Rye bread is simply bread made from rye flour. Rye has an earthy flavour, and combining it with other flours to make a loaf will truly elevate the overall flavour of the dish. Rye bread is sometimes baked with colour and flavouring ingredients such as molasses and cocoa powder. Caraway seeds can also be added for a more distinct flavour.
While you can bake a 100% rye loaf, it tends to be fairly dense and hefty. Mix rye flour with bread flour for a lighter loaf with a wonderful rye taste. This helps produce a healthier gluten structure within the dough. Of course, rye is required for a good Reuben Sandwich or a classic sandwich with pickled onions while grilled cheese sandwiches are best made with rye bread.
Have some stale rye bread lying around? Make bread crumbs out of them and freeze them for later use. Although to prevent your rye bread from going stale quickly, here is a guide on how to store rye bread to make it last longer.
Rye Bread Storage
At Room Temperature
How long will rye bread keep? The precise answer to that query is heavily influenced by storage circumstances; preserve rye bread in a cool, dry place. Keep bakery-bought rye bread in its original container and at room temperature to extend its shelf life.
To extend the shelf life of homemade rye bread, allow it to cool completely before putting it in a plastic storage bag or breadbox, or wrap it in foil and store it at room temperature. Rye bread can be stored well for 4 to 5 days at room temperature.
In Refrigerator
Rye bread should not be refrigerated because it will dry out and get stale faster than at room temperature. If you must refrigerate rye bread (for example, due to a lack of pantry storage space or particularly hot, humid room circumstances), it will normally only last for around 2-3 days before becoming stale.
In Freezer
Is it possible to freeze rye bread? Yes, wrap firmly with aluminium foil or plastic freezer wrap before freezing, or place in a heavy-duty freezer bag. How long can you keep a loaf of rye bread in the freezer? When properly stored, it will keep its peak quality for around 3 months but will remain safe after that. The freezer duration indicated is solely for best quality rye bread; rye bread kept continually frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
How can you tell if your rye bread is bad or spoiled? The best method is to smell and inspect the bread: eliminate any bread with an off smell or appearance; if mould emerges, discard the entire loaf.