Need Help With Freezing Bread

**scb1969** · 03-17-2011, 12:06 PM

When my kids were smaller out of necessity we had to freeze extra bread the problem is when we would thaw it out most of it was unusable because it was hard all around the pieces except in the middle. Does anyone have any advice on how to freeze bread so it is not hard when it thaws out. My DH and I recently hit a decent bread sale and I am hoping we can use what we bought before it goes bad because I am scared to freeze it. Any help would be appreciated TIA

**Shelli_wnj** · 03-17-2011, 12:53 PM

I would double-bag it. When I freeze my bread, I put a layer of saran-wrap over the bread packaging - or sometimes I save my old bread wrappers - and put them over the outside of the packaging. Then freeze. When you thaw, make sure to thaw on the counter. If you put bread in the fridge, it gets stale faster. Hope that helps!

**chowder** · 03-17-2011, 12:58 PM

Could it be your freezer isn't cold enough? If it takes a long time to freeze it will get hard(dried out) when thawed.

**piney** · 03-17-2011, 01:23 PM

When i buy a loaf of bread i take 4 slices and wrap them in saran wrap and do that with the whole loaf then put it back in bread bag and freeze.when i need bread i take 4 slices out and put in a freezer bag on counter never have no problem with bread getting hard and no wasted bread that way.

**MaryCarney** · 03-17-2011, 02:33 PM

Be sure and squeeze as much air out of the package as you can, without smashing the bread.
How long are you trying to leave it frozen? 30 days is about max.
Also, a frost-free freezer tends to dry stuff out more than a regular one.

**Ceashels** · 03-17-2011, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by MaryCarney

Also, a frost-free freezer tends to dry stuff out more than a regular one.

Interesting. We keep ice in the upstairs fridge and that tends to shrivel over time. But the second fridge that holds the pricier meats doesn't... perhaps I should put some in and see how things go?

**Neeley** · 03-17-2011, 05:27 PM

We go through around five loaves of bread a week. I keep all of the bread in the freezer except for two loaves at a time. I never do anything special. The bread is bought form the store, brought home and placed in the freezer. Nothing more. When we need another loaf, we leave it on the counter with the other bread and by morning it is ready to use and good as it was when we first put it in the freezer.

Our freezer is not a frost free model so maybe that is why our bread isn't hard.

**Paws** · 03-17-2011, 06:26 PM

I also squeeze as much air as I can out, then double bag the bread. Seal then freeze. As long as I do this, I don't have any problems with my bread.

**lparker** · 03-17-2011, 06:37 PM

We never did anything special with boughten bread...just toss it in the freezer. I do put homemade bread in freezer bags. None of our freezers are frost free (a frugal decision we made decades ago)

**shoiji** · 03-19-2011, 08:32 PM

Depending on how many loafs you have you might want to cover them with aluminum foil in addition to their original wrapper. Might help to keep any smells off the bread. If the bread ends up dry but still tastes fine, don't forget you can still make bread pudding, bread crumbs, croutons, bread soup with it.

**scb1969** · 03-19-2011, 09:14 PM

Thank you everyone for your ideas. Our freezer is not frost free I decided to wait until after DH defrosts it to try to freeze anything else in it. I think I am going to try the double wrapping idea and see how that works. Thanks again.

**Luckybustert** · 03-20-2011, 10:55 PM

I'm having the same problem you describe, but never had any problem freezing bread until we moved here to Oregon. The only thing different is that we used to have a frost-free freezer and now we don't. I don't know if that makes a difference or not, but it's the only thing I can think of that's changed.

**Menifeemom** · 03-21-2011, 12:54 AM

I use to have the same problem and a little old lady at the discount bakery told me to put half a paper towel on the top of the bread and half on the bottom, squeeze out the air, and then put the twist tie back on. Then when it defrosts the extra moisture goes into the paper towels instead of making the bread soggy. So far every loaf I have done this way has come out completely normal. You can't even tell it was frozen. Hope it helps with your freezer.

**Luckybustert** · 03-21-2011, 12:55 AM

Originally Posted by Menifeemom

I use to have the same problem and a little old lady at the discount bakery told me to put half a paper towel on the top of the bread and half on the bottom, squeeze out the air, and then put the twist tie back on. Then when it defrosts the extra moisture goes into the paper towels instead of making the bread soggy. So far every loaf I have done this way has come out completely normal. You can't even tell it was frozen. Hope it helps with your freezer.

Thanks so much for sharing this idea - I am very excited about trying it! Will be great to be able to freeze bread again!!