You’re hankering for a sandwich, but when you open the bread package, you discover it has turned an unsightly green. Bread can be tricky to keep fresh, especially when the weather gets warmer and bread tends to spoil faster. The advice has long been to store loaves in a cool, dark place, but experts say that place is not the refrigerator. That’s because the coolness of the refrigerator can be detrimental to bread’s texture and flavor. If you want soft, fresh-tasting bread, you won’t get it by storing it in the refrigerator. Fresh bread belongs in a cool place to prevent mold, and the same goes for sliced, pre-packaged bread. Bread is best stored in a closed container, but once it’s been sliced it should be stored differently, because mold loves moisture. Warm air can absorb moisture, which is why ceramic and pottery containers are the best way to store bread. Because they’re breathable, they allow for the exchange of air and humidity. Make sure you get rid of the paper or plastic bags that your loaves come in, as they don’t allow for air circulation. Sliced bread should be stored with the cut side down to keep it fresh longer. Unlike cheese, if you see mold on your bread, toss it out. Even if you can only see small dots, invisible mold spores run through the entire bread.
