I have two growing boys in my house, so we go through a whole lot of bread. Between sandwich buns, sliced bread, English muffins, and bagels, sometimes I wonder if my house secretly doubles as a bakery. Because we go through so much bread, I’m always sure to stock up when it goes on sale. However, it’s extremely disappointing when I go to grab a loaf of bread out of the freezer, and it ends up being hard and freezer-burned once it thaws.
Thankfully, there’s a very simple trick that will prevent those unpleasant things from happening! When you get a full, unsliced loaf of bread that you’re planning to freeze, slice it up as soon as you get it home. You’ll want to do this step when the bread is at its freshest, and not when it’s about to go stale. If your bread has gone stale, it’s worth knowing if stale bread is safe to eat.
Next, place a sheet of parchment paper on top of a baking sheet. Arrange the slices of bread in a single layer on top of the parchment paper. When you’re done, stick the entire baking sheet in the freezer without covering it. This step will ensure that the bread doesn’t stick together once you go to unthaw it.
When the individual slices are completely frozen, take the baking sheet out of the freezer and transfer the frozen slices to a resealable freezer bag. Try to push out as much air from the bag as possible. Once sealed, toss the bag in the freezer until you’re ready to use it again.
When you go to thaw the bread, your best bet is to do so at room temperature. However, if you’re in a big hurry, you can always pop it in the toaster on the “defrost” setting. Now that you’re aware of this simple yet effective trick, you can say goodbye to tough, freezer-burned bread and hello to super fresh bread!