Revive Your Old Bread, Simple Techniques To Follow

We've all been there, we buy a fresh loaf for tasty sandwiches and toast, only to find it stale and unappetizing after some days. Now, in Indian households, where bread is not an only-at-breakfast kind of thing but is used as the base for various snacks and meals, wasting this bread is quite disheartening. The good news is you don't have to throw away that old loaf. Refresh stale bread with these simple tricks to nearly as good as new. Whether it is your morning toast or bread-based recipes such as bread pakoras, these tips will definitely help in ensuring that your bread does not go to waste. Here is how you can revive your bread easily and some important storage tips so that your bread stays fresh for a longer period. 

Also read: The Best Place To Store Bread? Turns Out, It's Not The Fridge

Probably one of the easiest methods to refresh old bread is by using a hot pan. Just place the slices in a preheated pan over medium heat. Add a tablespoon of water and put a lid over the pan. The steam in the pan will help dampen the bread, and it is going to be soft and refreshed like before. Great for sandwich bread, it only takes a few minutes. 

Oven Method

Preheat your oven to 150°C/300°F. Lightly sprinkle the bread loaf or slices with water, then wrap in aluminium foil. Place the foil-wrapped bread in the oven for 10-15 minutes. Steam created inside the foil will reconstitute the bread to its original freshness and softness. Best to do with a whole loaf or larger bread like baguettes. 

Microwave Trick

When you are in a real hurry, the microwave can turn out to be your best friend. Just wrap the slices of bread in a damp paper towel and set it to High in the microwave for 10-20 seconds. ensure that it is not overheated; otherwise, the bread will become chewy. This way is perfect for small amounts of bread and quick fixes. 

Steaming Method

If you want to be old school, steam the bread. Simply place the bread in a steamer basket and steam over boiling water for about 5 minutes. Because this is such a gentle method, it's going to help get the moisture in uniformly to bring the bread back to life without making it soggy. 

Quick Tip

Place the slices of bread in a hot pan, add 1 tbsp of water to it, and cover with a lid. It will produce steam inside the pan, which will moisten the old bread and make it new like freshly baked. 

How to Store Bread 

Proper storage is the key to the freshness of your bread. Here are a few tips to keep your bread fresh for a longer period: 

Cool Dry Place

Place the bread in a cool, dry place; the interior of the bread box is the best place for this. This helps to keep the temperature and amount of humidity around the bread stable so that there is less chance of any mould growth. 

Avoid Refrigeration

This may seem a bit counterintuitive, but storing bread in a refrigerator actually makes it go bad faster due to the fact that starch retrogradation is fostered at colder temperatures. The best preservation is at room temperature or frozen if one intends to store it for a longer period of time. 

Freeze for Longevity

If you can't eat it in a few days, then freeze it. Freeze the bread after it's been sliced so that you can easily defrost individual slices as you need them. Place the slices in either aluminum foil or a freezer-safe bag to prevent freezer burn. 

In a cloth sack

Keeping your bread in a cloth bag is a relatively eco-friendly way of storing it. The breathability of this will allow for air and avoid moisture buildup and moulding of bread, yet keeping it fresh.