How long does whole wheat bread last?
Whole wheat bread keeps for 3 to 5 days in the pantry, up to 3 months in the freezer. USDA lists 2 kinds of whole wheat bread; the first is shown here and all are in the table below.
homemade
3 to 5 days
from purchase
May have shorter shelf life due to lack of preservatives.
No guideline
Refrigeration not recommended - bread will quickly dry out and become stale.
3 months
best quality within
All kinds of whole wheat bread, side by side
| Kind | Pantry | Fridge | After opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| homemade | 3 to 5 days | no guideline | no guideline | 3 months |
| commercially baked & pre-sliced | 3 to 5 days | no guideline | no guideline | 3 months |
No guideline: USDA gives no time for that place, usually because the food is not stored that way.
- homemade: May have shorter shelf life due to lack of preservatives. Refrigeration not recommended - bread will quickly dry out and become stale.
- commercially baked & pre-sliced: Refrigeration not recommended - bread will quickly dry out and become stale.
How to tell whole wheat bread has gone bad
General signs for grains, beans & pasta, the group USDA lists whole wheat bread under.
- Small webbing, moths or beetles inside the bag or container
- Musty or damp smell instead of a neutral, dry one
- Clumping together from moisture getting into the package
- Cooked pasta or rice turning sticky, slimy or sour smelling
- Visible mould on cooked beans or grains left too long
More on grains, beans & pasta. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
Storage habits that make the difference
Store dry grains, beans and pasta in airtight containers in a cool, dry cupboard away from the stove. Once cooked, refrigerate in a shallow covered container within two hours and use within about four days. Freeze cooked portions for longer storage and thaw in the fridge before reheating.
More in grains, beans & pasta
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). Times assume a fridge at 40 F (4 C) and a freezer at 0 F (-18 C). How we decode the data.