# Tell me about bread boxes... or, how to keep bread fresh **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [December 27, 2025, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104 "2025-12-27T20:57:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/1 "2025-12-27T20:57:24Z")
We recently started getting fresh baguettes and other bread from a direct-to-consumer local baker. They don’t have the usual preservatives and milk of store-bought bread, so they get stale after just a couple of days. The bakery is only open for a few hours on certain days of the week, so it’s not like we can just stop there whenever we want… we have to buy enough bread to last the week, but they’re stale by the third day or so. What can I do to prolong their freshness? I’ve tried freezer ziplock bags, the actual freezer, and keeping them away from moving fresh air (by using the microwave as a storage cubby). Would a breadbox help? Do they still make those? What about vacuum-sealing? What is it I’m actually trying to keep away from bread to keep it fresh… is it air/oxygen? Something else? Any other tips for keeping bread fresh? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/2 "2025-12-27T21:34:17Z")
Cut up, bag and freeze what you’re not going to use right away. Bread keeps very well in the freezer. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/3 "2025-12-27T23:03:16Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Would a breadbox help? Do they still make those? Idk if a breadbox would help, but they seem to be in fashion again. Plus, any breadbox-sized container would work (not airtight, but close to it. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2025, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/4 "2025-12-27T23:07:25Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Cut up, bag and freeze what you’re not going to use right away. Bread keeps very well in the freezer. I totally endorse this. As someone who lives alone and would have to throw out a lot of bread it is essential. The other benefit is that it allows me to have several varieties of bread on hand rather than just the current loaf. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/5 "2025-12-28T01:13:22Z")
Yes freezer. Ziplock bags won’t do you any good. The moisture in the bread will cause molding, pretty quickly I don’t like a bread box. Weevils can breed in wooden ones. All you need is two tiny ones and the next thing you know all your dry goods are inundated. Never had a metal or plastic bread box. If we buy baked goods not preservative laced we eat fast or store in a brown paper bag. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/6 "2025-12-28T01:55:34Z")
We have a bread box, but its purpose has nothing to do with preservation, well, not that sort of preservation, but rather to keep the cats from getting into it. We have one of those roll-top bamboo ones. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/7 "2025-12-28T02:17:22Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > What about vacuum-sealing? I’ve never tried vacuum sealing bread, but I would think that most types of bread would be horribly squished into cracker-like objects if you vacuum sealed them. ---
**Author:** ![stopnonstop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@stopnonstop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stopnonstop)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/8 "2025-12-28T02:44:04Z")
Great that you made the transition to buying fresh bread, When it starts getting stale, make croutons or bread crumbs for future use. If you can only get proper bread once a week, buy store bought bread like you used to to carry you over - you might find that you’ll soon be cutting back on bread. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/9 "2025-12-28T15:37:53Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > > [@Chefguy](#): > > > > Cut up, bag and freeze what you’re not going to use right away. Bread keeps very well in the freezer. > > I totally endorse this. As someone who lives alone and would have to throw out a lot of bread it is essential. The other benefit is that it allows me to have several varieties of bread on hand rather than just the current loaf. Another vote for freezing. Toast slightly to defrost if you want it crunchy, or warm in the microwave with a damp paper towel if you want it soft. Bread boxes keep out mice, but they don’t help bread keep longer. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/10 "2025-12-28T19:38:53Z")
OK. Freezing it is, then! It comes out quite a bit soggier than before, going from the texture of bread into something more like play-dough. I’ll try toasting it a bit next time. Thank you all. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/11 "2025-12-28T20:22:56Z")
Eeek, the sogginess should not be happening. Are you making sure to double-bag your freezable bread (I prefer a thin produce bag inside a ziplock freezer bag) AFTER it’s fully cooled and “offgassed”? Don’t be shoving that still-warm-from-the-oven yummy bakery bread into a bag in the freezer right away. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/12 "2025-12-28T20:27:11Z")
I’ve never had soggy bread from the freezer. A more common problem is that it dries out. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/13 "2025-12-28T20:53:07Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Cut up, bag and freeze what you’re not going to use right away. Bread keeps very well in the freezer. This. I have a friend who owns a bakery, he makes different breads in different days and when he makes something he knows I like he texts me and I buy a couple for freezing. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/14 "2025-12-28T20:58:20Z")
[Is it bigger than a breadbox?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-is-it-bigger-than-a-breadbox/245317) ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/15 "2025-12-29T18:52:03Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Eeek, the sogginess should not be happening. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’ve never had soggy bread from the freezer. Really? Maybe “soggy” wasn’t the best word… more “rubbery”, more like. Out of the bakery it’s soft and sumptuous, but after a freeze-thaw cycle, it becomes kinda spongy, noticeably chewier. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2025, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-bread-boxes-or-how-to-keep-bread-fresh/1026104/16 "2025-12-29T22:56:05Z")
I mostly buy bread that comes “chewy”. I don’t really like soft bread. Even in pastries, i like a crispy croissant, not a soft … cheap grocery store croissant, i guess. So maybe I’ve never noticed this problem. My Jewish rye and sour dough both freeze and defuse well. Especially if i plan to toast them anyway.