How Long Can You Freeze Store-Bought Bread?

Updated on

November 17, 2022

Gareth Busby

Bread is one of the most commonly frozen items in any household. It works great to have some pre-sliced bread on hand for toast or sandwiches. Freezing is a great way to store bread long-term, but how long will store-bought bread last in the freezer?

You can freeze store-bought bread for up to 9 months. Bread can be frozen indefinitely, however, the quality of the bread will degrade to an inedible level over time. For the best quality, freeze on the day of purchase and consume the frozen loaf within 6 months.

How to freeze store bought bread

The plastic bag that your bread arrives in will be sufficient to keep the bread protected for a few weeks, placed directly in the freezer. When freezing sliced bread, or any type of bread for long durations it is best to double layer with a thick cardboard or plastic box to protect it from freezer burn.

It’s understandable that you might not have room in the freezer for large boxes so double layering with another freezer bag will work fine.

To defrost frozen store-bought bread simply leave it out on the counter overnight. If you are in a hurry you can defrost slices in the microwave or toast from frozen.

Freezing bread frequently asked questions

Will store bought bread last as long as artisan bread in the freezer?

In ambient conditions, store-bought bread usually stays fresh for a lot longer than artisan bread. They can be kept frozen for the same amount of time, the biggest impact on how long you can freeze bread is how well the bread is wrapped.

Can you eat store bought bread that has been frozen for a year?

It’s often best to toast bread that has been frozen a long time! Bread that has been frozen for a year will still be safe to eat, it will likely be less enjoyable! More moisture will exit the bread as it defrosts which will make the crumb less soft and tender.

Does the expiry date apply if I freeze bread?

Expiration dates aren’t the same as freeze by dates, unfortunately, so if you have a loaf of bread that’s approaching its soon-to-be past due date and you want to extend its shelf life a bit, it can certainly be done with a pit stop in a freezer.

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