delaying moldy bread
I always keep bread around, home-made or otherwise. Is there a way to keep it from molding, or at least delay the process?
I've tried the fridge with some success (extra day or two), but I don't like my bread that cold to eat.
I've tried zip-top bags with no success (seems to mold faster).
Bread-box didn't seem to make any difference in time.
Thanks
Best Answer
My family eats a lot of bread. I bake six loaves at a time once or twice a week.
We freeze in plastic shopping bags all but two of them. When one loaf is eaten it is replaced from the freezer and the new loaf is allowed to thaw at room temperature.
Freezing is the only way I've found to reliably keep homemade bread for any length of time. Around here bread will mold within 3 or 4 days. I have had bread that was frozen for a month with no ill effect.
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How do you delay bread mold?
The best way to prevent mold is by storing your loaves in a bread bin, cloth bread bag, or even a paper bag. Keep the bread away from heat, sunlight, and preferably oxygen by keeping it in an airtight or near airtight container.Can you save slightly moldy bread?
Don't Try to Salvage Moldy Bread Though you may only see a few spots of the fungus, its microscopic roots can spread quickly through porous bread. Therefore, don't try to scrape off mold or salvage the rest of your loaf. Some mold can produce harmful and invisible poisons called mycotoxins.How long does it take for bread to mold if left out?
Without preservatives, bread lasts 3\u20134 days at room temperature ( 1 ). Some common bread preservatives include calcium propionate, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and sorbic acid. Lactic acid bacteria is an alternative that naturally produces anti-mold acids ( 1 , 2 , 3 ).Does bread mold slower in the fridge?
Keeping bread on the fridge will cause paper-bagged bread to dry out, and plastic-bagged bread to mold faster. This comes from all the heat your fridge is putting out. Same for storing near a dishwasher; the excess heat and moisture these appliances give off is not bread-friendly.Never Eat The ‘Clean’ Part Of Moldy Bread
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Answer 2
I've been using Bread Bags (variation on Green Bags, not sure which came first) with some reasonable success. I'm sure there are other brands and sites to buy them from. I normally just grab them at the grocery store/BB&B. I only remember the details from the green bags, but they have lining that absorbs chemicals that are released by vegetables to slow down decay. I assume the bread bags use something similar, helping to control humidity as well.
We also slice then freeze bread, getting out slices as needed, throwing them in toaster to reheat.
Answer 3
You can always let it dry out / go stale by keeping it in a paper bag, or something that'll allow moisture to escape ... the paper bag will slow down the process, but not stop it entirely.
Then, when it goes bad, it can at least be used for croutons, french toast, etc., or even resuscitated in the oven.
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