How To Freeze Bread And Thaw It To Keep It Fresh

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Can you freeze bread? Yes, you sure can! Learning how to freeze bread helps you to take advantage of sales, make the most of large batch baking days, and always be prepared for emergencies with fresh bread on hand.

I’ve always enjoyed making our own fresh homemade bread, but as a larger family, we go through a lot of bread!

When I was a young mom it felt like I was having to bake every 2 days just to keep up with our family’s needs.

When we were able to invest in a good freezer I was so happy to make the change to once a month baking.

I would make large batches of bread dough, and bake it to freeze the loaves for later use. It was a huge time saver for me!

Whether you are baking your own bread or stocking up on great deals at your local store freezing it is really easy to do.

How To Freeze Bread

You can freeze any type of bread, buns, and dinner rolls. This includes sandwich bread, artisan breads, baguettes, and yeast-based coffee cakes too

1. Get Your Bread Ready

If you have baked fresh bread, let it completely cool before freezing. This helps to keep the bread from becoming soggy.

Wrap each loaf tightly in plastic wrap first, then wrap with a second layer using either foil or freezer paper. If you don’t have any then a second layer of plastic wrap can also work.

If you are freezing a crusty loaf that has sharp edges then double bagging in a freezer bag is a better option. Just make sure that you use a double layer to protect the edges from poking through.

2. Freeze Your Bread

Clearly label each loaf with the date before you freeze it. Then place them into the freezer making sure they don’t get squished by anything heavy.

Freezing Sliced Sandwich Bread

The above method works for both whole and sliced loves but sometimes you may find that the slices can stick together.

I find this is more common in homemade and bakery bread then the common store-bought bread.

A good way around this is to flash freeze them first.

Simply line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, and place the slices of bread on top. Place the pan into your freezer until they are frozen, then bag them up in an airtight bag. Remember to use a double layer!

How Long Can You Freeze Bread For?

Frozen bread can last 3-6 months in the freezer when properly packaged.

You may think that freezing bread dries it out, and yes it can sometimes. But if you freeze it correctly you can have fresh bread at home whenever you need it!

Always make sure that your bread has fully cooled and is wrapped well with as little air as possible. Double bagging or wrapping the bread is always a good option

Also, always make sure that you are freezing fresh bread. If your bread has already gone stale freezing it won’t do anything to help. Instead, use it to make bread crumbs or croutons.

How To Thaw Bread

If you need to thaw a whole loaf simply remove it from the freezer and place it into the refrigerator overnight. It should be thawed and ready to use by the next morning.

If you need the bread faster then place it on your countertop to thaw out instead of the fridge.

As the bread thaws, it will reabsorb any moisture inside the wrapping.

If you find that the crust is softer then you like, simply place the unwrapped bread in a 350F oven for 10 minutes and it crisps right up.

If you just need a few slices of bread for toast or a toasted sandwich then you can simply open the bag and remove the slices you need.

Remember to remove the air from the bag before placing it back into the fridge.

How To Use Frozen Bread

Not sure how to use all that bread you’ve frozen?

It makes great toast, French toast, croutons, breadcrumbs, bread puddings, and of course using it for sandwiches or as a filling side dish with soups, stews, or pasta dishes.

How To Freeze Bread

Kim

Yes, you can freeze bread to make it last longer! Learn how to freeze bread, whole or sliced to take advantage of sales or bulk baking days and always have fresh bread on hand when you need it.

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Freezing

Equipment

• Ziploc Storage Bags, Gallon, 150 Count
• Reynolds Freezer Paper
• Reynolds Kitchens Quick Cut Plastic Wrap

Ingredients

  

• Bread your favorite loaf of any kind

Instructions

 

• If freezing homemade bread, allow it to fully cool first.
• If you are freezing a whole loaf, wrap it in plastic wrap. Then cover tightly in a second layer of foil or freezer paper. Tape the ends to secure. Optionally, if your bread has a ruff crust try using to layers of freezer bags instead and remove as much air as possible.
• If freezing for sandwich bread slice the loaf into even slices and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or freezer paper.
• Place the whole loaf into the freezer to freeze.
• Bread slices place the cookie sheet into the freezer to flash freeze them. Once frozen remove from the freezer and package into freezer bags, removing as much air as possible.
• When ready to thaw remove the loaf from the freezer and place it into the fridge or set it on your counter for a faster thaw.
• Optionally to crisp up the crust place the bread after thawing into an oven at 350F for 10 minutes.

Notes

Bread can be frozen for 3-6 months. Keep it well sealed in your freezer for long term storage.

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate, this information is for informational purposes only please consult a nutritionist for more information and guidance.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Kim

Kim Mills is a homeschooling mom of 6 and lives on an urban homestead in Ontario, Canada. Blogging at Homestead Acres she enjoys sharing tips to help you save money, grow and preserve your own food.