Sky-high summer temperatures are fast becoming the norm in the UK, and most of us will welcome any tips that help keep our food fresher for longer. A master baker has revealed the best way to keep bread fresh in hot weather, and it all comes down to how you store it.
Bread Storage in Heat
Sweltering summer temperatures are quickly becoming the norm in the UK, and most of us will welcome any methods that help keep our food fresher for longer, especially a European staple like bread. Bread is a mainstay in Britain, with a reported 99.8 per cent of households buying it, meaning nearly 11 million loaves are sold every day. Bread is just as popular in Spain, and a traditional cloth bag has long been seen as one of the best ways to keep it fresh. Yet, award-winning baker José Roldán, the International Union of Bakers and Confectioners (UIBC)'s World Baker of the Year 2025, says this method loses its effectiveness in the heat.
He told Última Hora: "The cloth bag allows the bread to breathe, but in the heat, it will lose moisture more quickly." Rapid evaporation will harden the crumb early, meaning it will lose those just-baked qualities. So, to protect your loaf from the elements, it's worth adapting how you store it when the weather changes.
Freezing as the Solution
Heat causes dehydration, meaning it can significantly shorten the time your bread keeps its "organoleptic properties" - qualities that stimulate the senses like taste, smell, colour and feel. José advised us to place our bread in the freezer once we slice it; by doing so, we extend the bread's life. For best results, buy a good-quality loaf and slice it in advance, so you only take out what you need each time. He said: "A quick moment in the toaster or oven is all it takes to have bread that tastes as if it's just been baked."
Freezing counteracts the bread's natural deterioration, halting enzymatic activity and preventing microorganisms from multiplying. Then, thawing with direct heat can bring your bread back to its former, bakery-fresh glory. José explained to AS that he was an advocate of "good bread, sliced and properly frozen", as it "stays fresh". He noted: "Just a quick touch on the griddle or in the oven and you've got bread that tastes as good as freshly baked. We're lucky enough to have a large freezer at home, and whenever friends or family come round, I pop it straight into the oven and end up with some brilliant bread."
Alternative Plastic Bag Method
Another option is storing your bread in a plastic bag. It can help retain moisture in summer, but it's best to only use this method if you plan on eating the loaf within 24 to 48 hours. It can also soften the crust, robbing the bread of that distinctive bakery crispness. However, you can counter this by popping the bread in the oven or toaster for a few minutes, which goes a long way towards restoring it. On the plastic bag method, José added: "In summer, instead of keeping the bread in a cloth bag, I'd use a plastic bag." He continued: "If the bread gets a bit chewy, just pop it in the oven for a moment, and it'll be magnificent again."
