Expert's 'best' way to store bread and how to stop it from going stale

The first indicator of past its best is the texture – as it gets older, it'll harden and dry out.

As long as there's no mould, it remains edible, though not necessarily enjoyable, according to Sophie Carey, bakery development manager at , explained.

She advised that bread should "never" be kept in the fridge as it can destroy the flavour and freshness, explaining: "Bread should never be stored in the fridge! Although the cooler temperature of the fridge does slow the growth of mould, refrigerated conditions will speed up the staling of a loaf making it inedible far sooner than it could go mouldy."

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The reason being, fridge temps cause the starch in bread to re-crystallize sooner. Instead, freezing is the way to go for longevity and keeping that just-baked taste, she recommends double wrapping loaves in cling film followed by tin foil.

Sophie shared: "This will prevent the bread from developing freezer burn and will help keep it tasting fresh." The perfect method to revive frozen bread, she mentions, involves thawing at room temp, then lightly moistening with water before reheating at 180 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes, which will not only make your home smell incredible but also "the bread will taste as fresh as the day you got it".

Sophie stressed the importance of proper bread storage, noting that the best place for bread not kept in the freezer is in an air-tight bread bin on the counter rather than a plastic bag. She declared: "Keeping bread fresh means keeping it at a stable cool temperature, away from direct sunlight and pests.

"Keeping a loaf well wrapped and in an airtight bread bin prevents additional bacteria from growing into mould and the stable temperature and humidity stops it from going stale."

Sophie insisted on avoiding plastic bags for storage, explaining that the bags do not allow the bread to breathe which traps moisture – the ideal conditions for mould growth. If stored correctly, she assured, bread should remain fresh for about three to five days, reports .