Exact Answer: Six Months
A versatile item that can be found in every person’s home is bread. It is not just used for breakfast but can be paired with other food items too. Like any other food item, bread too will stay good for a specific time only.
Beyond that time, it is not safe to eat or consume the bread. It is to avoid getting sick. One does not have problems eating bread that has been on the counter for some days. But if it has been more than a week or so, and mold is visible on it, then it can be harmful.
How Long Does Bread Last In The Freezer?
Any food item that a person can find in the world is prone to go bad. There is one thing that never goes stale, and that is honey. Apart from that, even everyday food items can rot. It all depends on the composition of the food item as to when it will rot. Certain food items can remain edible for weeks, but some food can go stale in just a day.
When it is about bread, a lot of factors matter. From the purchasing date to the storage methods, everything matters when determining the shelf life of bread. However, it is a fact that when edible items are stored in the refrigerator, their shelf life increases considerably. The main reason behind that is in a cool place, the decaying process of any food item slows down. Thus, the shelf life increases.
If not kept in the fridge, bread is prone to the growth of mold. Outside the refrigerator, the circumstance is ideal for mold growth. Mold is a type of fungi spore that is present everywhere. Mold only needs a proper environment to thrive. The bread is on the counter starts attracting fungi after some days, and eventually, mold starts growing.
The best idea is to store it in the fridge, that’s how it can be used for up to a week without a problem. But, if it is about keeping the bread in the freezer, then the shelf life of the bread can go up to six months as well.
| Storing Condition | How Long The Bread Last |
| On the counter | Three to four days |
| In the fridge | Ten to twelve days |
| In the freezer | Six months |
Why Does The Bread Last In The Freezer For That Long?
When a food item is stored in the right conditions, any food item can stay longer than usual conditions. The same is with bread as well. There are various reasons why the bread will last for six months in the freezer, and they are as follows:
- The main reason behind freezing keeps the bread in good condition is that the bacteria do not grow in cold conditions. However, the bread must be kept in the freezer right away when bought. It is to keep it fresh for months. If it is kept outside for four days and then kept inside the freezer, the bread will not last for that long.
- When the bread is kept in the freezer, the staling process of the bread ceases. That is why it can last in the freezer for six months.
- Freezing the bread is a better option than keeping it in the usual section of the fridge. It may go stale in the refrigerator at some point. Or will taste different due to the other things stored in the refrigerator part.
Conclusion
Bread is one of the most necessary items on a dining table, is purchased in large quantities. However, it is imminent to keep it edible by storing it right. If the bread is made at home, it will not last longer than the store-bought bread. The reason is that store-bought bread comes with preservatives to make it last longer.
In any case, it is ideal to leave the leftover bread directly in the freezer to improve the shelf life of the bread considerably. This way, bread can be used even up to six months. All that is needed would be to take out the bread and let it come to room temperature before consuming it.
References
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00217-003-0816-y
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0260877498001678
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