If you’re tired of your bread going stale or mouldy before you get a chance to eat it, you’re in luck. The team at King Arthur Baking has shared some top tips to ensure your loaf stays fresh and edible for days. Here’s a breakdown of their recommendations:
1. rethink your slicing:
Before cutting into a loaf, consider where and how you’re slicing it. Traditional slicing from one end can cause the bread to lose moisture. Instead, the experts suggest slicing the loaf in half down the middle, cutting a slice from one of the halves, and then pressing the two halves back together. This method minimizes open surfaces, reducing the chance of moisture evaporation.
2. avoid the fridge:
While it might be tempting to store your bread in the fridge, especially if you’re short on space or believe it will last longer, it’s not the best idea. Chilled bread, unless frozen, can become stale faster as the liquid in the loaf migrates to the surface and evaporates.
3. use uncooked rice for storage:
One of the most interesting findings from the King Arthur Baking team’s experiments was the use of uncooked rice to maintain bread’s freshness. When storing bread, placing it in a closed container with uncooked rice can prevent it from going mouldy. This is because the rice absorbs the moisture, making the environment less appealing to mould spores.
4. glass container + rice = extended freshness
In their experiments, a baguette stored in a glass container with a layer of rice remained soft and showed no signs of mould even after several days, outperforming other storage methods.
In conclusion, the way you slice, store, and the conditions in which you keep your bread can significantly impact its longevity. So, the next time you bring home a fresh loaf, remember these tips to ensure it stays fresh for as long as possible!
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