# Can you freeze sliced bread?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [August 11, 2011, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317 "2011-08-11T07:55:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/1 "2011-08-11T07:55:59Z")
You know, the store-bought kind. I just got my hands on a lot of bread that is too old to sell, but not old enough to actually be bad.
I know you can refrigerate it, and I was shocked at how much longer it lasts that way. But will freezing it hurt it, like it does potatoes? I don’t have enough space in my fridge.
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### Author:  [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/2 "2011-08-11T08:12:11Z")
Freezing is fine. It’s refrigeration that’s not so good.
> [@Harold McGee](#):
>
> Storing Bread: Avoid the Refrigerator. Staling proceeds most rapidly at temperatures just above freezing, and very slowly below freezing. In one experiment, bread stored in the refrigerator at 46ºF/7ºC staled as much in one day as bread held at 86ºF/30ºC did in six days. If you’re going to use bread in a day or two, then store it at room temperature in a breadbox or paper bag, which reduces moisture loss while allowing the crust to remain somewhat crisp. If you need to keep bread for several days or more, then wrap it well in plastic or foil and freeze it. Refrigerate bread (well wrapped) only if you’re going to toast or otherwise reheat it.
From [_On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen_](http://www.epubbud.com/read.php?g=MXSANPRK&p=24)
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### Author:  [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/3 "2011-08-11T08:13:22Z")
Yes. I do it all the time. It is best if you make sure the slices are fully separated or else it’s a pain to fix. I don’t usually let them thaw but toast the bread instead. Words fine as regular toast, sandwich bread, etc.
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### Author:  [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/4 "2011-08-11T08:17:53Z")
I freeze bread all the time and it turns out fine. On the other hand, I refrigerate bread all the time and have it last a lot longer than it does outside of the fridge so, draw your own conclusions, I guess.
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### Author:  [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/5 "2011-08-11T08:20:57Z")
BTW, if you really found that refrigerated bread was outlasting room-temperature bread, that’s probably because it was a relatively moist bread which you were keeping tightly sealed in plastic. This is _worse_ than a breadbox or loose paper bag that “breathes,” because it facilitates mold. Compared to _that_, refrigeration is a kind of improvement–stale bread is better than moldy bread, and may even be desirable for some cooking purposes–but proper room-temperature storage, or freezing, is better still.
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/6 "2011-08-11T10:58:05Z")
But when I let bread breathe, that’s exactly when it goes stale. I don’t know how many times I’ve left the bread open and had the top go stale, within hours–I’m talking hard as toast. The bread from the fridge is a little bit harder than fresh, but not by much, even after a couple weeks.
I’m not sure what the deal is. I do know that the only bread I’ve ever refrigerated is old bread, and the bread I’m comparing it to is always the same age. This is bread that molded in a few days.
Still, I have never known anyone who does not keep bread in the plastic wrap that it comes in. Even my grandmother, who had a bread box, kept it in the packaging. Now, fresh bread, I’ve seen wrapped in paper. But not sandwich bread.
Perhaps that plastic is not air tight?
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### Author:  [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/7 "2011-08-11T12:17:07Z")
I put loaves of bread in my freezer all the time. The day before I want to use it, I put it in the fridge to thaw.
Tastes exactly the same as it does when I eat it directly from the store.
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/8 "2011-08-11T12:18:23Z")
But, anyways, thanks for answering my question, everyone. It’s in the freezer now!
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### Author:  [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/9 "2011-08-11T12:21:26Z")
Wait! I didn’t get to respond, I have something interesting new to add to this controversy.
Yes, I freeze bread all the time, have been doing it for years.
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### Author:  [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/10 "2011-08-11T12:23:40Z")
Do US toasters not have a frozen button you can hit when you are toasting frozen bread?
No offense intended to the OP, I’m just a bit surprised that people don’t know you can freeze bread.
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/11 "2011-08-11T12:30:40Z")
My experience with frozen bread is that the texture changes and it becomes powdery when thawed. Storing for longer than a week is practical with many foods, but not bread.
Rolls seem to do better than sliced bread. Still, if all you’re going to do is toast it, it’s not too critical.
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### Author:  [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/12 "2011-08-11T12:38:58Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#):
>
> Do US toasters not have a frozen button you can hit when you are toasting frozen bread?
Is that located next to the marmite button? Seriously, I have not seen a “frozen” button on a toaster, so if they sell them here in the states, don’t think they’re commonplace.
> [@Musicat](#):
>
> My experience with frozen bread is that the texture changes and it becomes powdery when thawed.
Is this white bread? I mean as opposed to the whole wheat stuff with twigs and tree branches suspended in it? I think that makes a big difference, the white bread has a much finer texture.
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### Author:  [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/13 "2011-08-11T12:44:03Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#):
>
> Is that located next to the marmite button? Seriously, I have not seen a “frozen” button on a toaster, so if they sell them here in the states, don’t think they’re commonplace.
My Hamilton Beach toaster has a ‘defrost’ button. (I’m in the US)
No marmite, though.
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### Author:  [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/14 "2011-08-11T12:48:41Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#):
>
> Is that located next to the marmite button? Seriously, I have not seen a “frozen” button on a toaster, so if they sell them here in the states, don’t think they’re commonplace.
Interesting! Here’s an example of a toaster with buttons - one is for bagels (only the inside elements turn on) and the other is for frozen (heats for longer)…
[http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B003LL1X38/ref=dp\_image\_text\_z\_0?ie=UTF8&n=11052681&s=kitchen](http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B003LL1X38/ref=dp_image_text_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=11052681&s=kitchen)
I’ve seen toasters with frozen buttons in New Zealand, Australia and the UK.
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### Author:  [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/15 "2011-08-11T13:08:51Z")
I am thinking the toasters I’ve seen where all a bit dated, and maybe I need a new one too. 🙂 Very nice looking toaster, there. I was going to say how junky mine looks, but it also occurs to me it might be a good idea to clean it once in a while. I don’t think it’s been cleaned since I bought it.
It reminds me of when the dentist asks me the last time I flossed, and my reply. “I think it was you, yeah you were the last one who flossed my teeth.”
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/16 "2011-08-11T15:47:43Z")
I don’t grocery shop very often so I always buy 2 loaves of bread and stick one in the freezer right away.
Had a sandwich with thawed bread last night (when the first loaf is gone, I thaw the second on the dish strainer, so it doesn’t sit in water) and it was perfectly fine.
Microwaved bread isn’t ideal but it’s edible. If you wrap it in paper towels it doesn’t lose as much moisture. It sort of gets steamed.
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/17 "2011-08-11T15:55:57Z")
Handy frozen bread lunch tip: in the morning make a sandwich using frozen bread. Put in a tightly sealed sandwich bag. Do not refrigerate. By lunchtime: perfectly edible sandwich with fresh filling (particularly handy at keeping lettuce crisp etc.).
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### Author:  [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/18 "2011-08-11T16:06:28Z")
I’m in the US and my Black & Decker toaster from Target has a “Frozen” button. I’ve seen “Frozen” buttons on other models in stores, as well. I think it’s pretty common.
I freeze bread frequently and it tastes perfectly normal when thawed.
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### Author:  [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/19 "2011-08-11T16:12:45Z")
> [@spark240](#):
>
> BTW, if you really found that refrigerated bread was outlasting room-temperature bread, that’s probably because it was a relatively moist bread which you were keeping tightly sealed in plastic. This is _worse_ than a breadbox or loose paper bag that “breathes,” because it facilitates mold. Compared to _that_, refrigeration is a kind of improvement–stale bread is better than moldy bread, and may even be desirable for some cooking purposes–but proper room-temperature storage, or freezing, is better still.
I also live somewhere that gets ridiculously humid in the summer. Loosely tied bread still in its wrapper goes moldy within a day of being left out. In the fridge, it stays fresh (not stale) for 2+ weeks. Just my anecdotal experience, but I’m keeping it in the fridge.
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### Author:  [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)
#### Post date: [August 11, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-freeze-sliced-bread/592317/20 "2011-08-11T16:29:40Z")
freezing bread can be done, depends on if you like the result afterward.
if not tightly double wrapped and split into small quantities then you might get freezer burn. sliced bread has lots surface area to loose moisture from. whole loaves would freeze slowly allowing interior moisture to freeze on the inside of the wrapper. the longer it takes to freeze the greater the amount of moisture lost. small packages of a few slices would freeze faster. put a package or two in spaced apart, let freeze and place another package or two in.
unsliced bread doesn’t suffer as much.
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