How to store bread in a bread box, the fridge, or the freezer
Quick answer
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Room temperature
Keeps for 14-18 days
Store-bought bread keeps 14 to 18 days in the pantry, while homemade and whole wheat bread keep 3 to 5 days.
Watch out FoodKeeper warns that homemade bread may have a shorter shelf life because it lacks preservatives.
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Fridge
Keeps for 2-3 weeks
Store-bought bread keeps 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge after you open it.
Watch out Don't refrigerate whole wheat bread, which quickly dries out and goes stale.
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Freezer
Keeps for 3-5 months
Store-bought bread keeps 3 to 5 months in the freezer, and whole wheat bread keeps 3 months.
Watch out Thaw it slowly in the refrigerator, and never on the counter.
Store-bought bread keeps 14 to 18 days in the pantry, 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge after opening, and 3 to 5 months in the freezer. Homemade bread keeps 3 to 5 days in the pantry. Skip the fridge for whole wheat bread, which dries out and goes stale quickly.
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Store-bought bread keeps 14 to 18 days in the pantry, while homemade bread keeps 3 to 5 days. The freezer stretches that to months. The times below come from the USDA FoodKeeper, and they differ for store-bought, homemade, and whole wheat bread.
How to keep bread fresh
Keep bread in a cool, dry place in the pantry, where store-bought bread lasts 14 to 18 days. FoodKeeper counts that from the day you buy it, and the time covers pan breads, flat breads, rolls, and buns.
Homemade bread and whole wheat bread last 3 to 5 days in the pantry. Homemade loaves lack preservatives, so they may not last that long.
You can keep the loaf in a bread box or wrap it in a clean dishcloth. Freeze what you know you won’t finish in time.
How long does bread last?
Store-bought bread lasts 14 to 18 days in the pantry, 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge after opening, and 3 to 5 months in the freezer. Homemade and whole wheat bread last 3 to 5 days in the pantry.
For store-bought bread, FoodKeeper counts pantry and freezer time from the day you buy it. It counts fridge time from the day you open it.
| Type of bread | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store-bought bread, rolls, and buns | 14 to 18 days | 2 to 3 weeks after opening | 3 to 5 months |
| Store-bought whole wheat bread, pre-sliced | 3 to 5 days | Not recommended | 3 months |
| Homemade whole wheat bread | 3 to 5 days | Not recommended | 3 months |
| Homemade bread | 3 to 5 days | Not listed | Not listed |
How long do breadcrumbs and croutons last?
Store-bought breadcrumbs last 6 months in the pantry. Croutons last 5 to 6 months in the pantry or the fridge, and 11 to 12 months in the freezer.
How long does bread last in the fridge?
Store-bought bread lasts 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge after you open it, according to USDA FoodKeeper. Whole wheat bread is the exception.
Does bread last longer in the fridge?
Not for whole wheat bread. FoodKeeper does not recommend refrigerating it, because the bread quickly dries out and goes stale. That covers pre-sliced store-bought loaves and homemade ones.
For other store-bought bread, FoodKeeper gives 14 to 18 days in the pantry and 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge after opening. If you won’t finish a whole wheat loaf, freeze it for up to 3 months instead.
Can you freeze bread?
Yes, you can freeze bread. Store-bought bread keeps 3 to 5 months in the freezer, and whole wheat bread keeps 3 months, homemade or store-bought.
How to freeze bread
Slice the loaf before you freeze it, so you can take out only as much as you need. One slice also thaws faster than a whole loaf.
Freeze bread while it’s fresh, and keep your freezer at 0°F (-18°C). The USDA says food kept constantly at that temperature stays safe.
How long does bread last in the freezer?
Store-bought bread lasts 3 to 5 months in the freezer, and whole wheat bread lasts 3 months. FoodKeeper lists no freezer time for homemade bread that isn’t whole wheat.
These times are for quality, not safety. Food kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, and only quality suffers with long freezer storage.
Freezer burn shows up as grayish-brown, leathery spots where air reached the bread. It leaves food dry in spots but not unsafe, and you can cut those parts away.
How to thaw frozen bread
Thaw bread slowly in the refrigerator, which the USDA calls the safest way to thaw frozen food. Small items may thaw overnight, and the USDA says never to thaw food on the counter.
You can also put a frozen slice in the toaster on its defrost or lowest setting.
Can you freeze bread dough and biscuits?
You can freeze store-bought bread dough for 12 months, but FoodKeeper doesn’t recommend freezing refrigerated biscuits or other dough in tube cans.
Count the 12 months from the day you bought the dough. Keep it frozen, and for safety, cook it as the package directs.
Keep tube cans of biscuits, rolls, or pizza dough in the fridge until the package use-by date. FoodKeeper has no line for homemade dough or baked biscuits.
| Dough | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Bread dough, store-bought | Not listed | 12 months |
| Biscuits, refrigerated | Package use-by date | Not recommended |
| Tube cans of biscuits, rolls, or pizza dough | Package use-by date | Not recommended |
How to store homemade bread
Store homemade bread in the pantry for 3 to 5 days, according to USDA FoodKeeper. FoodKeeper also warns that homemade bread may have a shorter shelf life because it lacks preservatives.
Homemade whole wheat bread follows different rules. It keeps 3 to 5 days in the pantry and 3 months in the freezer, and FoodKeeper does not recommend the fridge, because the bread quickly dries out and goes stale.
How to store fresh baked bread
Keep fresh baked bread in the pantry, where it lasts 3 to 5 days. Take the loaf out of the pan and let it cool on a wire rack first, so the extra moisture can escape and your loaf doesn’t go soggy.
How to store cornbread
Keep cornbread in the pantry for 3 to 7 days or freeze it for 2 to 3 months, going by FoodKeeper’s line for homemade corn muffins. FoodKeeper has no line for cornbread itself.
Skip the fridge. FoodKeeper doesn’t recommend refrigerating homemade muffins, because they quickly dry out and go stale.
How to store sourdough bread
Store sourdough the way you’d store other bread, in the pantry first and the freezer for the long term. USDA FoodKeeper has no line of its own for sourdough, so it gives no sourdough times.
How long does sourdough bread last?
There is no official time for sourdough, because FoodKeeper has no line for it. The closest lines say 14 to 18 days in the pantry for a store-bought loaf and 3 to 5 days for a homemade one.
Can you freeze sourdough bread?
Yes. Food kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, so a frozen sourdough loaf stays safe too, and only its quality drops with time. Slice it first, so you can take out only what you need.
How to store bagels
Keep fresh baked bagels in the pantry for 1 to 2 days, and freeze any you won’t eat by then for up to 3 months.
Don’t put bagels in the fridge. FoodKeeper doesn’t recommend it, because they quickly dry out and go stale. Store-bought frozen bagels also keep 3 months in the freezer.
When to throw bread out
Throw bread out as soon as you see mold. The USDA’s advice on mold is that moldy bread and baked goods should be thrown out, because porous foods can be contaminated below the surface. Cutting off the visible spot doesn’t remove what you can’t see.
What to do with stale bread
Stale bread turns hard, especially the crust. If there’s no mold, you can still use it in recipes such as French toast.
Does yeast go bad?
Yes, in time. Packaged yeast keeps 2 years in a cool, dry pantry, counted from the day you bought it, according to USDA FoodKeeper.
Once it’s open, yeast must be refrigerated or frozen, FoodKeeper says. It keeps 4 months in the fridge after opening or 6 months in the freezer.
FoodKeeper doesn’t list bread flour by name. Its line for white flour gives 6 to 12 months in the pantry from purchase.
| Item | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yeast, packaged | 2 years from purchase | 4 months after opening | 6 months |
| White flour | 6 to 12 months from purchase, 6 to 8 months after opening | 1 year after opening | Not listed |
| Cake, brownie, and bread mixes | 12 to 18 months from purchase | Not listed | Not listed |
Frequently asked questions
Does homemade bread last as long as store-bought bread?
No. Homemade bread keeps 3 to 5 days in the pantry, while store-bought bread keeps 14 to 18 days. FoodKeeper notes that homemade bread may have a shorter shelf life because it lacks preservatives.
Can you refrigerate whole wheat bread?
The USDA FoodKeeper doesn't recommend it. Whole wheat bread quickly dries out and goes stale in the fridge, so keep it in the pantry for 3 to 5 days or freeze it for 3 months.
Can you cut the mold off bread?
No. The USDA says moldy bread and baked goods should be thrown out, because porous foods can be contaminated below the surface.
Does bread go bad in the freezer?
Frozen bread stays safe if your freezer stays at 0°F (-18°C), but its quality drops over time. Freezer times are for quality, and freezer burn only leaves dry spots you can cut away.
Can you freeze rolls and buns?
Yes. FoodKeeper's store-bought bread line covers pan breads, flat breads, rolls, and buns, with 3 to 5 months in the freezer.
Can you freeze pita bread and naan?
Yes. Store-bought pita and naan count as flat breads, and FoodKeeper's line for those gives 3 to 5 months in the freezer.
