Breadboxes

Published on Thursday, February 28, 2008, by Michele Foley / Edit Post

Breadboxes

Keep your bread fresh

By Michele Foley

Don’t buy preservative-filled bread just because it keeps longer. The breadbox is your solution: It gives your freshly baked loaf an extra two to three days by maintaining good moisture levels and air circulation. Plus if you’re going to have something sitting out on the counter, it better look good too.

PROGRESSIVE INTERNATIONAL CLEARLY FRESH BREAD KEEPER, $9.99

If your bread is out of mind when it’s out of sight, a clear box is a good solution. This one expands to fit larger loaves. It comes with a small plastic cutting board with grooves for uniform slicing.

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RED BREAD BOX, $34.95

A red powder-coat finish takes this durable Polder breadbox from mere functional storage system to an attention-getter. It’ll fit lots of baked goods.

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LIMOUSINE WHITE BREAD BIN, $43.57

This Typhoon breadbox would look right at home in a 1960s kitchen but is equally comfortable in a modern space. It has a removable wire rack for smaller items like rolls and bagels.

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BRABANTIA ROLL TOP BREAD BOX, $45.99

The stainless steel roll top model is an icon. Added bonus: This one’s fingerprint proof.

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STAINLESS STEEL BREAD CANISTER, $49.95

This brushed stainless steel breadbox is a good choice for storing larger loaves, and its rubber base won’t scratch the counter.

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TYPHOON CREAM BREAD BIN, $49.99

The word bread is stenciled across this bin’s face, in case there’s confusion. The handles make it easy to transport fresh loaves to the neighbors, and the wooden lid doubles as a cutting board.

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FALL FROM FRONT BREAD BIN, $53.99

If space is at a premium, this front-loading breadbox from Brabantia has a flat top so you can stack items on it. Or hang it up using the wall mounts on the back.

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GNAM BREAD BIN, $61

This Alessi bin was referred to as a “mod pod” more than once in the CHOW office. It comes in a variety of colors, including orange and blue.

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BLACK FLEXIBLE BREAD BOX, $172.95

This one from Danish design firm Eva Solo is pricey but beautiful. The flexible cover wraps around the box and is held in place by magnets.

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Michele Foley is an associate editor at CHOW.

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POST A COMMENT |9 Comments

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  • Breadboxes really do work, but you don't need to spend this kind of money for one - I got a nice stainless steel rolltop one at Target for about $25 a few years ago - a quick search shows that the prices have gone up a little, but they still have a good assortment starting at $30. See...+READ

    Breadboxes really do work, but you don't need to spend this kind of money for one - I got a nice stainless steel rolltop one at Target for about $25 a few years ago - a quick search shows that the prices have gone up a little, but they still have a good assortment starting at $30. See http://www.target.com/gp/search/601-3485534-4944924?field-keywords=breadbox&url=index%3Dtarget&ref=sr_bx_1_1&x=0&y=0-COLLAPSE

  • Slicing and freezing for later consumption works great. When you reheat them later on, it hasn't lost much of its aroma, flavour or texture.

    Of course, this is referring to preservative-free breads.

    See this Chow.com Obsessives vid too. There's some interesting bread-related info here. http://www.chow.com/stories/10791

  • We immiedately slice and freeze any bread we don't plan to use the first day. Then we reheat it in the toaster or oven. That seems to be the best way to keep the bread tasting fresh for a long time.

  • breadboxes are not that radical of an item to store bread--very common--the benefit is the 'breads set location', unlike various bags of bread lost or misplaced in random cupboards, or one big hobo bag that looks like santa is a baker. the bread box is like the cookie jar. a place that creates memory--a proustian activator of the senses.

  • For unsliced bread loaves, I store it cut side down on a cutting board and cover with a tea towel.

  • Thanks, Joe! I bake my own bread at home and I did buy a bunch of plastic bread bags from King Arthur Flour that work quite well. But we're trying to reduce waste in our home, so I think I'll switch to that Best twill bag.

  • Since I live by myself, I usually just buy a loaf of bread, wrap up 2 slices each in plastic wrap, and freeze them in a ziplock bag until I need them... I never really thought to be buying a breadbox, particularly since I have such little countertop space to begin with. But, from a visual POV, these are pretty fun to look at!

  • I can think of a lot of better ways to spend my money...

    http://www.cooksillustrated.com/foodscience.asp?foodscienceid=198&bdc=2376

    "For store-bought bread, the plastic bag the bread came in was just as effective as any of the bread keepers we tested..."

    "For artisanal or home-baked bread, the reusable, washable twill bag from Best was the most successful at minimizing moisture loss and...+READ

    I can think of a lot of better ways to spend my money...

    http://www.cooksillustrated.com/foodscience.asp?foodscienceid=198&bdc=2376

    "For store-bought bread, the plastic bag the bread came in was just as effective as any of the bread keepers we tested..."

    "For artisanal or home-baked bread, the reusable, washable twill bag from Best was the most successful at minimizing moisture loss and keeping the crust crisp."-COLLAPSE

  • Do these really make a difference? I subscribe to the paper bag in plastic bag technique, which works quite well, and doesn't take up any space on my countertop.