I love to have homemade bread around the house but it never manages to keep well. I usually put the leftover loaf in a gallon ziploc but that seems to change the texture a bit. How do you ladies (and gents) keep your bread loves fresh?
I use a gallon Ziploc freezer bag and make sure to squeeze as much air out as you can. With my dh around it doesn't last very long anyway so I haven't really had a problem with it.
For keeping any and all bakery, home made or store bought, save all the wax paper liners from cereal when you empty a box and store bakery in them, rolling the top gently and clipping closed with a chip clip or some kind of clip or clamp. Get most of the air out, but don't worry about getting it perfect. This keeps the texture of most things very well. Especially good for biscuits, bread and muffins.
I make two loaves at a time for the two of us, and keep the one we are eating in the refrigerator in a plastic produce bag. The extra goes in the freezer, closely wrapped in the same. Seems to work for us. We don't eat it fast enough to keep it at room temp.
I keep mine wrapped in a dishtowel and placed in a basket before it gets cut, once it's cut I place it cut side down on a cutting board with the dishtowel over it. I'll do this for a couple of days but then it gets transferred into one of those green veggie bags that keep vegetables fresh. It's the best method I've been able to come up with so far. I'll have to try the cereal bag idea, though I'm not sure my loaves will fit in one. I'll give it a shot!
