Tesco has provided detailed instructions on how to store loaves of bread, whether they’re from Hovis, Kingsmill or Warburtons.
“Fresh bread can go stale within two to three days, while store-bought bread lasts a maximum of one week, making it difficult to use up in time,” Tesco warns.
“If you’ve come home from one of our stores or just had a grocery shop delivered and have a loaf or two of sliced bread you’d like to save for a rainy day, put them straight in the freezer in the packaging they came in.”
The advice continues: “Once you’ve sourced freezer space for your bread, you can keep it there for up to one month if it’s wrapped in a single layer.
“If you’ve done the double wrap, the bread will keep for as long as six months.”
Defrosting bread couldn’t be simpler. All you need to do is take it out of the freezer, remove any plastic wrap (as this traps condensation), and leave it to thaw on your kitchen counter.
Your bread will return to its soft self in no time. There’s just “one golden rule” – do not freeze bread again once it’s been defrosted, as this will spoil the texture.
If you’re not freezing bread, then paper wrapping is always best, “as it allows just enough air to circulate, without trapping in moisture and allowing mould to propagate,” the UK’s biggest supermarket chain has said.
“Don’t underestimate the power of your humble bread bin (or bread box),” it added.
Tesco has given its customers a tip: “A large bread bin helps to balance humidity with just the right amount of air circulation, preventing your bread from drying out without making it damp.
“As tempting as it is to store everything in your bread bin, it’s best to avoid over-stuffing it, as that prevents proper air circulation,” reports Birmingham Live.
On average, each person ate more than half a kilo of bread every week during 2021/2022. Almost every British home buys bread, and about 11 million loaves are sold daily, research shows.
