Freezing bread

[funnybone]

Depending on how long you plan to keep it in there, it can get freezer burned, or develop ice crystals on it. Maybe you should double bag it with another bag, or use a ziploc freezer bag, or added measure.

[Luiza]

I put bread in a freezer bag, cut in pieces to make it fit. Plus then I can just defrost a piece at a time. It holds well for quite a long time (and this I know because I occasionally find a bag of frozen bagels forgotten at the bottom of my freezer http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif ). It's also OK to freeze bread in the original packaging if you don't plan to keep it there for very long.

Luiza

[Hoosier65]

Since the bread I like best, Peppridege Farms Oatmeal) is not available in my town I stock up when I go to the city. I just store it in the freezer and it fine. The only think I have noticed is that it's not a fresh tasting if it's in there too long. But it's great toasted.

[kwormann]

I slice it, wrap a few slices in aluminum foil, then put in a freezer bag.

Kim

[Gail]

Some time ago, I bought a lovely double loaf of crusty sourdough at Costco. Since I've had bad experiences with frozen bread, I asked the guy working that particular display (they had a whole setup for LaBrea Bakery bread, a biggie here locally.) The "bread man" advised me to put the loaf in a plastic freezer bag and when I was ready to use the thing, let it come completely to room temperature, then store in its original paper wrapper to prevent the crust from getting soggy. I've been doing this since with other crusty breads with very good results.

[Adriana]

Be sure that the bread isn't in one of those perforated bags - otherwise just put it in the freezer in it's original package.

By the way there are some great breads avaialble from supermarkets these days which they receive frozen and cook in the store. These include Goldminer sourdough breads and target's Archer Farms breads from the La Brea Bakery. You can actually buy them "unbaked (actually partially baked)" and already frozen from the store if you ask. Then when you heat it up it's really like fresh-baked.

[LGBurns]

On a similar topic, when I lived in NY I was given advice on freezing bagels from one of the bakers at H&H Bagels (best bagels in the world in my opinion). He said to put the bagels in a freezer bag and be sure to press all the air out. Then when you want to eat one, heat it whole in the oven (never the microwave). I usually heat it in the toaster oven because it seems a waste to heat the whole oven for one bagel. Turns out great, just like they are fresh from the store! Unfortunately I don't get H&H bagels here in Chicago--but Einstein's are pretty good. Plus they have whole wheat bagels which H&H didn't.

[Luv to Cook]

Okay..I see that many of you freeze your bread. I just bought a huge loaf at costco today. Question is...just how do I freeze it? Can I keep it in the original bag and throw it in the freezer?

Thanks in advance!!!!

[Shirley Panek]

That's what I usually do, and haven't had a problem with it.

[Emdg]

I freeze bread all the time. Never do anything to it and it seems fine.

[SandyM]

It doesn't get freezer burned? I'm planning ahead, since I have this awesome new breadmaker.........