How To Freeze French Bread

Freezing French bread is a very easy process that will save you money and mean you can make bread in bigger batches (or buy it!). There is always some moisture loss during the freezing and defrosting; therefore, freezing artisan bread when it is freshest makes a fresher-tasting loaf after freezing. It’s always best to freeze any type of bread when it is as fresh as possible. Here’s how to freeze French bread:

Wrap your French bread in a large bag such as a freezer bag or (new) bin liner. Push out as much air as possible, and if the bag isn’t sealed, use some tape to bind the edges together. Write the date on the bag and place it into the freezer.

How to defrost frozen French bread?

Although you can defrost frozen French bread on the worktop, the best way to defrost French bread is by baking it. Preheat the oven to 210C (410F). Spray with a water mister, or lightly rub some water on the crust and bake for 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of the bread. When ready, the crust should be crispy, and the bread should be slightly springy when pressed.

How long does frozen French bread last?

Due to their large surface area, baguettes are more suspect of freezer burn. This means that after one month of storing in the freezer, the bread will start to deteriorate.

What are the signs of the loaf going bad?

The crust of the bread will lighten in colour. It can also turn leathery and patchy. If this happens, the bread is still safe to eat. It’ll just not taste quite as good once defrosted!

Can you slice the French bread before freezing?

It is possible to slice French bread before it goes into the freezer. However, this method is preferred for larger and moister loaves. Baguettes are made from lean doughs which do not contain fat. This means that the bread will dry out more in the freezer. Therefore, expanding the surface area of an already large-diameter bread by slicing a sliced French bread should only be frozen for a couple of weeks.

What can I do with day old French bread?

Instead of freezing your French bread, it makes the best bread for French toast! Soak your baguette in a custard made from sugar, milk, cream and eggs, then fry in butter until crisp. Serve with fresh berries and whipped cream.