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Have you ever stored bread in the fridge, only to find that it doesn’t taste good anymore? Indeed, the fridge is the best solution for keeping food fresh, but this does not apply to all types of food, including bread. Read on to understand why bread should not be stored in the fridge!
Reasons Why Bread Should Not Be Stored in the Fridge
Storing bread in the fridge will make it dry out and spoil quickly. This happens because the cold temperature in the fridge can accelerate the retrogradation of starch in the bread.
Retrogradation is a process that causes changes in the texture and flavor of food. To understand retrogradation, we first need to understand the structural changes in the starch within the bread.
Bread is made from wheat flour that contains starch. In its natural state, the starch is mostly in a crystalline form, meaning the starch molecules are arranged in a distinct geometric structure. After being mixed with water and baked at high temperatures, the crystalline structure of the starch breaks down, which is what makes the food more chewy and soft.
However, as the bread cools, the starch begins to slowly reassemble into a more ordered crystalline structure. As a result, the bread becomes hard and spoils faster. This change is called retrogradation.
Now, when bread is stored in a cold environment (like in the fridge), the starch molecules undergo retrogradation more quickly than if the bread were stored at room temperature.
In conclusion, if you don’t want your bread to become hard, don’t store it in the fridge! So, what’s the solution? If you’ve already done so, you can still save the bread by wetting it with water until the crust is moist. Afterward, heat the bread in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes at 180°C. The starch molecules will reabsorb the water, and the bread will become fresh again.
How to Store Bread for Longer Freshness
Here are some tips for storing bread to keep it fresh:
- Store in an airtight container: Place the bread in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic. This will prevent the bread from being exposed to direct air and reduce the retrogradation process.
- Freeze it: If you want to store bread for a longer period, freeze it in the freezer. First, wrap it in plastic and then place it in the freezer. This option can preserve bread for up to three months. Before consuming, let it thaw slowly at room temperature.
Additional Tips: If you make bread yourself, choose a recipe that includes fats like butter, oil, or eggs. These ingredients help keep the bread soft for a longer time.
In summary, bread should not be stored in the fridge because cold temperatures accelerate the retrogradation process of the starch, causing the bread to harden and spoil faster. The best way to store bread for longer freshness is to keep it in an airtight container.
If you’re looking for high-quality wheat flour to make bread, especially for a bakery business, we recommend Kantil Wheat Flour from PT Manunggal Perkasa. This flour contains 12.0 – 13.5% protein, which helps create elastic dough and results in soft, perfectly risen bread.
(syo/csb)