How to keep homemade bread

[jennimoo]

I'm loving my panasonic breadmaker, and haven't bought any bread in the few weeks since it arrived.

I've been wrapping it in a tea towel once cool (after slicing) but wondered if this is actually a good way to keep it fresh, or if there's a better way.

Plastic bag? Box?

[DameFanny]

When I get around to making it it generally gets eaten too quickly to go stale, so I can't help you at all!

[janek]

i have two of these. One goes in the freezer, the other goes in the cupboard.

I cook a loaf so it's finished in the evening. This gives it plenty of time to cool before making dd1's sandwiches in the morning, and makes the crust go crusty. It is also easier to slice if it is completely cool. The crust is softer if you only let it cool a bit, then put it straight in the breadbag.

I slice off between four and six slices, including the crust first of all, partly because i don't want to have to eat a crust when the bread is fresh. This goes in the bag in the freezer. Then we all feast on fresh bread that day.

From what is left the next day, dd1 has a sandwich at school, dd2 and i will probably have toast. The next day we eat up what's in the freezer - still quite fresh for a sandwich (take a slice out of freezer when we get up, make sandwich before we leave for school), definitely fine for toast.

Begin cycle again.

I wouldn't slice bread that you were going to freeze, as it will dry out more quickly. And shop-bought bread comes in a plastic bag, so that is clearly the best way to store it. You could just use old bread bags, but we no longer have any as we no longer buy bread!

You've got to have a system!

[snoworneahva]

I had one of those bags from Lakeland but my bread went mouldy and once the spores were in the bag it couldn't be washed either. Worth a try though as Lakeland gave me a refund.
I make rolls and freeze them. Don't often make loaves now but when we do, we slice and freeze half of it. We don't eat as much bread as we used to.

[Thingymajigs]

I make two loaves on Saturday morning. One gets eaten straight away and the other is sliced, individually wrapped in cling film and then is put into a ziplock bag for the freezer. We use that mainly for toast. I also make a batch of cobs twice a week which gets frozen in the same way and then taken out just before bed so they are ready to be made up for packed lunches in the morning.
I can't find a way to keep a loaf fresh for longer than 12 hours so I will watch this thread with interest.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

I have a 'Lock & Lock' bread box that I got once from John Lewis. Has a crumb tray at the bottom and a handle on the top. Haven't seen one like it since but Lakeland do something very similar. Mine keep very well in it for several days.

BTW... some fat in your bread mix (butter or oil) helps extend the shelf life a little.

[lolalotta]

Janek Sorry if I have got the wrong end of the stick but do you put the fabric bag in the freezer with the loaf in it? I wrap mine in giant food bags to freeze at the moment...

[janek]

Yes, i slice it first, so i can just defrost one slice at a time if needs be. The fabric bags are lined with plastic btw, i've just realised that may not be obvious!

[lolalotta]

Oh I see! Do you ever need to clean them and if so how? I would love not to have to keep on buying the giant food bags to store the bread in!
BTW, I use an electric bread knife to slice mine just incase that tip cones in handy fit anyone! I get nice even slices this way rather than doorsteps!

[janek]

You can put them in the washing machine.. One of mine mysteriously has crumbs between the plastic and the fabric, bit it can't come out. These crumbs have been washed a few times! But the bags only really need washing if i've inadvertantly left bread to go mouldy in them. I normally just tip out the crumbs and start again otherwise.

[lolalotta]

Oh thank you, I will have a look, we have a Lakeland in town!

[kiwigirl42]

I have a similar plastic lined fabric bag I bought off Amazon for £4.50

in fact, have just bought the baguette one also

[janek]

Yes, that's a more realistic price kiwigirl!

[cornflakegirl]

We wrap in a tea towel then put in a plastic bag. Cheapskate version of the lakeland bags, but it works for us.