How to store bread

How to tell bread has gone bad

• Mould on bread means the whole loaf goes out. Bread is porous, so mould threads run well below the spot you can see, and cutting the spot off does not remove them.
• The same rule covers rolls, bagels, cakes and muffins. USDA lists bread and baked goods with the foods that cannot be trimmed.
• Do not sniff mouldy bread. USDA warns that breathing in mould spores can cause respiratory trouble.
• Homemade bread has no preservatives and USDA gives it 3 to 5 days at room temperature. Dry, stale bread with no mould is a quality issue, not a safety one; freeze what you will not eat in time.

Sources: Molds on Food: Are They Dangerous? (USDA FSIS). The times on this page are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.

Storage habits that make the difference

Keep bread and cookies in a paper bag or bread box at room temperature for a few days, or freeze in an airtight bag for longer storage. Refrigerate anything with cream, custard or fresh fruit filling, and let frozen baked goods thaw at room temperature before serving.