Sourdough bread is a great way to preserve your own grain and the process of making it can be a lot of fun. But once you’ve baked your loaf, what’s next?
If you’re looking for a good way to store sourdough bread in order to preserve it, there are several options available. You can freeze it, or you can keep it in an airtight container at room temperature. The choice depends on what kind of sourdough bread you’ve made, and how long you think you’ll need to store it before eating it.
The following article will teach you everything you need to know about storing sourdough bread properly:
Sourdough Vs. Yeast Bread
If you’re looking for bread that will stay fresh for as long as possible, sourdough may be the way to go.
There are many reasons why sourdough can keep longer than yeast-leavened bread. The most important factor is that sourdough contains beneficial bacteria called lactobacilli, which slow down the rate of mold growth. In contrast to store-bought bread, it will not keep for as long since it lacks preservatives.
Another factor is that sourdough uses water to a greater extent in its preparation than yeast-leavened bread do—this results in a more airy crumb and, depending on the baking method, a juicier interior. Sourdough bread’s crust is generated when baking forces the dough’s water to the surface; thus, it takes longer for a crust to develop in the oven and the crust itself will be thinner.
Since sourdough has more moisture from the start and retains its softness for a longer period of time than yeast-leavened bread do, you’ll want to ensure your success by using:
- Successfully fermented sourdough from the bulk fermentation stage (under or over-fermented sourdough will spoil more quickly).
- Bake sourdough for the correct duration to ensure that it is thoroughly cooked and no uncooked or unfermented spots remain.
- Some enriched doughs (those containing butter, eggs, or milk) may maintain their softness for a longer period of time than others.
What Is The Shelf Life Of Sourdough Bread?
You may assume that sourdough has a lower shelf life than commercial bread because it lacks preservatives. No, you couldn’t be more incorrect about that! The natural acids in sourdough bread protect it from spoiling bacteria and mold, making it look and taste great for up to five days when stored at room temperature.
And if you’re self-disciplined enough to resist the urge to wolf it all down in one sitting, you’ve earned the right to stuff your face with as many sammies and toasties as possible on the fifth day.
Sourdough is especially popular among people who claim to have a gluten intolerance or allergy. But even those who don’t have such restrictions find themselves craving it because of its unique flavor profile. Sourdough has a long history in many cultures around the world, so there’s no shortage of recipes available online or in cookbooks to help you experiment with this versatile ingredient.
How To Store Sourdough Bread
Sourdough bread is a type of bread that produces a sour taste from the lactic acid in sourdough starters, rather than from yeast or baking soda. It’s also known for its dense texture and long shelf life.
When you’re ready to store your sourdough starter, it’s important to know how to keep it dry and at the right temperature so that it stays active and doesn’t go bad. There are several ways to store your starter:
- Store it in the fridge or freezer. This works best if you have a more humid climate in your house, since storing it in the cold will slow down its activity level, making it last longer before going bad.
- Preserve by being plastic-wrapped or packaged in a brown paper bag, stored at room temperature. This method will work well if you live somewhere with low humidity levels like Arizona or Florida.
- Package and freeze your starter if you live somewhere with high humidity levels like Hawaii or Florida because mold growth is more likely at high relative humidity levels than at low ones (since water evaporates faster at higher temperatures).
- Bread boxes: If you have a bread box that has holes in the lid, that’s great! Just line them with wax paper or plastic wrap before putting your sourdough inside. This will help keep dirt out of the box and give the bread more room to expand as it rises.
- Ziplock plastic bags are another option for storing your sourdough bread. But be sure that the bag is secured properly so that air doesn’t get into it and dry out the bread.
- You can also store sourdough bread in a linen bag or wrapped tightly in a tea towel if you’re storing it for more than about three days.
Best Way To Store Sourdough Bread
There are a lot of options when it comes to storing your sourdough bread, but the best way to store your sourdough bread is a combination of all of the aforementioned.
- Days 1–2: If you’ve just made your sourdough, wrap it in a towel or put it in a paper bag to let the moisture evaporate slowly. You can also put the sliced side down and cover it with a tea towel if you’re already eating your loaf.
- Days 3–5: If you want to keep eating your sourdough over the next few days, put it in a bread box or plastic bag to prevent drying out too quickly and ruining the crust. You should know that a plastic bag will soften the crust much more quickly than a bread box would.
- After 5 Days: After five days, freezing is the only way to extend sourdough’s shelf life even further! Let’s check out some methods for doing that!
How To Refresh Sourdough Bread
If you’ve ever been disappointed by the dry, sad loaf of sourdough on your counter, you’re not alone.
But there is good news! Sourdough bread can be brought back to life with a simple trick.
Simply wet the bread and then bake it at 200 degrees for five to ten minutes. This will provide the hydration it needs to revive. This anti-waste technique may be used on single slices or whole loaf.