It’s a common annoyance: you buy a fresh loaf of bread, and in no time, it’s covered in mould. But what if the culprit is the way you’re storing it?
A food expert suggests that a simple change in storage could make your bread last up to seven days longer.
Baker Maurizio Leo has revealed a common mistake people make when storing their bread. Many assume the fridge is the best place for keeping bread fresh due to its role in preserving other foods, reports the Mirror.
However, this is a big no-no for bread. The founder of The Perfect Loaf, Maurizio Leo, advises against refrigerating bread, stating: “This is very important, don’t store bread in the refrigerator. It might seem counterintuitive since the refrigerator is seen as a food-preserver, but placing your [bread] in the refrigerator will cause it to stale faster than if it’s kept at room temperature.”
Instead, Maurizio recommended using his “favourite way” to keep bread fresh, which involves wrapping it in Bee’s Wrap. Many bakers use this method as it keeps bread soft but “not too soft”.
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He added: “Simply place your bread in the wrap and cover it tightly. The beeswax-lined wrap will deform and wrap around all the nooks and crannies of your loaf as the warmth of your hands moulds it to fit.”
As bread ages, it begins to lose moisture which is how it becomes stale. However, keeping it in an airtight container can lead to bacteria growing on the bread, making it go mouldy.
Beeswax wrap helps to protect the bread while keeping it airy enough that it does not trap moisture in, therefore keeping it mould-free for longer.
You can buy Bee’s Wrap from Amazon, where a set of seven assorted sizes will set you back £12.99. However, if you’d rather not spend cash on the product, you can use simpler storage methods that you likely already have in your kitchen.
Maurizio said: “Plain paper bags and kitchen towels also work very well to keep the bread from drying excessively.”
A plastic bag can also be used if you really don’t have anything else to hand. Once your bread has been wrapped, you should store it in a cool and dry place away from sunlight, such as a bread bin.
