Bread Boxes

Think inside the box

Marbled rye, focacia, sourdough, challah, plain white or stone ground wheat - any way you slice it, bread constitutes one of the most fundamental components of diet all over the world.  Whether purchased from an artisanal shop, baked from scratch, or tossed into the cart at the supermarket, bread has been identified as the single most prevalent feature of the American diet.  So what do you do with the leftovers?  Although we might prefer to consume bread hot from the oven at all times, a breadbox provides the most effective and practical solution.

Kitchen science

When bread turns stale, the starch and moisture contained inside the loaf rearrange themselves.  Water absorbed by the starch during the process of baking escapes once the bread cools down.  The result is that the starch reverts to its original state and hardens again, producing a rock hard chunk of inedible bread.  The instant a loaf of bread starts to cool, it begins to stale.

Many place store-bought loaves in the refrigerator, the absolute worst place to keep bread.  As it turns out, the chemical reactions between the starch and water inside the bread are actually accelerated in the range of cooler temperatures found inside a refrigerator.

Further, constantly removing the plastic bag from a cool temperature to room temperature and then putting it back again can allow moisture to condense, promoting the formation of mold. Storing it in a dry, room temperature environment such as a breadbox lengthens the lifespan of any loaf of bread.

Types of bread

Crusty, lean breads usually become stale within a day of cooking.  The freshness of a loaf can be maintained for a longer period by storing it in a plastic bag and then placing the bag inside a breadbox.  Exposure to sunlight will cause the loaf to sweat, making it rubbery and unappetizing, so the dark, cool interior of a breadbox provides an ideal storage environment.

Soft, enriched bread, such as sandwich bread, should be stored in plastic as well, since the porous texture of the bread can dry out with exposure to air.  A breadbox protects the bread from light and keeps it at the appropriate temperature.

Counter intuitive

Aside from the practical consideration of preserving bread, breadboxes are an inexpensive and easy way to enhance kitchen décor.  From homey, old-fashioned wooden breadboxes to sleek enamelware to retro metal, an almost infinite number of styles and materials are available.  Whether whimsical, stark, or basic, a breadbox can lend coherence and emphasis to any design scheme.

More information on bread boxes