Bread Storage Options How to Keep Bread and Buns Fresh. There is no clear cut rule as to where you should store bread and buns, but in order to keep it fresh longer, it should be kept in a somewhat air tight and dry container or area, preferably not in the warmest part of your kitchen. Hot bread should not be put in a sealed container until it cools, because the steam will cause dampness, which in turn can cause mold to grow more quickly. A little air is not a concern hence why bread boxes usually have air holes but too much air will cause bread to dry out. There are several options for storing breads and what you choose will more than likely depend more on storing convenience rather than overall style. That said, a stylish kitchen does start with getting rid of the clutter, so find a bread storage option that works for you, while keeping your kitchen area looking and feeling free of encumbrances. Ill also provide a reason or two, as to why places so many think are ideal for bread and buns, are not really such a great idea. Storing Bread on the Counter. Id=1260616200' alt='Defrost Bread' title='Defrost Bread' />I agree that keeping bagged bread right on the counter or table is super convenient, but it can make the whole kitchen look messy and can also cause counter congestion. When your counter is cluttered with anything from decor items to everyday food, it doesnt exactly inspire cooking or baking. In fact, it can stifle creativity because it takes too long to clear the mess before you can create a new and more rewarding one. That being said, when it comes to bread boxes, most are counter units, though occasionally I see an undercabinet model on the market. When storing on the counter is a must, pick a spot away from your main workspace. Contrary to public opinion, storing bread on top of the refrigerator is not recommended either. Refrigerator tops are usually very warm. Defrost-Bread-Step-2-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Defrost-Bread-Step-2-Version-2.jpg' alt='Defrost Bread' title='Defrost Bread' />This could either cause your bread to dry out more rapidly or cause condensation in the bag, which will start the decaying process. The same holds true with portable dishwasher tops where steam is often present. Use this type of storage only for the short term or as an absolute last resort. Storing Bread in a Cabinet. For years I stored breadbuns on the lower shelf of an upper kitchen cabinet, close to where breakfast or lunch foods are prepared. While this was a good storage option, it took cabinet space that could be used for glassware. It also looked messy when the cabinet door was opened. If you have ample upper cabinet space, this may be a good option for you, but keep it tidy and review contents regularly. Note that even though bread bags are secured, crumbs always tend to gather in those areas. Clean routinely to reduce the risk of attracting pests to this shelf. Storing Bread in a Drawer. Many kitchen cupboard designs allow for a deep bread drawer with an easy to clean inner liner. This type of drawer, when closed, has a lid that seals the unit. This is the best storage option and when planning a kitchen make over, choose a middle drawer in the bank of drawers, which would be more convenient, than a bottom one. It should also be close to your main counter workstation. If new cabinets are not on the agenda and you have a deep drawer available, you could use a plastic container or bin that easily slides into it, or you can store bread bags right in the drawer. When using bread drawers, review contents regularly. Theres a tendency to forget whats in there, since some items may remain unnoticed in the bottom of the drawer. Storing Bread in a Bread Box. Bread boxes are still as popular as they were decades ago, in fact, vintage kitchenware like bread boxes are often still quite usable and collectible. There are more choices today when it comes to style, size, and finish. Bread boxes can look very stylish and provide a great kitchen accent. Do choose one sized for your regular baked goods many models are quite small. And find a good spot for the bread box, close to your working area. Jump to Ingredients Jump to Method Jump to Printable Version. Banana bread was the first quick bread that I ever tried to bake back in 09. These Cheesy Garlic Bread and Meatball Rolls are are toasted in garlic butter, stuffed with cheese, tender meatballs, then baked until gooey and hot. Get started with Paul Hollywoods stepbystep white bread recipe or choose one of our other bread recipes for the perfect loaf. Because youre soooooo craving monkey bread but you dont want to eat 12 servings of it. Thats why you should make this Single Serve Monkey Bread. Of course. Directions. The night before. Defrost dough and bring to room temperature Grease a 9x13 pan and sprinkle a little brown sugar in the bottom. Roll out the dough on a. There are under cabinet models which free up counter space, while providing storage and convenient access. But unfortunately, under cabinet models can be hard to find as choice is very limited. It may be possible to adapt a regular bread box and attach it under your upper cabinet. However, inspect how the lid opens retractable styles may not work, and the top of the bread box should be flat. The box should also have enough stability to make it durable as an improvised under cabinet unit. When choosing a bread box, consider where youll place it and how much space it will need. Check the construction for durability the door will get a lot of traffic. The design will also dictate whether youll be able to store anything on top of the bread box. Storing Bread in an Appliance Garage. While this may be a departure from what this cabinet accessory is designed for, I think its a great place to store bread and Ive used a corner appliance garage for just this very purpose. There was even extra space for the toaster to slide in when cool and not in use, keeping that type of clutter hidden from view. There are straight designs or corner models available to chose from, given your particular kitchen counter space. Whether youre storing bagged or homemade bread, there would be ample space in an appliance garage for it, along with a bread board and a bread knife. Wood or wood composite appliance garages are available where kitchen cabinets are sold. Choose a finish that will complement your cabinets, or order an unfinished model and finish it to suit your kitchen. Confirm that measurements will adapt well to your chosen space before ordering. Appliance garages will usually cost around 1. Corner models utilize counter space that is often wasted, yet provides convenient ample storage. Expandable Bread Boxes. Clear acrylic expandable bread boxes provide great storage especially for home baked bread. The unit expands as required, but is limited to one bread or a few buns. This is an excellent choice to keep your homemade bread loaf fresh. However, you will have to keep this acrylic bread box on your counter, in an appliance garage or on a cabinet shelf. Other Bread Storage Options. Bread and buns could be stored in a small clear bin with a tight lid, on a side shelf, on a microwave cart or inside a top or bottom cabinet. You could easily add air holes if you wish. In some climates a safe and pest free storage is often inside the refrigerator. Although bread will last longer when refrigerated, it tends to lose its soft texture quickly, plug hog some much needed cooling space. Freezer Storage Tips. Keep only enough bread in non refrigerated storage for 2 3 days use and store the rest of your bread supply in the freezer. Bread and buns do freeze well but tend to get  freezer burn and develop frost inside the bags, much more quickly than other frozen foods. For this reason, freezing a large stock of breads and buns is not recommended. Keep your supply current and use the oldest frozen breads and buns first. If freezing is a must, storing it in a chest freezer is recommended. This type of freezer is usually manual defrost with less temperature fluctuations than your refrigerator frozen food compartment or upright freezer models. Also, consider vacuum sealing bread or at the very least, double or triple bagging to keep air from the bag. Read More About Kitchenware. BBC Food Bread recipes. Buyers guide. Bread can be bought ready made or be homemade. Supermarkets and shops stock more varieties than they used to, but specialist bakeries or markets will sell more interesting varieties. Storage. A baked loaf placed in the refrigerator will stale much more quickly than one left at room temperature, so keep bread in a bread bin at room temperature for 1 2 days, wrapped in wax paper. White bread should keep for 3 5 days speciality breads, especially those containing fruit or grains, will go mouldy more quickly. Bread loaves can be wrapped and frozen for up to three months. For longer term storage, freezing is best. Whether it is fully baked or part baked, freeze baked bread as soon as it has cooled to avoid the crumb drying out. Wrap well, and slice first if thats more convenient. It wont harm the bread as long as its been tightly wrapped. If serving bread that was frozen straight after baking and has only been frozen for up to a week, simply defrost it as usual. Freezer Burnt Shrimp. If the bread is slightly older then re bake as follows To reheat fully baked frozen breads use the following times and temperatures as a guide, but always make sure the centre of the bread is piping hot when you remove the bread from the oven. For part baked breads refer to the instructions on the packaging. Flatbreads and pitta 2 3 minutes at 2. C4. 25. FGas 7. Small rolls and bagels 8 1. C4. 25. FGas 7. Large rolls 1. C4. 25. FGas 7. Small baguettes 1. C4. 25. FGas 7. C3. FGas 6. C3. 90. FGas 6 to restore the crust do not bake from frozen. Preparation. There are key stages to producing a loaf of bread that apply to most leavened varieties. The dough must first be kneaded a vigorous massaging and stretching process that encourages the development of the flours gluten and makes the dough smoother and more elastic. The kneaded dough then needs to prove or left to rise until it has doubled in size. The amount of time this takes varies according to the recipe and the room temperature, however 1 to 2 hours is typical. Once the dough has risen, its knocked back, or pushed down into the bowl with the knuckles to dispel the air that has formed in the dough. The dough is then lightly kneaded and shaped into the desired loaf. Often the recipe will ask you to leave the shaped dough to prove again on the baking tray or in the tin before baking. Tip dough left to rise slowly in the refrigerator overnight, where the 4. C chill merely slows rather than halts the action of the yeast, will bake to a loaf with a crumb that stays moist for longer. Most recipes will stand being covered and refrigerated immediately after mixing, before kneading, and left for up to eight hours. Flour Bread flour is often labelled as strong flour in the UK. It contains a lot more gluten, a protein that makes the dough elastic. Regular plain flour can be used for bread, but the loaf will not rise as well, the crust will be hard and the texture more crumbly than one made with strong flour. Spelt a relative of wheat produces excellent flour for bread making and is now available in white as well as wholegrain varieties. Tip dont throw in handfuls of flour to stop the dough from sticking. Flour takes time to fully absorb moisture, so leaving the dough for ten to 1. Yeast A raising agent such as yeast is usually necessary for leavened bread. As yeast grows, it produces carbon dioxide, which makes the dough expand and rise. Recipes should specify how many grams to use, but it is usually around 1. When you want to substitute dried or easy blend yeast for fresh, use half the quantity specified for fresh. Easy blend yeast is typically sold in sachets of 7goz, so one sachet is approximately equivalent to 1. Dried yeast granules are typically sold in tubs. You can measure 7goz using kitchen scales, or use measuring spoons and work on the basis that 1 teaspoons of dried yeast granules equal 7goz, and 1 tablespoon equals 1. Tip extreme heat kills the yeast, which is why the dough stops rising when its baked in a hot oven. You should never use very hot water to mix dough because it will kill the yeast and stop the dough from rising. Be sure not to use too much yeast, or the final loaf will have a prominent yeasty flavour. Water Water is the key to making a good dough. As a rule, 3. 00ml1. Using 3. 50ml1. 2fl oz per 5. So that difference of 5. This is why careful measuring is important.