How To Keep Bread From Molding So Fast: 5 Simple Tricks

Last Updated on July 20, 2024 by Lori Walker

Keeping your freshly baked bread in the pantry can be tricky because it molds quickly. Even if you put in a lot of time and effort, your bread could spoil before you know it.

Thankfully, there are a few ways on how to keep bread from molding so fast. Here’s everything you need to know. 

5 Effective Ways To Keep Bread From Molding So Fast 

1. Store In Bread Bin or Box

Bread boxes are a must-have in your pantry if you like to eat bread. The inside of bread boxes are built with the best humidity to keep the bread soft and just the right air circulation to keep unwanted mold away. [1] 

Put the bread loaf directly into the box without any paper or plastic bag. It’s also recommended not to overcrowd the box, as the more bread there is, the more humid the interior gets. 

2. Keep In Airtight Container

An airtight container is also great for keeping your homemade bread fresh. 

“All sorrows are less with bread.”

– Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Writer

However, if you go this route, it’s important not to overfill the airtight container to minimize molding. 

But why does your bread still taste sour?

3. Use A Cloth Bread Bag

Cloth bread bags work to keep the bread from molding. They allow enough airflow so the loaf can breathe comfortably and stay soft. 

A clean tea towel will do just fine if you don’t have a cloth bag. This is a great place to keep rustic artisan bread fresh for up to two days.

4. Utilize Brown Paper Bag

Wrapping bread in a brown paper bag will keep mold away. Many bakeries use a simple brown paper bag because it keeps the store-bought bread from molding quickly. 

Keep it closed and out of direct sunlight to keep mold from forming. 

Read: How To Bake Bread Without Parchment Paper In A Dutch Oven?

5. Keep Inside The Freezer

One of the best ways to keep the bread from molding is to keep it inside the freezer. An entire loaf of bread will be safe for eating even after three months once frozen. 

We recommend slicing the loaf of bread into your preferred thickness first. Once done, wrapping the entire loaf carefully inside a plastic wrap or thicker freezer bags won’t dry them out and keep freezer burn at bay. 

Once you’re ready to eat them, take a few slices out of the freezer the night before. The bread will be soft for you in the morning. [2] 

But can mold grow in bread if you put it in the freezer?

What Causes Molds? 

Knowing what causes molds is important to understand how to prevent it. 

The first thing mold needs to grow is a food source with good moisture content. The more moisture there is, the faster mold will grow. 

The same rule applies to different kinds of bread. For example, banana bread will grow mold faster than unsliced bread because the latter has less moisture. 

Find out what it means if the bread has passed its expiry date yet has no mold here.

Oxygen

Mold needs oxygen to survive. By cutting off its oxygen source, you will keep mold at bay for longer. 

Temperature

Bread will inevitably grow mold the fastest when left at room temperature, which is anywhere between 68 to 72°F (20 to 22°C) because mold grows at 40 to 140°F (4 to 60°C).

On the other hand, the colder the temperature is, the slower mold will grow. But how do you know if the cookie dough has gone bad?

Time

If the bread is left uneaten for too long, it will grow mold. 

Humidity

Leaving bread in a hot, humid place will encourage mold to grow. Find out if you can eat moldy bread after toasting it here.

Tips & Tricks To Prevent Molds In Bread 

• Storing bread in an airtight container or a specialized bread box will keep mold at bay. 
• Slice bread into your desired thickness and wrap them in a thick freezer bag or aluminum foil to prevent moldy bread. 
• Use a bread bag. 
• Store the bread in the brown paper bag packaging you initially bought it in. The paper bag allows optimal ventilation and prevents moldy bread. 

Also Read: 5 Warning Signs That Your Sourdough Starter Is Dead

FAQs

Key Takeaways

There are many ways to keep bread from molding so fast. 

It’s best to keep the fresh loaf dry at low humidity and temperature. Storing bread inside cloth bags, a clean tea towel, brown paper bags, and the freezer will also keep mold from forming. 

Darker bread, like whole wheat, sourdough, and rye, has a longer shelf life and will keep mold at bay longer than lighter bread, like white French bread. 

References: 

1. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/molds-food-are-they-dangerous 
2. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/big-thaw-safe-defrosting-methods