Preserving bread: Meri Rose's advice

Meri Rose da Cerce Piccola, an incredible passion for baked goods in a small village in Molise.

We asked her - who won several awards with her bakery - to give us some good advice on how to keep bread in the best way. Obviously we are talking about “good bread”, the one perhaps made with less refined flours or with l&' use of whole grains or coarser grains that tend to keep their freshness longer than bread made with refined flours due to the presence of a greater amount of fibers and natural oils in whole grains, which help to preserve the moisture of the bread. #39

“It's' it's better to specify it” - Meri Rose tells us - “because nowadays it's easy to find poor quality bread or even worse, bread already frozen and then thawed in many supermarkets... and in that case all good advice doesn't apply!”

Here are the six 'tricks' (plus 1) that he recommends every day to his customers and therefore also to us:

1. Proper storage: Bread should be kept in a cool, dry and well-ventilated place. Avoid leaving it exposed to &' humidity or direct sunlight, as both can negatively affect its freshness. Also avoid the fridge. For example, do not store bread on top of the gas stove to prevent l&' cooking moisture from reaching the bread.

2. For storage, use a paper or canvas bag: avoid plastic containers, because l&' moisture can accumulate, encouraging the formation of mold. It is best to use a paper or canvas bag to wrap the bread, so as to allow light circulation of &' air that helps keep the crust crisp.

3. Use a clean, dry linen cloth, making sure to completely protect the crust, to wrap the bread and keep it fresh. The linen cloth will help maintain the moisture of the bread, preserving its freshness just like canvas or paper. #39

4. Bread in the bread box: who doesn't remember the bread box in their grandmothers' kitchens? This type of container offers good protection against l&' humidity and l&' air, keeping the bread fresh for longer. Make sure the bread box is clean and dry before inserting the bread into it.

5. An old trick is to put a slice of apple in the bag or container where you keep the bread. The apple releases a little' of moisture, which can help keep the bread soft and fresh for a longer period. Be sure to check the apple regularly and replace it if it starts to deteriorate.

6. Did you buy a lot of them? No problem, freeze the bread. If you don't plan to consume all of your bread within a few days, you may want to consider freezing it. Cut the bread into slices or smaller portions, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or freezer bags and place it in the freezer. Frozen bread keeps its freshness well and can be thawed as needed.

7. Heat the bread before using it. The oldest trick in the world, heated bread is always and in any case the best bread that c&' it is: place the bread on parchment paper and put it in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 5-10 minutes. This will help regenerate l&' moisture and make the crust crisp

again!

Stale bread? No problem, on the contrary! If the bread gets a bit' dry or stale, you can use it to prepare other recipes, some of which are very famous (think of tomato soup or bread cake).

Try good bread, discover our selection of fresh bread!