine at all, but on its own, it practically won’t work. In fact, you need to prevent the bread from drying out. And you can do that by putting some moisture in the bag or in the loaf pan. But we don’t mean adding a glass of water. Wet bread wouldn’t be ideal either.

However, you can just use fairly common vegetables. We’re talking about celery. So says Orlando Food Sales chef Domenic Tolomea, among others. According to him, the idea is that when celery is added to bread, a small amount of moisture is released into the air, which helps prevent the bread from spoiling quickly.