Bread is a much-loved and vital part of our diet. Freshly baked bread smells amazing, and everyone loves the smell of warm bread wafting through the house.

Bread is one food item that almost always requires preservatives to last more than a few days. The high starch content in bread causes it to go stale quickly, even after just a few days at room temperature. You can preserve your bread for much longer by storing it properly in the refrigerator or freezer.

How do we store bread? What's the best way to store bread? If you are looking to avoid food waste, here are ways for keeping bread fresh by storing it the right way.

Store it properly

The best way to store your bread is in a paper bag on the counter or a paper towel-lined basket. The paper allows the bread to breathe, which helps prevent mould from growing. Avoid sealed containers, which will cause your bread to get soggy. If you're using a plastic bag, poke holes in it for air circulation.

Keep it in the fridge

Bread can also be kept in the fridge for about one week but doing so causes it to take on an undesirable odour and dries it out quickly. To prevent this from happening, use a plastic bag with holes poked into it and store your bread at the back of your refrigerator away from other foods that can transfer odour.

Freeze it

You can freeze most types of bread (except those with very soft toppings) to keep them fresh longer. The best time to freeze your bread is right after baking, when it's still warm and moist. Set aside some slices right away before they go stale to freeze them later. Wrap each piece individually in plastic wrap before placing them in an airtight freezer bag or container. Your sliced loaf will last up to five months.

Buy just enough bread for 3 to 5 days

This ensures that you won't have to worry about mould developing or stale bread hanging around. Once you've opened a loaf of bread, wrap the remaining half in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight plastic bag and use it within two to three days — unless otherwise indicated on the package.

Do you have any other suggestions on how to store bread? Let us know in the comments section below!