Nothing is better than chewy sourdough bread and a false of warm milk in the warming and even in the evening. Sourdough bread is something you can enjoy any time of the day. That is why the majority of bread lovers prefer making their own bread at home. But do you know how to appropriately store the delicious bread you just made? If not, then you are at the right place. We are going to walk you through different ways of How to store homemade sourdough bread.
What is sourdough bread?
The “sourdough” bread is exactly how it is named, sour-dough. The bread is made of slowly fermented dough. No commercial yeast or any dough rising supplement. The sourdough starter (flour and water) is the only rising element in the making process. Already present in the flour, naturally occurring yeast and lactobacillus ferments the dough and prepares it for making the bread over time. Because of the acidic component from the fermentation, the sour turns out to be a little bit sour or as you may call it tangy. Therefore, the sourdough name was invented. The use of this name is more of a recent event where sourdough bread has been consumed since the early 1900s and then commercially after the industrial revolution. More or less, this type of bread has been on the meal table for over a century. It is light, tangy, chewy with a crispy crust. Thus, one of the best types of bread that are out there.
How to store and freeze homemade sourdough bread?
Storing a Home made Sourdough Bread
Homemade sourdough bread is the beast. It is without a doubt fresh and yummy, ideal for your lunch, supper or breakfast. So there are several ways you can store your bread. It has to be a dark, cold and dry place that is for sure. Hearing that, the first place that came into your mind was the fridge, wasn’t it? But you should know that the fermentation process activates natural preservatives in the dough, so it stays fresh and does not grow mold so easily for almost five days. So let’s look into how conveniently you can store the bread sadly without freezing it.
Cloth/paper bag
You can leave it on the table or countertop for safekeeping. But make sure that you never leave it uncovered. Use a clean and dry cloth to cover it and always keep the cut end at the bottom of the plate and the crust side up. It helps to keep the bread fresher till next use. You can also use those brown/parchment paper bags. They are fairly ventilated for the bread. Also, the bags keep it covered and protected from flies, moisture, and mold. Therefore, cloth and paper bags are very easy and convenient ways to store sourdough bread without spending a single penny.
Bread box
Bread boxes are designed to hold the bread. If you have enough kitchen counter space or shelf space then it is a great addition to the kitchen and convenient. The bread box does not only hold the bread it also keeps it well covered and protected. Bread boxes are available in the market in all shapes and sizes. You get to choose from any of them according to your need and kitchen interior. Bread boxes are not that expensive either. You can get a great deal comparing prices of different brands. That is the advantage of requiring a mass-produced product.
Disposable plastic/aluminum:
Disposable materials like Plastic and aluminum may not be the ideal way to store bread but for sourdough bread it is convenient. The bread stays good in the disposable plastic bags. You can wrap the open end of the bag into a knot or just tie it with a ribbon and you are good to go. You can also wrap the entire loaf with aluminum foil. It will keep it protected as well. Then you can put it in any corner of the kitchen you want.
Note: do not use airtight plastic bags to keep the bread on the counter. It will ruin the bread texture and induce mold formation. Only Open-ended plastic bags are appropriate for this style.
Bread Cabinet/bread drawer:
An already existing cabinet or drawer can be easily turned into a bread storing one. You just need to cover it all over with parchment paper and top it off with a dry cloth. I have to Cover the too before closing the Drawer/door and you have now got yourself a bread drawer/cabinet. There are conversion kits available for you to buy in the market which can give your work a more professional touch. That is surely something worth looking into. The point of the bread Cabinet and drawer is to keep the bread tucked away safely. It is a fairly closed yet ventilated space for the bread to rest without begging contaminated with dust, pests, mold and moisture. Therefore, it is a popular approach to store the sourdough bread you just made fresh out of the oven. But remember to let it cool off entirely before you try to store it. It will save you the mold troubles.
Freezing a Home made Sourdough Bread – How to Do it?
Freezing the sourdough bread has to be the best method to store them and save them for up to 6 months. Frozen bread can never get moldy and after defrosting it can be enjoyed like it was taken right out of the oven. But for that experience, you sure need to follow some steps. The first part is freezing and the second is defrosting. Let’s get right into the freezing part.
➢ Firstly, you need to set it on the table to cool off at room temperature. When it is completely cooled off, wrap it with a plastic foil and toss it in the freezer and keep it in the cold frozen (-18°C). It has to 100% cool before putting up n the freezer because the heat would make the Inside of the bread moist and it will mess up the bread texture and can make it inedible when defrosted
➢ Sourdough bread stays better frozen as a whole loaf uncut. It does lose its texture after defrosting. But for user convenience, it is better to store it in cut slices with wax paper in-between the pieces but warped together tightly. This way you will be able to take out just the number of pieces you need with defrosting the whole thing. So, this is how you can freeze the sourdough bread and store it in the freezer.
Bottom line
Now that you know almost all aboard How to store homemade sourdough bread, there are some things you should be careful about. The environmental moisture or humidity is bad for sourdough bread. And to defrost the bread you better lever it in the fridge normal mode overnight rather than defrosting it at room temperature. The dark dry cold environment will help regain the previous structure. But defrosting at room temperature would make it hard. Sourdough bread is delicious, it lasts longer than usual bread and it is good for health too as it helps improve digestion system. So we will definitely suggest you make it at home and store it the way we suggested to safely preserve it as well.