How to Store Sourdough Bread

A question I am often asked is how to store sourdough bread. There are so many great ways to store homemade sourdough bread and I want to share the methods that have worked for me. I also want to share the different types of storage and how they affect your bread.

There are some things to consider when making your own homemade bread. Sometimes homemade sourdough bread can have a thick, crispy crust which is either loved or not preferred depending on your preference.

Some people love their bread to sit out and have a crusty chewy crust. Some people prefer a soft crust. There are ways to have both of these and there are multiple ways to store sourdough bread. Either way, if oyu want your sourdough fresh, I want to share all the ways you can do that.

With all the different kinds of bread storage options, there are certain storage options that can change the crust of your bread as well as the longevity. I want to chat about them and what I like about each one.

All in all I prefer to store my bread at room temperature and not in the fridge. I find its the best way to store it.

Linen Bread Bag (Lined or unlined)

If you want to store your sourdough loaves and keep it fresh, while slightly softening the crust, fabric bread bags are really great. They usually come with drawstrings to close the bags. You can store entire loaves in these.

I prefer ones that are lined with a safe plastic that can be washed. This allows some control of the air getting to the bread. I find my bread lasts about 1 week using these bread bags, however it usually doesn’t last that long anyways. My boys eat it faster than that!

I also prefer using these types of bags when making sourdough boules or batards, because they are larger loaves of bread with irregular shapes.

Plastic Bread Bags

This is what I have used for years when baking breadsticks, or regular loaves of bread. They are sized perfectly for longer uniform loaves of bread such as sandwich bread. I also store my sourdough in these often. This type of breda bag can give you a softer crust if that is what you prefer. It makes it easier to cut your bread as well as keeps it fresh and soft.

The advantage of these is that they are inexpensive and can be reusable but often times they are single use plastics which means more waste. You can use these to store bread in the freezer.

These bread bags usually come with twist ties for easy closure. I prefer these over ziploc bags. Ziplock bags do not hold them as well. The shape is a bit different. They are great for storing slices of bread. Say you want to slice a whole loaf, this is similar to the way they are stored in the grocery store.

In addition to plastic bags, you can use plastic wrap but I find it the least effective way to store bread.

Bread Boxes

This is a type of storage that I have not used but I actually ordered one recently! I love the idea of keeping all my bread in one place, tucked away in a box or cabinet on the kitchen counter. Often bread boxes will have some holes for air circulation so that the bread does not go bad too soon. You can store whole loaves, rolls and more.

There are bread boxes with lids, as well as cabinets with doors and shelves. I think its a wonderful way to keep things fresh. It will extend the shelf life of your bread. You can either place the bread in naked or put them in a bread bag and then store them in the box for added protection. Lay the bread cut side down to eliminate the drying out of the fresh bread.

If you leave them out of the bags, the crust will be harder and the bread will dry out more.

Beeswax Wraps and Bags

If you are concerned about using plastic bags for any reason, beeswax bags and wraps are a great reusable option. These can be reused as often as needed. They can also help keep a softer crust while keeping the integrity of the breads structure and eliminating moisture. They keep it from staling and the crust stays fresh.

Paper Bread Bags

I use these often when I am giving bread away. I fine them to be great to store them temporarily but not for longer term. I find they run the risk of ripping and they are difficult to keep shut. Bread can rapidly dry out if only using these kinds of bags. Often I will first put the bread in a plastic bread bag and then place them in a paper bag to add a better presentation.

Plastic Bread Containers

Another good way to store fresh bread can be in plastic bread container. I prefer a wooden container, linen bag or beeswax, but these can be nice to protect them from being smashed or destroyed.

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