Storing Bread in a Cereal Container Keeps It Fresh Without Cluttering Your Counter
Bread is my favorite carb (well, maybe right after pasta). Whether I pick up a freshly baked artisan loaf from my local bakery or grab a package from the grocery store, I want to savor every slice. There's nothing quite like a fluffy, fresh bite of bread — but before I have time to enjoy the whole loaf, it's often gone stale. That's why I love this smart technique to keep bread fresher longer: Store your loaf in an empty cereal container.
Whether it's a store bought loaf or a specialty kind like sourdough, bakery owner Apollonia Poilane notes that most bread loaves only last up to a week when stored at room temperature. She says bread tends to go stale five days after it's baked. This is great if you want to repurpose it for croutons and stuffing, but if you want to smother it in butter and jam and eat a soft, delicious, bit, stale bread just won't do.
The good news is that using the right bread storage container is a simple way to ensure that you'll be able to enjoy your loaf at its freshest and softest for as long as possible!
What is the best container for bread?
When it comes to storing bread, you want to keep as much air out of the container as possible. A loaf that's constantly exposed to air is bound to dry out and go stale much more quickly. That's why an airtight container is the way to go. Some of my family members swear by bread bins, and even have a mini collection of ones they've saved over the years. But I usually find that bread bins are way too wide, and take up too much counter space.
Thankfully, I came across this neat hack from TikTok user @pairswellwithwhine that involves using an empty cereal container like OXO Good Grips POP Container (Buy from Amazon, $19.99) to store bread vertically. This allows the bread to stay fresh without cluttering up your counters like horizontal bread bins do. It also makes it easier to grab individual slices when you're ready to eat them.
Simply remove the twist tie from the bread bag, place it in the container, drape the plastic over the sides, and pop the lid on top. (Make sure you push the lid's button to remove any excess air) When you're ready to grab a slice, just remove the lid and push the sides of the plastic bag down to make the loaf pop up.
Watch the video below to see how easy this hack is to try at home:
This trick works well for rectangular loaves, which are commonly found in the bread aisle. It also works for dinner rolls, muffins, and any other baked goods that you want to enjoy the next day. Just place your treats in a plastic bag before putting them in the container.
Be sure to keep the container away from intense heat or high moisture areas in your kitchen, such as the dishwasher and oven. This could cause the bread to spoil quickly and go moldy. Instead, keep it in a cool, dry place like the pantry, or even a large kitchen drawer — these are the ideal spots to store bread.
Do you want to keep your bread soft and fluffy to use for sandwiches, grilled cheese, or toast? Give this bread storage container a try!
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