How long should bread last ?

[Deleted User]

I refuse to eat bread from the fridge so I keep ours in a bread bin but over the past 3-4 months I've noticed it going off after about 2days, I'm talking full on green mould. The bread rarely lasts until the date on the label regardless of the brand. I'm so annoyed about this and the wasted food and money :mad:that I'm using tonight's insomina time to research and buy a bread maker so I can mak a fresh loaf just for me every day.
I was just wondering why shop bought bread only lasts for the day you buy it? Have they changed the recipes on the quiet? Is it due only to the warm weather?(I don't remember this being a problem last summer) Has anyone else had this problem?

worn_out_mum

My shop bought bread lasts about 3 days before its eaten up, no mould, its not stale either. We are a family of 5 with an almost 9 year old boy with hollow legs so bread doesn't last long around here.
My bread just lives in the cupboard rather than a bread bin. Is it warm and damp in your bread bin? On the odd occasion a crust gets left in the cupboard it isn't mouldy 5+ days after opening which makes me worry about the preservatives in it but my lot don't like hm bread for sandwiches

ThemeOne

I know bread is said to go stale faster in the fridge, but I've found the complete opposite - I've even found bread left in the fridge for, say, a 10 day absence, quite edible on my return.

It may depend on the type of bread though. I'm talking about sliced loaves. I've tried home baking, but find that goes stale very fast, however you store it.

kathrynha

I find in the summer it goes mouldy quicker, but longer than 2 days.


What is your bread bin made from? Our current one is black painted metal, and it therefore absorbs heat and doesn't allow moisture to escape. I wouldn't go for a dark coloured metal one again.

Luckystar

i find the best bread for keeping fresh longest is warburtons as they use a waxed paper wrapper instead of plastic. I always look for the longest date and find it stays good for 5 days plus another 2-3 for toasting. We are not a big bread eating family so this suits us fine as I only buy one loaf a week and it costs £1. I do store it in a bread bin (brabantia)

Frogletina

Luckystar wrote: »

i find the best bread for keeping fresh longest is warburtons as they use a waxed paper wrapper instead of plastic. I always look for the longest date and find it stays good for 5 days plus another 2-3 for toasting. We are not a big bread eating family so this suits us fine as I only buy one loaf a week and it costs £1. I do store it in a bread bin (brabantia)

If I buy bread I buy this one too. It keep it up to 4 days in a wooden bread bin and if any is left I freeze it for toast.

I have a bread maker but any bread from that I have to keep in the fridge in a large sandwich bag or it dries out. I find it best to keep the moisture in it by putting a clean wet tea towel over it while it cools down.

frogletina

[Deleted User]

I no longer eat or buy bread and haven't for about 18 months ,but when I did, I used to keep it in the m'wave.

Warburtons seedy bread seemed to last a bit longer and back when I used to buy it it was only about a pound. The Burgen seedy loaf from Iceland kept well too.But I used to split a loaf into packets of four slices at a time and freeze individual packets ,but there was only me too feed ,different with a family. Must admit I don't miss bread at all and I am happy with cracker bread which keeps very well in my lock'n'lock box. because I use a low fat cheesy spread on my crackers I no longer buy butter either (apart from for baking shortbread at Christmas )

[Deleted User]

I freeze bread when I buy it so I can just take out what I need the night before. Refrigeration shortens the life though, and home-made bread goes stale quicker because it doesn't contain the additives that commercial bakeries use to extend the shelf life.

SailorSam

I make my own and after i've sliced it i'll put it in the freezer and take a couple of slices as i need it.
But when it's freshly baked i could eat it all in one go.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the input folks,
I see the mistakes I'm making now.
I have a stainless steel bread bi next to the cooker, it must absorb some heat from there.
I buy Kingsmill white sliced I used to buy warburtons toastie because I was obsessed with toasted sarnies and it was the only brand with slices that were big enough for the sandwich maker.
I agree the burgen seeded probably lasts longest but I don't buy it any more. I'm going to try and make a go with the bread maker and use it every 2-3 days as I think it'll take that long to get through a small loaf.
I'm quite looking forward to getting creative with the recipes:)
I'm still a bit curious about the short life of the supermarket bread and always inspect every slice before eating. I don't think a tiny bit of mould will do any harm but I'd rather avoid it. I'm sure there have been changes in each of the recipes and that combined with my poor storage habits are to blame.:o

Linda32

We devide a loaf into 3 and freeze these. I buy either Warbatons or Kingsmill, which ever has the mould inhibitor in. This seems to work for us.