To avoid wasting bread, it must be stored in good conditions. Here are the secrets to keeping bread crispy and soft.
More than 95% of French people eat bread. But the waste of bread represents 4.5kg per year per inhabitant. For a family of 4 people, we throw away almost 20 kilos of bread each year. And that represents 65 euros. An unnecessary expense and waste.
The problem is that bread often faces problems with mold or drying out. However, it is possible to take action yourself to avoid these problems. The most common reason bread is thrown away is because it becomes moldy. When bread is stored in a dark, damp place, it spoils more easily. For example, in a bread box placed in a warm place, mold may begin to grow more quickly. Many people also store their bread in the refrigerator, although this is not advisable. In the refrigerator, the texture of the bread suffers. Bread may crumble and dry out.
So how do you keep bread as long as possible? First of all, you have to know how to buy the right quantity of bread in relation to consumption, which will avoid having too much. But then you have to pay attention to the storage conditions. Sliced bread is best stored at room temperature in its plastic packaging. Baguettes and rolls dry out more quickly than sliced bread. They should be stored in their own paper bag or wrapped in a cloth
How do you know if the bread is still good? The best way to examine bread is sensory: look, smell and taste. If no mold is visible and the bread still appears soft and smells fresh and good, it is often safe to eat. Even if a date was indicated on its packaging. And know that a slightly dry bread is still perfectly edible. Dry bread can be toasted or quickly heated in the microwave to improve its texture. Dry bread is suitable, for example, for making croutons or breadcrumbs.
If you are unable to consume all the bread you have purchased, it is advisable to freeze it. Storing bread in the freezer depends on the type of bread, its humidity, and whether any bread has already been removed from the bag. Fresh store-bought and frozen bread can therefore be kept in good condition for months in the freezer.