Bread bin, paper bag or bread bag: where is bread best kept?
Soft bread is best kept in a closed bread bin or bag, bread with a crust in a bag that breathes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum) recommends a closed bin or plastic bag for soft bread and a paper bag if you like a crisp crust. A cotton bread bag sits in between: the crust keeps better than in plastic and you use it again and again.
There is no single best place for all bread. It depends on what you eat: a soft tin loaf or a bakery loaf with a firm crust. Below are the options side by side.
| Soft bread | Bread with a crust | Reusable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic bag | Stays tender | Crust turns soft and chewy | Usually not |
| Paper bag | Dries out faster | Crust stays crisp | No |
| Bread bin | Stays tender | Crust turns softer | Yes |
| Cotton or beeswax bread bag | Stays fresh | Crust keeps better than in plastic | Yes |
| Fridge | Goes stale faster | Goes stale faster | Avoid |
Plastic bag
In plastic the moisture stays in the bread. For soft bread that is fine, writes the Dutch consumer programme Kassa. For bread with a crisp crust plastic is less suitable: the crust turns soft. And a new bag from the bakery every time is a waste.
Paper bag
Paper lets air through, so the crust stays crisp. The Voedingscentrum recommends a paper bag if you like a crisp crust. The downside: the bread dries out faster and you throw the bag away after a few uses. Kassa calls a paper bag with a thin layer of paraffin a good middle ground.
Bread bin or bread box
A closed bin keeps soft bread tender. Kassa advises putting the bread in a bread bag and placing that in the bin. Wipe out the crumbs regularly and let the bin dry properly, otherwise mould gets a chance.
Cotton or beeswax bread bag
A cotton bread bag helps keep bread fresh because it protects it from air and moisture loss, according to Kassa. A beeswax bread bag has a layer of cotton and beeswax inside. You use the bag again and again and it looks good on the worktop, so you do not have to hide it in a cupboard.
Not in the fridge
Almost all sources agree: bread does not belong in the fridge. At low temperatures the starch releases water, which makes the bread dry out. Only rye bread is best kept cool, according to the Voedingscentrum. Want to keep bread for longer? Freeze it in slices.
What do you choose?
- Mostly soft sliced bread: a closed bin or bag.
- Mostly bakery bread or sourdough: a bag that breathes.
- Both: two bread bags, a separate bag for each loaf.
The TheWootz beeswax bread bag comes as a set of 2. The cotton outer bag goes in the wash at 30 °C and you slide the beeswax inner bag out. Also read Storing bread without plastic.
