How to Store Sourdough Bread

If you are baking sourdough bread often, at some point you might need to store the loaves to prevent them from becoming stale. Sourdough actually freezes quite well. Most sourdough recipes make two sourdough loaves, so I usually keep one out to eat and freeze the second loaf. Then, the frozen loaf will last in the refrigerator for weeks or months. I take it out of the freezer to thaw during busy times if my time for baking is limited. In this post, I’ve included details for how to store sourdough bread in both the freezer and at room temperature.

Freezing sourdough bread

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  • After baking, allow your sourdough bread to fully cool down to room temperature. I usually leave my bread out overnight to make sure it is all the way cool. It is important to completely cool your bread before freezing it because any remaining steam inside the bread can disturb the bread’s texture or cause freezer burn.
  • Then, gently place your in a gallon size freezer bag like one of these below. You’ll be able to reuse the bag many times for other loaves as well.
  • Press as much air as you can out of the bag and seal. Place your sourdough loaf in the freezer for anywhere from a few days to a few months.
  • When you’re ready to eat your frozen sourdough loaf, remove it from the freezer and thaw at room temperature. It will probably take the majority of the day to thaw, so remember to plan ahead.
  • If you want to crisp the crust a little, you can heat your loaf gently in at oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes (remember to remove it from the plastic bag).

Storing bread at room temperature and keeping a crispy crust!

When I’m keeping my freshly baked sourdough bread out to eat within the next few days, I’ve noticed that it is hard to keep the crust crispy if I store it in a sealed plastic bag like the ones above that I use for freezing.

Instead, I usually either wrap it loosely in this type of plastic wrap, reusable bees wax cotton wrap, or a reusable bag similar to the types below. The important thing is to let your bread breathe a little bit to keep your crust crispy! All of these items below will allow your bread to breathe so the crust will stay crispy for longer.

I hope these tips for storing your sourdough bread help keep your bread fresh longer!

2 thoughts on “How to Store Sourdough Bread

  1. What about using foil? I also have been gifted a Zwilling Vacuum Pump and special bags which will vacuum seal the bread. I have used them to freeze the bread. I am a newbie at sourdough I need to defrost and taste test.
    I love your chemist approach. I am a pharmacist so I am enjoying your articles. It is an experiment baking sourdough.
    I have been using the Lazy Sourdough method with no stretch and fold or refrigeration. I have your Levain on the counter and will wait my 48 hours to bake. Patience, patience

    1. Wow I bet the vacuum sealer works well!! I should try that. Foil works well too! Sometimes if I want extra protection, I wrap in foil then put that in a ziploc. Glad you enjoy sourdough experiments too! It is so fun

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