How to reheat bread the right way

Bread is a staple in most households.

It’s filling and delicious and goes well with several dishes.

Plus, nothing beats the aroma of soft, tender, freshly-baked bread. 

Unfortunately, we can all agree that cold and hard bread is just not the same. 

So, is there a way to reheat bread while retaining its softness, texture, and aroma?

What about garlic bread or baguette?

Can we reheat it the same way? 

How to reheat bread in the microwave

Looking for a quick and convenient way to reheat cold bread?

Try using the microwave. Here’s how to reheat bread in the microwave. 

1. No one likes to eat hard bread. So, start by adding a bit of moisture. Pour around 3T of water in a small bowl and pop it in the microwave for about 1 minute at full power.
2. Line a microwave-safe plate with two layers of paper towel. Now, place the bread on the plate.
3. Use another slightly damp paper towel to cover the bread loosely.
4. Place the bread in the microwave along with the bowl of water.
5. Heat the bread on low settings for 10 seconds.
6. Flip the bread. Heat for another 10 seconds on low settings.
7. Repeat the flipping process if you are warming up frozen bread.
8. Enjoy soft and fresh bread!

How to reheat bread in the oven

The best way to warm up bread is in the oven.

Reheating in the oven ensures that the bread retains its texture, taste, and aroma. Here’s how to reheat bread in the oven.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Do not raise the temperature as higher temperatures might burn the bread.
2. Wrap the bread in aluminum foil to ensure the crust remains soft and tender while the bread warms up to the middle.
3. Bake for about 15 minutes. For thinner pieces of bread, 10 minutes should be enough.
4. Remove from the oven and serve hot. Remember, reheating bread a third time might ruin the texture.

How to reheat frozen baguette

Frozen baguette can last in the freezer for up to one to two months.

Reheating frozen baguette is simple.

The best way to do it is in the oven. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F. If you’re in a hurry, crank the temperature to 400 °F. However, keep a close eye on your bread as higher temperatures can overcook or burn the bread.
2. Take the bread out of the freezer. Remove the plastic and stick the frozen loaf into the oven.
3. Let it bake for around 40 minutes to revive the bread.
4. Remove from the oven and enjoy it fresh!

If you don’t want to wait for 40 minutes, let the bread defrost on the counter for a couple of hours before you place it in the oven.

Doing so will cut down the baking time to 10 to 15 minutes.

How do I make garlic bread crispy again?

Want to enjoy crispy garlic bread? It’s simple!

1. Preheat the oven to 350 °F.
2. Place the garlic bread on a wire rack. If that’s not available, you can also place it on a baking sheet.
3. Sprinkle it with water and cover it loosely with foil.
4. Place in the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the loaf size.
5. Once ready, remove from the oven and enjoy the heat!

How to reheat bread without hardening it?

The trick to keeping the bread soft and tender is to set the right temperature and baking time.

The ideal temperature for reheating bread is 350 °F.

It allows the bread to warm up to the middle without getting hard.

Secondly, don’t leave the bread in the oven or microwave for longer than the advised time.

Finally, add moisture, either by sprinkling water on the bread or heating it in a separate bowl with the bread. 

How to reheat bread rolls

In the mood for some tasty bread rolls?

If frozen, let them thaw on the counter for four to six hours.

Brush with garlic and butter to add a delicious aroma.

Place the bread rolls in a foil and place them in a preheated oven at 300 °F.

Bake for around 15 minutes until completely warm. 

Tips from the pros: How to store bread

Now that you know how to reheat bread, let’s take a look at storing it properly.

Here are some tips that will help you keep your bread the right way!

• Skip the plastic – always store the loaf in a paper bag. It will help keep mold away and keep the bread fresh for longer.
• Want to store bread for longer than 2 to 3 days? Freeze it up. Never keep it in the refrigerator for long.
• If you’re going to freeze the bread, buy an uncut loaf. Bread loaves freeze well as compared to slices of bread. It also makes it easy to warm up bread.
• Invest in a bread box! It is a fun way to keep your bread fresh and add a little style to your kitchen.
• Always store bread in a cool and dry area – but not in the fridge as bread dries out quickly when refrigerated. Leave it on the counter or store it in a drawer or a cabinet to keep bread fresh.

The bottom line

Now that you know how to reheat bread and store bread, your leftover bread will never go to waste again.

Whether you bake a fresh loaf or get your favorite garlic bread from the market, reheat it like a pro to enjoy its delicious taste and texture.