How to keep bread fresh during the holidays? Advice from a food blogger and our product development specialist

The time before the holidays is often stressful – it is important to finish work, pack your bags, and also take care of the house. Probably, many have repeatedly encountered a situation when uneaten food remains in the kitchen cabinets and refrigerator when going on vacation. When planning a trip of one or several weeks, the use of food leftovers becomes particularly relevant – so what to do with products left at home, such as bread? Is it possible to keep it suitable for consumption after a week or more? Viktorija Kordiukova, a sustainability enthusiast and author of the blog "Everyday Our Bread", talks about how to keep bread during the holidays.

One way is to freeze

Food blogger Viktorija Kordyukova says that when preparing for a trip with her family, she tries not to buy new products and use what is already in the fridge and cupboards.

"If we rest in Lithuania, we take the uneaten food with us on a trip or give it to our relatives. For all other products left at home, I choose freezing. The same goes for bread – after all, it's always nice to find a few slices of bread in the freezer when you come home from a trip between empty cupboards and refrigerator shelves, which, when toasted, spread the aroma of fresh bread around the house," says Viktorija about her habits when going on vacation.

The interviewee assures that freezing is one of the best ways to keep bread suitable for consumption for a longer period of time. "Most likely, not many people know that bread can be frozen – a loaf of bread that is shredded and placed in an airtight bag remains usable for a really long time. Later, all you have to do is take out a slice or several of them from the freezer, as needed. When placed in the toaster, the slices of bread defrost and look like fresh Thawed bread can be used normally – for toasts, sandwiches, or just as a snack with soup or salad. Bread can also be dried, and later ground into breadcrumbs and used for various dishes, such as meatballs and meatballs," says V. Kordiukova about what to do with uneaten bread.

Snieguolė Šoblinskienė, Head of Product Development at Vilniaus Duona, also agrees with freezing bread. She says that bread can last even a month or more in the freezer.

"Bread can stay in the refrigerator for more than a week without losing its taste properties. It is only important to pack it tightly, store it in a plastic bag, and a box is also perfect for this. Bread stored in the freezer can last for a month or more. Theoretically, it could last even longer, but after a few months it can start drinking the smells in the freezer," she says.

Factors that determine the shelf life of bread

According to V. Kordyukova, it is difficult to say when bread stored under normal conditions will remain suitable for consumption for several days, and when – even for several weeks.

"How long bread will be suitable for consumption depends on many factors. One of them is the temperature and humidity in the refrigerator. It is this factor that often causes the bread to become moldy. Another factor is the type of bread. Based on my experience, I can say that dark bread lasts the longest, but this is definitely not the rule - when stored in the wrong conditions, it can also dry out and mold. Also, prepackaged bread bought in stores lasts longer, but when stored in the refrigerator, moisture accumulating in the package can start to mold. And most likely, of all types of bread, fresh bread bought in bakeries dries up, loses its texture and taste – it should be consumed as soon as possible," says Viktorija and adds that it is important to store the bread in an airtight package, at a constant temperature so that the heat does not create additional moisture.

The product development manager at Vilniaus Duona says that the shelf life of bread depends on the type of bread and the method of baking. "With this in mind, bread can stay fresh for 5 to 8 days when stored at average room temperature. For example, the toast and sandwich bread we produce usually lasts 7-8 days, because these products are mechanically packaged in a room where air filters are installed, so there are significantly fewer microorganisms in the air than usual. Black bread has a slightly shorter shelf life – 5-6 days – because it is packaged in another room," says S. Šoblinskienė about the shelf life of the products.