Refrigerate Bread? When should you?

[Bill in SD, CA]

I know this is stupid, but whenever my wife goes shopping and buys bread as soon as she gets home the bread goes either in the fridge or the freezer.

Myself and my kids hate this as the bread is no longer "fresh."

I tell her to leave it out for at least three or four days before subjecting it to the torture of frigid temperatures and turning it into a piece of leather.

Thoughts?

Bill

[draboo]

this is a subject of controversy in the draboo/ruby household also.

it gets left on the counter right by a window on the south side of the house so it gets sunlight all day while being sealed with the bread tie. seems to cause mold quicker.

i toss it in the fridge,but then i m not so particular about freshness.

ruby has a nose of a bloodhound and an infatuation with expiration dates. she ll toss out anything on the day of the date. i ll use it as long as possible.

but back to the bread thing,i thing the fridge is a good idea,especially if you live in a warm climate.but freezing bread makes it taste funn;y.

[Brainchild]

Here too with one execption,I have 5 kids and a toaster,we don't have bread long enough for it to get put in the fridge

The wife puts everything in the fridge,but cold soggy bread is NOT GOOD! IMO of course

[MTAtech]

Refrigerate in hot humid climates.

When in the refrig, keep it tight in plastic. It won't get moisture condensing on it.

[Renesis]

Refridgerate? Never... That's actually just kinda gross.

If you're going to be using it, leave it in the counter - or preferrably, some sort of breadbox. If you're not going to be using it sometime soon, then put it in the freezer.

[Terminal23]

I bake my own bread and usually freeze it.Make two or three loaves.If you freeze it in an air tight bag.I use a Food saver Vac and you can't tell the difference between a fresh loaf and a frozen loaf after it thaws out.But,your right about store bought.It doesn't taste the same once you freeze it.

[Martoch]

I'm with you bill...NO FRIDGE!!!

Who wants bread that is cold, no longer soft, and sometimes even a little moist?

I never put bread in the fridge, ever, and I live in FL. Warm climate doesn't mean squat, my A/C is always on.

[Warthog]

I was having my bread get moldy so I started putting it in the fridge....bleh, makes it firmer. Bread that was frozen is even worse - my mom used to do that throughout my childhood for school lunchs....yuck.

Warthog

[Scott Tiger]

No way.. I won't refrigerate my bread. My parents did it through out my whole childhood. I always swore that when I got on own I'd never do that and for the last 7 years I haven't.

[cadetstimp]

I grew up with this and learned to hate frozen bread...

I prefer to leave it at room temperature...

I noticed that if I turn or reorient the bag everyday (a new side against the counter) - it takes a lot longer for the mold to develop. I've thought of making a hanger for bread, sort of like a banana hanger, but I haven't got around to it yet.

Also, I avoid the really cheap bread that is on special just because it us about to expire...go with the next step up (cheap bread but not on special)

One bad thing about frozen or refridged bread....once it is frozen or refridged it will mold way faster IF LEFT OUT than if it was never frozen in the first place.