We all know the story. You create an incredible loaf of fresh bread in your favorite bread maker, eat a delicious sandwich — and then a few hours later discover the rest of your loaf is hardening at the speed of light.
Wondering how to store bread machine bread?
Bread machines are excellent for hassle-free baking and producing beautiful loaves time and again.
Nevertheless, it can be a little more challenging to keep your homemade bread tasty and fresh for more than just 24 hours. While store-bought bread keeps very well in kitchen environments for a long time, it’s a whole different story when it comes to loaves from a bread maker.
So, what’s the secret to giving your homemade bread a better shelf life?
This guide on how to store bread from a bread machine will ensure your loaves stay light and edible for longer.
Let’s get started!
Why Does Store Bought Bread Keep Better Than Bread Machine Bread?
That’s easy.
One of the reasons that you love your bread maker — the fact that you can control exactly what ingredients go into your loaves — is why they don’t stay fresh for long.
Whereas commercial stores will add all manner of preservatives to their bread, you’re unlikely to be adding anything other than real ingredients when you’re baking at home.
That’s a good thing, and means that your bread machine bread is healthy and wholesome. But it’s not good news for the freshness levels.
Artificial preservatives slow down the growth of mold, yeast and bacteria that your bread will eventually succumb to. Without preservatives, those microorganisms are going to grow much more quickly.
But if you don’t want to spoil the integrity of your home baked loaves by adding preservatives, how can you keep your bread fresh for as long as possible?
The secret lies in how to store bread from a bread machine.
What Happens if You Don’t Store Bread Maker Bread Properly?
Bread hungry households that can devour a whole loaf in a day are unlikely to be too concerned about their bread maker bread going stale quickly.
But if you’re a home that takes a few days to eat a loaf, you’re going to want your bread to be almost as fresh on the third day as it was the hour after you baked it.
Without preservatives, fresh baked breads will dry out and stale quickly when they’re exposed to oxygen in the air. So quickly, in fact, that they can be past their best within just a day of baking.
If you leave your loaf out exposed to the elements on a worktop, you’ll find yourself eating a very crumbly, dry and potentially stale loaf — not exactly what you envisioned when you brought your breadmaker.
And don’t think you can escape the staling by sticking your freshly baked loaf in the refrigerator — this is thought to cause staling up to 6 times faster than if it were simply left on the counter top.
So with that in mind…
How To Store Bread Machine Bread
If you want to improve the lifespan of your homemade loaves and keep your scrummy bakes fresh for as long as possible, here’s our step-by-step guide on how to store bread maker bread.
- As soon as you remove your loaf from the pan, place it on a wire rack and allow it to cool completely. If you leave the bread to cool in your bread maker, it will get damp and become soggy.
- Once cool, wrap the bread in a zipper-lock plastic bag or in some good quality foil. Most importantly, use a couple of layers to prevent air from getting in and to ensure the bread is wrapped tightly.
- Then, store it in a cool, dark place at room temperature in your kitchen for up to 3 days.
- If you can, invest in a bread bin or ceramic bread box. This is the best way to keep your loaf fresh for up to 5 days. Just be sure to buy a bin or box that’s well ventilated and always place it away from sunlight.
- You could also use a plastic storage container with ventilation holes to allow the bread to breathe and stay moist.
The Best Bread Bins to Store Bread Maker Bread
Looking for the best bread bin to store your bread and make it last a little bit longer?
Here’s a few to consider:
Laura’s Green Kitchen Bamboo Bread Box
This lovely little bread box has a double shelf setup with a clear window – so you can eye up exactly what you’ve been baking! It has a decent capacity for larger loaves, and the beautiful bamboo finish is an aesthetic winner on the kitchen counter.
The Clever Modern Bread Bin
This flat white bread bin from Clever Modern is engineered with a special floating lid that allows just enough air to prevent moisture build up. It looks great on the countertop and can store multiple or oversized loaves with ease.
How to Freeze Bread from a Bread Machine
Believe it or not, one of the best ways to store bread machine bread and keep your loaves edible for longer is to store them in the freezer. Simply follow these instructions to enjoy maximum taste and freshness.
- Cook your bread maker bread as normal, then take it out of the pan to cool on a wire rack.
- Place cooled bread in a storage container or airtight freezer bag and put your loaf in the freezer. Your bread machine bread should keep for up to 3 months.
- When you want to use your bread, place it in the refrigerator to thaw overnight. Alternatively, leave it out on the side at room temperature.
- If you want your bread to thaw a little quicker, remove it from the freezer bag or container and wrap it in two layers of foil. You can then thaw it in a 250-degree oven for around 30 to 45 minutes. Defrosting it in a microwave oven (minus the foil) will work just as well.
While you can freeze your bread for a few months before defrosting, it’s usually best to use it within 1 month. It’s also worth noting that you can slice up your freshly baked bread and freeze separate portions to enable you to defrost each portion of the loaf as and when you need it.
Here’s a few more tips on freezing bread and rolls:
And while freezing can decelerate the staling process, it’s worth noting that reheating bread can accelerate the process again. Choose to thaw your bread without use of a microwave or oven, if possible.
And that’s everything you need to know about how to store bread from bread machine.
What’s your best way to store bread machine bread?