Can You Freeze Bread?
Reduce food waste by learning how to freeze bread here.
Freezing bread can be a great way to keep a delicious loaf of homemade rolls, coffee cake, or regular sandwich bread fresh. Bread recipes often make more than one loaf, and it can be difficult to finish them before they go bad. The freezer is the obvious solution. And, yes, you can freeze bread without ruining it!
You can also freeze storebought bread, which can be a great option if you like to buy in bulk. You can purchase a few loaves of bread when your favorite brand is on sale. Then simply toss the ones you aren't ready to eat into the freezer for later.
Here are our best ideas on how to freeze bread, including how long you can freeze bread, and how you can keep the flavors fresh!
How to Freeze Bread
Freshly Baked Bread
-
Wait for your bread to cool completely (for at least 3 hours).
-
Slice your bread if you wish. This is a good idea if you plan to defrost it a few slices at a time. Otherwise, feel free to leave the loaf whole.
-
Tightly wrap your loaf of bread in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer bag. Press out all of the air and seal.
If you don't want to use plastic wrap, then you can also just double bag the loaf of bread, being sure to press out all of the air. -
Write the date on the freezer bag and place in the freezer. Defrost and use within six months, but the flavor is best if you use it within the first month or two.
How to Freeze Store Bought Bread
-
If storing for less than a month, you can place the loaf of bread (in its bag) directly into the freezer. The plastic bag will protect it from freezer burn for a short amount of time.
-
If storing for longer than a month, place the bag inside a freezer bag, press out all of the air, and seal. Use within six months.
How to Freeze Buns and Rolls
-
Place the rolls in a freezer bag, press out all the air, and seal. If freezing store bought buns, you can freeze them in the plastic bag you bought them in.
-
If storing for longer than one month, add a second freezer bag and seal tightly. Use within six months.
How to Defrost Bread
-
Remove bread from freezer and let it sit at room temperature for about 3 hours.
-
To warm bread (which we recommend!), preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heat thawed, unwrapped bread in the oven for about 10 minutes.
-
If you only want to thaw a few slices or rolls at a time, use the same method as above. It won't take as long for the bread to return to room temperature.
-
You can also place frozen slices of bread directly into your toaster to make toast. By the time the bread is toasted, it will also be thawed.
Bread Recipes
At this point, you might be getting hungry for some bread! Here we have some great recipes for making your own bread. We also have some other ideas for how to use up bread if you don't want to freeze it. You can make croutons, panzanella, bread pudding, and more! Try one of these yummy recipes with bread.
This yummy Irish soda bread is perfect for St. Patrick's Day, but it's also delicious at any other time of year. Make an extra loaf, freeze it, and enjoy any time you like.
Our version of Amish friendship bread is easy and completely delicious. There's no need to slice this loaf before you freeze it. Simply package it tightly and place it in the freezer for later.
If freezing bread isn't in your plan for right now, try to use up extra bread with a yummy recipe like this! Give yourself the royal treatment with this bread pudding recipe.
This recipe is so delicious, and it's a great way to use up bread! If you're a fan of the classic French onion soup, then you're going to love this easy casserole version.
We were excited about this recipe from the moment our test kitchen chef told us about it. If you have some sandwich bread to use up, you couldn't do any better than making a few of these grilled cheese sandwiches.
Have you heard of panzanella before? If not, you're in for a treat! This yummy salad is made with corn, beans, crusty bread, and lots of delicious seasonings. It's a perfect summer side dish, and it's an easy way to use up bread.