Deterring mold on bakery bread [duplicate]

Deterring mold on bakery bread [duplicate] - Brown Bread on White Ceramic Plate

Lately we've been finding that we can only keep quality bakery bread loaves on the counter for about 5 days before they start to mold. We'd like to get a little longer out of them -- say 8-9 days -- because while stale at 1 week, they're still good for toast and croutons if not moldy.

We buy unsliced artisan bakery loves, sometimes from the bakery directly sometimes from grocery stores that get daily delivery. These are large French or sourdough loaves (1lbs to 2lbs), or 1.5lbs whole wheat sandwich loaves. They are generally preservative-free.

We store them on the counter, in a heavy paper bag during humid weather or in a thin plastic bag (like a produce bag) during drier weather (we don't reuse bags between loaves). They are in a shaded spot on the counter. We live in the US Pacific Northwest and do not have air conditioning, so ambient conditions are generally between 40%-70% relative humidity and 60F (15C) to 80F (25C) inside the house, depending on the season. The time-to-mold doesn't seem to vary much with the season, though.

I'd already tried cleaning our counters extensively using soap and vinegar and some moldkiller, and that didn't seem to change anything.

So, question: What else can I do to extend the loaves' time on the counter by a few more days before they go moldy? I am asking for practical tips that you have actually tried, or have citations for real-world testing.

Notes: not looking for advice that involves freezing or preservatives or changing bread brands. I read this question, but it's about changing the bread recipe, not about techniques to preserve a bought loaf. I saw the UV idea, but haven't been able to find anyone who has personal experience with using one and obviously it's quite a project. I've also looked at most of the advice in articles like this, but they don't give sources for their advice or any evidence that they've tested it, and some of it is contradictory.



Best Answer

Our baker suggests a stone ware or clay pot for storing bread and putting it with the cut, open side to the ground of the pot so that this side is protected and not in direct contact with the air.

Using a bread bin or putting the bread in a linen bag into a bread bin also works very well.

Usually we keep our bread fresh using these methods for a week, speaking for German baker made darker breads with a high part of whole grain flour.




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How do you keep bread bins from getting moldy?

Use tin bread bins rather than wooden ones Wooden bread bins draw moisture and humidity in, which can make your bread mouldy. This is not just from a humid kitchen environment, but also when you wash your wooden bread bin and don't leave it to dry for long enough.

How can we prevent bread from spoiling?

Bread is highly perishable under humid condition, which paves way for fungi to grow over it and causes spoilage. Generally in baking industries, propionic acid a chemical preservative is added to prevent the spoilage of bread by moulds, which is not preferred by the consumers.

Why does my home made bread go Mouldy?

There are three main things molds need: food to eat, moisture, and warm temperatures. So how does our bread get moldy? Basically as soon as we bring bread out of the oven, some of those invisible, airborne mold spores land on it. And unfortunately, bread can be an ideal spot for mold to grow.

Why does sourdough bread mold faster?

Higher acidity slows the process of molding on breads and other baked goods. Breads such as sourdough are high in acidity and, based on acidity alone, would mold less quickly than white or multigrain.



Bread Products - Initial mould




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