Our Test Kitchen experts share their tips on how to freeze bread so you can always enjoy its maximum freshness.
How to Freeze Bread (and Keep It Fresh Longer)
Updated on Aug. 20, 2024
Here’s the situation: You’ve had a full afternoon of baking fresh bread. You’ve put your heart and soul into proofing the dough, kneading properly and babysitting it to tender baked perfection. The last thing you want is for a loaf to go stale before you can share it with friends and family. Bread really only lasts two or three days before it will start to get stale—or even turn moldy.
When you need to make each loaf last as long as possible, turn to the freezer. Below, we’ll discuss how to freeze bread and how to thaw it to maintain its soft, airy texture.
When to Freeze Bread
If there was a bakery deal on bread and you got several loaves or if you made sourdough or buttery dinner rolls from scratch and ended up with way more than you planned on, you can freeze the bread right away to maintain its pillowy texture. Freshly baked bread should be completely cooled before going in the freezer.
If your bread has already started to turn stale, freezing it won’t necessarily stop it from going bad. When you take it out of the freezer, it will still be slightly stale. This is why we recommend freezing bread you’re not going to eat right away rather than waiting until the last minute.
How to Freeze Bread
Freezing food is a smart choice for many reasons. When you freeze bread correctly, you really can maintain its freshness. In fact, it can last for months.
Step 1: Prep your bread, sliced or whole
If baking, let your bread cool completely. This will prevent it from becoming soggy or moldy. Wrap each loaf tightly in plastic wrap. Then wrap it in foil or freezer paper. The double-wrap is your secret weapon for freshness.
Test Kitchen Tip: Slice your bread before freezing so you can remove only the slices you’d like to use each time, rather than having to thaw the entire loaf. You can wrap a few slices together rather than individually wrapping every slice.
Step 2: Pop bread in the freezer
Always write the date on your bread before freezing. It’s best to use frozen bread within six months. Any longer and you’ll find the bread may have freezer burn.
Here are more foods that freeze well—including a handful of surprises.
How to Thaw Frozen Bread
Frozen bread is especially great to use for making toast. You can simply grab frozen slices from the freezer and pop them in the toaster. You may have to turn your toaster setting up a little higher than if you were toasting regular bread.
You can also take out the frozen bread you’d like to use and thaw it overnight right on the countertop. It should be ready for breakfast the next day!
If you find your frozen bread has overstayed its time in the freezer, don’t worry. Bread that’s a bit dry or stale makes for great French toast, bread pudding and croutons. Don’t let it go to waste!
How to Heat Up Bread from Frozen
No time for thawing? Reheat your bread directly from frozen. Set your oven between 325° and 350°F and pop in the frozen loaf. Smaller loaves might take around 20 minutes, where larger loaves could take nearly 40 minutes.
To heat up slices of bread from frozen, warm them in the oven for about five minutes.
How to Avoid Freezer Burn
Even with a double wrap, freezer burn can still sneak into your bread. Although it’s safe to eat freezer-burned food, it will lack moisture and flavor. Making sure your loaves or slices are at room temperature (or even chilled in the fridge) will be the first step for preventing freezer burn. Keeping your freezer about three-quarters full also keeps food fresh. A freezer that’s too full won’t have enough room for freezing air to circulate.
5-Ingredient Bread Recipes to Make Right Now
Country White BreadThis country white bread is wonderful for making sandwiches or French toast, and it's quite delicious even on its own.
Feather-Light BiscuitsI usually used a glass as a cutter so the biscuits are bigger than average size, and I always baked some extras to send home with the kids. They liked to split them and fill them with cheese or peanut butter and strawberry jam. —Eleanore Hill, Fresno, California
Big-Batch Dinner RollsHere’s a home-baked roll you can make for every holiday. Just mix, knead, shape and par-bake, then pop 'em in the freezer. They’re ready to finish baking when guests are on their way. —Mary Jane Henderson, Salem, New Jersey
Pull-Apart Bacon BreadI stumbled across this recipe while looking for something different to take to a brunch. Boy, am I glad I did! Everyone asked for the recipe and was surprised it called for only five ingredients. It's the perfect treat to bake for an informal get-together. —Traci Collins, Cheyenne, Wyoming
Drop BiscuitsDrop everything! It's time to bake some warm, golden drop biscuits. This five-ingredient recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes.
Pull-Apart Caramel Coffee CakeThe first time I made this delightful breakfast treat for a brunch party, it was a huge hit. Now I get requests every time family or friends do anything around the breakfast hour! I always keep the four simple ingredients on hand. —Jaime Keeling, Keizer, Oregon
Garlic Crescent RollsThe simple comfort of warm crescent rolls gets dressed up with a brush of herbed garlic butter and a shower of Parmesan cheese.
Party Cheese BreadYou can't go wrong with this cheese bread recipe. The cheesy, butter bread is so simple to make but the taste is sinful. Plus it looks fantastic, and people just flock to it! It's better than the usual garlic bread with pasta, too. —Karen Grant, Tulare, California
Homemade Bread RecipeHere's a step-by-step guide to kneading, shaping and baking yeast bread for the freshest, fluffiest homemade loaves.
Bread BowlRe-create a perfectly cozy at-home version of Panera's famous bread bowl with this copycat recipe.
Rustic Cranberry & Orange BreadStudded with cranberries, slices of pretty bread make the perfect holiday brunch treat. —Megumi Garcia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
No-Fuss RollsWith only 4 ingredients, these delicious rolls are ready in no time. They're fantastic with herb butter or jam. —Glenda Trail, Manchester, Tennessee
Bacon Crescent RollsThe mouthwatering aroma of warm bacon from these three-ingredient rolls will draw folks to the table. These are fun for children to prepare and such a cinch to assemble with ready-cooked bacon. —Jane Nearing, Indianapolis, Indiana
French BreadOnce you make this easy French bread recipe, you'll never go back to store-bought loaves. Here are our best tips on how to bake it.
Pull-Apart Garlic BreadThis pull-apart garlic bread is buttery, savory and all-around excellent. Plus, it's quite easy to make with premade dough.
Buttermilk BiscuitsYou can make biscuits any day of the week with this simple 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits recipe.
Monkey Bread BiscuitsI came up with an easy, savory—instead of sweet—dinner version of monkey bread featuring garlic and Italian seasoning. —Dana Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona
Oatmeal Dinner RollsThese fluffy rolls go perfectly with any meal. They have a delicious homemade flavor that's irresistible. I like them because they're not hard to make and they bake up nice and high. —Patricia Staudt, Marble Rock, Iowa
Italian BreadA basket of Italian bread complements any meal. Make your own loaves at home with our simple, straightforward recipe, then use them for sandwiches or just for sopping up some sauce.
Parmesan-Ranch Pan RollsMom taught me this easy recipe, which is perfect for feeding a crowd. There is never a crumb left over. Mom used her own bread dough, but using frozen dough is my shortcut. I make a wheat bread dough version with poppy and sesame seeds that’s popular, too. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Home-Style Yeast BreadEveryone likes the tender texture and slightly sweet taste of this homemade bread. When I'm in the mood to bake, I usually double the recipe and share loaves with friends. The dough also makes lovely rolls.
-Launa Shoemaker, Landrum, South Carolina
Yeast RollsEvery home cook should have a recipe on hand for soft and fluffy yeast rolls. They're made with basic ingredients and come in handy when you need a simple dinner side.
