Cutting away the moldy part is one of those shortcuts that you just can't get away with. When it comes to mold on bread, there's almost always more than meets the eye.
It's never safe to eat a piece of bread that you know is moldy. However, what do you do when you only notice the mold after eating half of your sandwich? Fortunately, eating a few bites of contaminated bread is probably not enough to make you sick.
Mold is a microscopic fungus that may contain illness-causing toxins. Moldy bread is likely to contain harmful bacteria as well. As soon as you notice the mold, throw away the rest of the loaf.
When Does Mold Grow on Bread?
Your moldy bread thrives in a bright, humid and hot environment, which allows the spores to multiply quickly. So, unless you plan on eating your bread within a day or two, it’s best kept out of the sun, off the countertops and in a cool, dry spot instead.
It usually takes about five days for mold to grow, but you’ll want to take extra precautions for bread that’s fresh from the farmers market or baked at home. That type of loaf is made with fewer preservatives than the store-bought variety. It’s likely to grow green faster than usual!
How to Keep Bread Fresh
To prevent mold, the refrigerator may seem like the safest place to store bread. However, even if it stays mold-free, refrigerated bread is just not worth it. The cold air dries it out right away and leaves you with a big rock instead of a crusty loaf of bread.
The best way to keep bread fresh is in a bread box. A bread box keeps the outside of your loaf crispy and crusty while preserving the soft middle. Another way to keep bread fresh is in a plastic bag. Just be sure to let the loaf cool completely before wrapping it up. Hot bread can lead to condensation in the plastic bag, and moist environments invite mold.
You might even keep your bread in the freezer, pulling out a slice or two to toast as needed. Defrost in the toaster on lowest setting.
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