Bread is a great food source and can be even more delicious when homemade, however it only lasts a very short while and can go bad or even mouldy very quickly. Vacuum sealing it allows you to make it last much longer, as well as staying fresh. This means you end up with much less food wastage and your delicious home baking can last longer.

What is Vacuum Sealing and what will you need?

Vacuum sealing is the process of removing air (or oxygen) from a container (usually a bag) to reduce its size and keep food fresh. By removing air from the bag, you reduce the chance of the food going stale or bad, meaning you can store it for longer. It’s a very straightforward process and all you’ll need is a vacuum packer, vacuum sealer bags and the bread you would like to store. Make sure the bags you choose are the correct ones for your equipment or you may run into issues whilst using the machine.

Which Types of Bread Can you Vacuum Seal?

·      Fresh Bread

Fresh bread, whether made at home or purchased from a bakery can be delicious, but only really lasts for the day before going stale. It can be used for toast the day after but unfortunately loses its freshness very quickly when left out in the open. Vacuum sealing it can allow it to stay fresh for up to a week.

·      Store Bought Bread

Pre-packed bread usually is made with preservatives to stop it going stale. If vacuum sealed and stored in a freezer it can last up to three years without going bad.

·      Gluten Free Bread

Gluten Free bread can be made with a variety of different ingredients to replace the wheat and barley found in regular bread, so it generally lasts longer as it contains less moisture. They can usually last around a week when vacuum sealed correctly.

How to Vacuum Seal Bread

·      Get the Bread You Want To Store

If it’s been freshly baked, be sure to let it cool first before trying to store it. If you’ve purchased it and it needs slicing, slice as much bread as you want and store the rest safely. If you the bread is already sliced, simply decide how much you need and then once again store the rest elsewhere.

·      Place The Bread Into The Vacuum Bags

Be sure not to fill the bags up too much as they may not seal properly. If you find you have too much bread to store in one bag, use as many as you need until it is all done.

·      Seal One End of the Bag

Once the bag or bags are full, seal one end of the bag, ensuring its sealed fully and there are no leaks.

·      Place The Bag in The Sealer

Follow the instructions specific to your machine and be sure that the vacuum bag is positioned correctly for the machine before placing it into the vacuum sealer then turn it on.

·      Start the Machine

The process will start, removing all of the air from inside the sealed bag. Usually, once all of the oxygen has been removed from the bag and the process is complete, the machine will close the open end of the seal bag.

·      Store Your Bread Somewhere Secure

It can be stored in a freezer, cupboard, pantry or simply on a kitchen counter providing it’s away from strong smells, light, and heat sources. Somewhere cool and dark is generally recommended providing you have adequate space. 

Ways You Can Store Vacuum Sealed Bread

Depending on your needs, there are a huge number of different ways you can store your sealed bread.

·      Pantry

Storing your bread inside your pantry is the perfect place to keep it fresher for longer as it’s away from strong light sources, cool without being cold and away from any strong heat sources. This makes it perfect if you plan on using your bread again soon.

·      Freezer

The freezer is a great place to store your bread if you don’t need to use it for a while. Once you remove your bread, you’ll need to allow it to defrost properly, or you can cause it to go stale early. Surprisingly, letting your bread defrost in your kitchen at room temperature can make it go stale. Instead, place your bread in a microwave and heat for around 15-20 seconds per slice. Following this method will allow the starch and water molecules to break down the crystalline regions, producing soft, ready-to-eat bread. Also, this is a much quicker method of readying your bread for eating again than leaving it to defrost naturally.

·      Containers

If you’re looking to use your bread for meal prepping, it can be handy to store it in containers ready to be used for your meals.

·      Cupboard

Cupboards can be a convenient place to store your bread but ensure they’re not too close to strong scents as they may affect the taste of the bread. Also you should avoid cupboards next to ovens as they may be affected by high heat which can damage your bread and affect its shelf life.

Vacuum Sealing Bread Best Practices

·      Be Sure To Only Use Fresh Bread - Make sure the bread you’re storing is fresh otherwise, it may already be stale when stored.

·      Do Not Overfill The Bags - Make sure not to overfill the bags or they may not seal properly and may end up with leaks.

·      Only Use The Correct Bags For Your Machine – Follow the instructions on your machine and only use the right equipment.

·      Reseal Bags When Finished – If you’re not using all of the bread you’ve stored, make sure to reseal the bag when you’ve taken out what you need. Doing this quickly will ensure freshness for the rest of the bread.

Conclusion

Vacuum Sealing your bread, whether it be freshly homemade, or store bought is a cheap and easy way to make it last longer, reduce food wastage and keep your food fresh so you and the family can enjoy it for longer.