Aldi has issued new guidance on how to store bread to make it last longer, recommending one simple step: slice the bread before freezing. The supermarket chain is sharing advice to help customers reduce food waste and stretch their groceries further.
The tip applies to all types of bread, including loaves, buns, baps, and rolls. By slicing before freezing, the bread defrosts more quickly, making it convenient for use. Aldi suggests that frozen bread can even be used directly in sandwiches, as it will thaw by lunchtime while keeping other ingredients cool.
Aldi's Full Advice on Freezing Bread
The supermarket shared: "Bread, baps, rolls – freeze them sliced so they defrost quicker. You can even make your sandwich with frozen bread in the morning, and it'll be ready to eat by lunch. Easy, waste-free and keeps the rest of your lunch cool too!"
This guidance is part of a broader effort by Aldi to help customers cut down on food waste. The chain has also suggested freezing eggs, stating: "Yes, you CAN freeze eggs! Just crack and whisk first, then freeze in usable amounts. Defrost in cold water when you need them – they might look a bit different, but they're perfect once cooked."
Expert Endorsement from Serious Eats
Food experts at Serious Eats have confirmed that freezing is the best long-term storage method for bread. They wrote: "In lieu of acts of god and any other kind of divine intervention, the best way to store bread is well-wrapped in plastic and/or foil in the freezer, whether sliced or not, then reheated in the oven."
They added: "If you don't want to deal with reheating the bread, wrap it well in plastic and/or foil and keep it at room temperature; it won't be as good the next day, and it will only get worse from there, but you should be able to eke some extra life out of your bread before it's no longer enjoyable."
Impact on Food Waste Reduction
According to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the average UK household wastes around 4.5 million tonnes of food each year, with bread being one of the most commonly discarded items. Aldi's simple hack could help consumers significantly reduce this waste by extending bread's shelf life.
By freezing sliced bread, users can take out only what they need, preventing the rest from going stale. This method is especially useful for those who do not consume a whole loaf quickly. Aldi's advice aligns with broader sustainability goals to minimise food waste at the household level.
