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Bread is a staple ingredient found in most households, yet keeping it fresh can prove quite difficult. As it turns out, however, a simple kitchen item is all you need to keep it fresher for several days longer, and chances are you already have one to hand.

You may not realise it, but you could be storing your bread incorrectly, causing it to spoil far more quickly than necessary. There’s no need to panic though, as there’s a straightforward food storage trick you can employ to maximise its shelf life, and it’s remarkably easy to execute once you know how to do it.

This is due to the heat and moisture generated by these appliances, which can inadvertently “cook your bread,” resulting in it turning dry and crusty. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to prevent this from occurring.

Simply wrap your bread in a tea towel and keep it well away from any heat sources. This effortless technique can significantly extend your bread’s shelf life, keeping it fresher for considerably longer.

How it works

While it may appear remarkably straightforward, it is genuinely highly effective. There are clear and logical reasons why this method works so well.

Contrary to popular belief, storing bread near a fridge or dishwasher is far from ideal. Both appliances emit heat and moisture, which can rapidly dry out bread kept in paper bags or cause bread stored in plastic bags to go mouldy.

While refrigerating bread can result in it becoming stale and dry owing to the cold temperatures and reduced humidity, the heat and steam generated by a dishwasher can equally cause bread to deteriorate. The best approach is to keep bread in a cool, dry location such as a pantry or bread bin.

Additionally, the tea towel method could prove remarkably effective. Wrapping freshly baked bread in a clean, cotton tea towel can help preserve its freshness, particularly when it comes to sourdough.

Cotton is a breathable material, allowing excess moisture to escape and preventing the bread from turning soggy. At the same time, it retains sufficient moisture to stop the bread from drying out too rapidly.

Other ways to keep bread fresh

There are several further techniques you can employ to keep your bread as fresh as possible. Some examples include: