How to store fresh bread at home

Freshly baked bread from Pan Pan has a crust that crackles and a crumb that’s soft and springy — but that state naturally changes once it leaves our oven. Here are a few practical ways to keep that freshness going a little longer at home.

The most important rule: keep bread at room temperature, in a paper bag or wrapped in a cloth, not sealed in plastic. Plastic traps moisture, which softens the crust and creates conditions where the bread turns chewy faster than it should. Paper, by contrast, lets the bread “breathe” — the crust stays crisp longer, and the crumb doesn’t turn damp.

If you have a thick-crusted loaf, like our White Sourdough or Whole Wheat Sourdough, place the cut side down on a wooden board, or stand the loaf upright in a paper bag. This helps keep moisture from the crumb migrating too quickly into the crust.

For a baguette or Ciabatta, which have a thinner crust and are best on the day you buy them, the better option for longer storage is freezing rather than leaving them at room temperature for more than a day or two — we cover that in a separate guide.

Slicing and freezing works well for larger loaves too. Cut the bread while it’s still fresh, then take out only what you need — that way you’re only exposing the portion you’re about to eat, and the rest stays protected. To refresh a slice (even one that’s a day or two old), a short warm-up in the oven at a moderate temperature brings back the crust’s crispness far better than a toaster or microwave.

There’s no single “correct” method for every type of bread — Ciabatta, Focaccia, our seven-seed loaf and rye bread all behave a little differently depending on hydration and composition. As a general rule: the sooner you eat it, the closer you stay to that just-baked moment, and for longer storage, rely on paper, a cool dry spot, and slicing as needed rather than leaving a whole loaf exposed to air.

Stop by our Aerodrom or Kapistec Petit shop and ask us directly at the counter — we’re happy to point you to the best way to store whichever loaf fits your habits.