[Should be frozen! ? ] How to freeze and thaw bread, 5 carefully selected recipes!

Did you know that freezing is actually the best way to preserve bread that you won't eat right away?

Bread, which has a high moisture content and is prone to drying out or mold, will only last for about 2 to 3 days when stored at room temperature.

If you store bread in the refrigerator, the starch deteriorates and becomes hard, making it less delicious.

By storing food properly in the freezer, it can be stored for a long time while preserving its deliciousness.

If you've ever wasted bread, or if you want to stock up on a lot when it's on sale, here are some recommended ways to freeze bread and how to store it to prevent freezer burn.

Advantages of freezing bread

Maintains deliciousness

Freezing bread will keep it delicious longer than storing it at room temperature or refrigerating it.

Bread is sensitive to moisture, so if you store it at room temperature, mold will grow before you know it and it will no longer taste good.

The starch contained in bread deteriorates more rapidly as the temperature approaches 0°C.

Refrigerators kept at 3 to 5 degrees Celsius are not suitable for storing bread, as this accelerates the deterioration of starch.

When you put it in the refrigerator, it becomes hard because the starch has deteriorated.

The only way to prevent starch from deteriorating is to remove the moisture and dry it, or lower the temperature all at once to below -20℃.

In order to maintain the fluffy texture of bread, it is best to store it at a low temperature as soon as possible in a freezer set at -18℃.

Enjoy the crunchy texture

When you freeze bread, the moisture on the surface evaporates, giving it a crispy texture when toasted.

If you want to make something like pizza toast, just put the ingredients on it while it's frozen and bake it to get a crispy texture.

If you like bread with a moist texture, moisten the surface a little with a mist or damp kitchen paper.

If you are creative when baking it, both those who like it crunchy and those who like it moist will be satisfied with the deliciousness.

The correct way to freeze bread

Correct freezing instructions

1) Cut the bread into bite-sized pieces.

Please adjust accordingly, such as for making bread crumbs or for those who often cut into small pieces before baking.

2) Wrap each piece tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap to avoid exposure to air.

Even if you cut the food into small pieces, you can prevent freezer burn by wrapping the food for each portion you want to take out at a time.

3) Place each amount to be used at a time in a separate freezing bag, etc., and remove air appropriately.

You can prevent freezer burn by removing as much air as possible and freezing the food without exposing it to air.
On the other hand, if you remove too much air, you will not be able to enjoy the original fluffy texture of bread, so be careful.

4) Place on a metal tray and set the freezer to high to freeze at the lowest temperature possible.

If you don't have a metal tray, you can also use aluminum foil.

Tips for freezing without freezer burn

If you wrap it in aluminum foil, which has good thermal conductivity, you can freeze it quickly at a low temperature.

On the other hand, wrapping it in plastic wrap will prevent drying and odor transfer.

You can wrap it in a freezing bag to prevent drying and odor transfer, but if you are planning on storing it for a long time, we recommend wrapping it in plastic wrap.

If you don't have enough space in your freezer and are worried about your bread getting crushed, please use a freezer storage container specifically designed for bread.

If you freeze it for a long time and it becomes dry, you can grate it on a grater while frozen and use it as bread crumbs.

To prevent freezer burn, the key is to remove the air and rapid freezing the contents of the freezing bag, making it into a single serving and using it all at once.

In order to maintain a constant temperature in the freezer, it is important to place it in a place that is rarely opened and closed, and to be careful about the number and duration of opening and closing of the refrigerator.

How to thaw frozen bread and storage period

How to thaw frozen bread

Frozen bread can be baked while frozen.

If it's about 8 slices thick, you can toast it as usual.

If you are cutting thick slices, wrap them in plastic wrap (if you have them wrapped in plastic wrap when frozen, you can leave them as is) and heat them in the microwave at 600W for about 30 seconds before toasting them.

If you would like to enjoy a moist texture, remove the plastic wrap or aluminum foil and spray it with water before cooking.

If you want to enjoy the crunchy texture, we recommend cooking it while frozen.

If you don't want your toast to get too brown, wrap it in aluminum foil (you can leave it wrapped in aluminum foil when frozen) and bake it.

If you want to cook deliciously, moisten the surface of the bread and then wrap it in aluminum foil.

Heat for about 5 minutes while wrapped in aluminum foil.

Once the inside of the oven has warmed up, remove the aluminum foil and heat for about 2 minutes until golden brown.

Storage period of frozen bread

The shelf life of frozen bread is 2 weeks to 1 month.

If you open the freezer bag, seal it, and put the rest back in the freezer, the storage period is about 2 weeks.

If you open and close the freezer a lot or during the hot summer months, the temperature inside the freezer may fluctuate easily, so try to eat it early.

If the temperature in the freezer does not change much and the food is stored properly, it will remain delicious for a month.

Bread easily absorbs odors, so be careful about what you put near it.

If this is a concern, choose a type of wrap that prevents odors, such as Saran wrap.

>> 3 points to keep in mind when preserving vegetables

>> Click here for how to freeze meat

>> Click here for how to freeze fish

5 easy recipes using frozen bread

Easy to make with frozen bread! The longed-for Laputa bread

☑〈材料〉
・冷凍食パン　1枚
・卵（Mサイズ）　1個
・ベーコン　1/2枚
・とろけるチーズ　適量
・マヨネーズ　適量
・塩コショウ　適量
・マーガリン　適量

<How to make>
1) Place frozen bread on aluminum foil and spread with margarine.
2) Create a bank around the edge of the bread with mayonnaise.
3) Separate the egg white and yolk and pour half of the white into the bank.
4) Place the egg yolk in the center.
5) Top with bacon, cheese, vegetables, and other toppings of your choice, then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
6) Place it on the aluminum foil and bake it in the toaster oven for 5-6 minutes and it's done.
We recommend that the eggs be soft-boiled, but you can adjust the doneness to your preference.

Easy snack with frozen bread! Range DE cocoa rusk

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/4300352

☑〈材料〉
・冷凍食パン　1枚
・調整ココア　小さじ1

<How to make>
1) While the bread is still frozen, cut it into bite-sized pieces and sprinkle with adjusted cocoa.
2) Arrange on a heat-resistant plate and heat in the microwave for 1 minute without wrapping.
3) Take it out and mix it gently for about 30 seconds while changing the position and direction of the bread so that the moisture evaporates.
4) Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds, then remove and mix.
5) Repeat step 4) once again until some of the pieces are crispy and there is still some moisture left.
6) Leave it as is until it cools completely. Once the moisture evaporates and it becomes crispy, it is ready.
Instead of cocoa, try matcha powder, powdered sugar, or powdered cheese.

Save time with frozen bread! Fluffy French toast

☑〈材料〉
・冷凍食パン　1枚
・卵　1個
・牛乳　120㏄
・砂糖　小さじ半分
・バター　小さじ1
・メープルシロップ　お好みで

<How to make>
1) Cut the frozen bread into 16 equal pieces.
2) Mix eggs, sugar, and milk thoroughly to make egg wash.
3) Dip the bread into the egg mixture, starting from the ears, until the bread is soaked in the egg mixture.
4) Put the butter in a hot frying pan and let it melt, then place the bread on top, starting from the ears.
5) Add the remaining egg mixture and bake until the bread is browned, then flip it over and bake until golden brown.
6) Arrange on a plate, drizzle with maple syrup and it's done.
You can also top it with fruits, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, etc.

Increase the volume with frozen bread! crunchy croutons

☑〈材料1回分〉
・冷凍食パン　1枚

<How to make>
1) Cut 1cm thick frozen bread into 1.5cm cubes.
2) Arrange the cut bread pieces on a heat-resistant plate lined with kitchen paper so that they do not overlap.
3) Heat in a 600W microwave for 30 seconds, then stir.
4) Spread out again so that they don't overlap and repeat step 3) a total of 3 times.
5) Place a parchment paper in the toaster oven and bake for 1 minute.
6) Stir and bake again in the oven for 1 minute and it's done.
It can be eaten as a snack by sprinkling sugar or salt, or it can also be used to add volume to salads and soups.
We also recommend using a die cutter to make a star or heart shape.

Breadcrumb DE dish! Frozen bread transformed into grilled cheese

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/3302182

☑〈材料〉
・冷凍食パン　60～70ℊ位
・卵　1個
・マヨネーズ　大さじ1
・粉チーズ　大さじ1
・牛乳　40㏄
・お好きな野菜　適量
・とろけるチーズ　適量
・塩コショウ　少々

<How to make>
1) Roughly chop your favorite vegetables, fry in a frying pan until tender, and season with salt and pepper.
2) Grate the frozen bread on a grater or use a food processor to make it into breadcrumbs.
3) Mix 1) with bread crumbs, beaten egg, mayonnaise, powdered cheese, and milk and roll into an easy-to-eat size.
4) Heat a frying pan with oil and fry over low to medium heat until golden brown.
5) Turn over, cover, and steam-fry for 2 to 3 minutes.
6) Arrange on a heat-resistant plate, top with melted cheese and breadcrumbs (1-2 tablespoons), toast in the toaster for 4-5 minutes until golden brown, and it's done.

Conclusion

How do you freeze bread and what do you think of the 5 recipes?

Once the bag has been opened, bread is susceptible to deterioration such as drying out and mold growth, so we recommend freezing it as soon as possible.

To avoid freezer burn, divide the food into individual servings, wrap them in plastic wrap or foil, and place them in a freezer bag.

Even if it's a hassle, it's important to divide it into smaller portions, avoid exposing it to air, and use up what you've taken out.

In the unlikely event that you suffer from freezer burn, you can partially remove it and use it as bread crumbs.

Try freezing bread to keep it delicious for a long time.

>> [What is the expiry date of frozen foods? ] Points to consider for eating deliciously

>> [What is the expiry date of frozen foods? ] Ready-to-use frozen bean knowledge

>> [What is the expiry date of frozen foods? ] What is the best way to use frozen side dishes that are delicious and waste-free?