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Bread is a household essential for millions of Brits, but nothing's more frustrating than finding your favourite loaf has gone stale or mouldy just days after buying it. While many people leave their bread on the counter or store it in a bread bin, experts say the spot you choose in your kitchen can have a huge impact on how long it stays fresh.

That's because heat and moisture, often caused by appliances like fridges, dishwashers or even nearby fruit bowls, can speed up the mouldingprocess. Emilie Raffa, a professional baker and the founder of The Clever Carrot says many people don't realise they're making common storage mistakes. "Years ago, we used to keep our bread in a drawer between the dishwasher and fridge," she said.

The founder of The Clever Carrotcontinued: "The excess heat from the two appliances, plus the moisture locked in the plastic bag, created the perfect storm for mould to grow."

Even keeping bread near fruit can be a bad idea.

Fruits like bananas and apples release ethylene gas, which speeds up ripening, and can cause your bread to spoil faster too.

"Mould loves heat, moisture and food sources," Emilie warned. "For best results, keep your bread away from excess heat and humidity."

The type of bread also makes a difference. Sandwich loaves tend to keep well in a plastic bag, as it helps retain moisture and keeps the crust soft.

But sealing the bag too tightly can trap humidity and lead to mould.

"I've found it's best not to keep the bag airtight," Emilie said. "Loosely twist the end to close."

For softer breads like brioche rolls and buns, paper bags are a better option.

They're more breathable, helping to maintain freshness without creating excess moisture.

But too much air can cause the bread to dry out, so sealing the bag properly is still important.

Some households use bread bins, but Emilie isn't convinced.

She says they can take up valuable space and don't always offer the best results.

Instead, she suggests using the fridge, a surprising tip that goes against traditional advice.

"Fresh bread can in fact be stored in the fridge," she said. "We do this at our restaurant with excellent results."

She added that shop-bought bread can last up to two weeks in the fridge if stored correctly.

But wrapping it properly is key to avoiding staleness.

For best results, Emilie recommends warming refrigerated bread in the oven at 150C before serving to bring back its texture.

But not everyone agrees. Some experts say that bread should never be stored in the fridge.