Paul Hollywood makes warning over common bread mistake Brits are making – as he says it goes stale ‘three times quicker’
SICK of going to make a tasty sandwich or slice of toast online to realise your loaf has gone stale?
Well, it might just be down to the way you’re storing it, at least according to baking pro Paul Hollywood.
The Great British Bake Off judge recently revealed the common mistake millions of Brits are making that’s making fresh bread go off three times as fast.
Taking to TikTok, foodie Paul, 58, explained that he get’s asked all the time about the best way to store bread – and he always gives the same answer.
“If you store your bread in the fridge it will stale three times quicker because you’re drawing all the moisture out of the loaf,” he said.
This happens because of a process called retrogradation, where the starch molecules crystalise at cooler temperatures.
So, if you should steer clear of the fridge, where’s best for bread?
“To be honest,” Paul said, “I just put it in a brown bag and leave it on the side.”
But this advice didn’t go down to well with fellow foodies on the social media app.
Many people disagreed with Paul and insisted storing bread in the fridge is the best method, especially during the hot summer months.
Commenting on the clip, which has so far amassed over over 1.4 million views, one person said: “I don’t believe that, I kept bread in the fridge for a week past it’s best before date and it was still fine.”
Others insisted the freezer is the best place for bread.
“Always put it in the freezer and defrost as I need it. It makes the gluten easier to digest and tastes fresh bought bread,” someone wrote.
Another agreed: “I keep it in the freezer and lasts ages, just keep in a sealed plastic bag.
“The freeze is the best way to store bread, I have done for 50 years and have lots of varieties of bread in the freezer at all times,” someone else said.
Sophie Trueman, an in-house food waste expert at Too Good To Go, suggested something slightly different to help bread last longer.
Talking to Express.co.uk, she recommended storing bread in a cloth bag for lasting freshness.
“Remember that if the bread is freshly made, you should not store it in an airtight bag, since it will not be able to breathe.
“You have to let it breathe so that it maintains its most optimal conservation. Storing it in a bread basket or a cloth bag, as mentioned, so that it cools at room temperature is always the best option.”
The pro did agree that the fridge is no place for bread like Paul though.
What foods should you ALWAYS keep in the fridge?
THE 'King of Bread' Paul Hollywood has said you should never keep bread in the fridge. But what foods SHOULD you store in there?
According to EUFIC, The European Food Information Council, these are some of the main foods you should always ensure are kept in the fridge.
- Apples
- Berries
- Butter
- Cheese
- Eggs (boiled or unboiled)
- Fish (cooked or raw)
- Fresh herbs
- Lemons
- Meat (cooked or raw)
- Milk
- Oranges
- Pickles (if opened)
- Salad leaves
- Tomatoes
- Yoghurts