John Myers
Got a leaking package, thawed the frozen bread in the oven too quickly, or left your shopping in the car for too long – now you’re discovering white spots on your bread and wondering what it could be?
Detect freezer burn
If you see one or more of the following characteristics on your bread, then it is probably freezer burn:
- white to gray spots on the surface
- “Burning” spots, dried out, light spots on the outside of the bread
- in slices or halved loaves a white “core”
These light, dry spots on the bread are often harder than the rest of the bread, which can still be soft and the color you are used to.
Is freezer burn on bread dangerous?
Freezer burn does not make bread harmful, poisonous, or spoiled – even if the white areas might at first glance look like mold.
Note: Keep an eye out here, because mold spores in your food and food poisoning are no jokes!
But in contrast, freezer burn does not make the bread harmful to health. Although it is still edible, it is often no longer edible. Because not only the appearance but also the taste and consistency can have suffered greatly from freezer burn. It may have become a bit hard and dry and possibly taste a bit rancid and old. However, there is no health risk with bread.
Note: In contrast to many grain products such as bread and pasta, freezer burn can be harmful to meat, fish, egg, and milk products and affect shelf life!
Formation of freezer burn
Freezer burn often occurs when the cold chain has been broken at some point. For example, if you left your purchase in the warm car for too long before putting it in the freezer at home. Or you leave the freezer door open too often and for too long, causing temperature fluctuations inside the freezer.
Freezer burn also often occurs in bread when its packaging is not completely airtight and watertight when it is frozen so that the surface of the bread comes into contact with air and dries out “suddenly”. Water is then removed from the bread too quickly and unevenly. The name “freezer burn” comes from the fact that the spots look very similar to actually burned areas.
Avoid freezer burn on bread
Both store-bought frozen pasta and pasta you have frozen yourself can be at risk of freezer burn and make your bread inedible.
With these tips you can avoid freezer burn in the future:
- Don’t break the cold chain: never leave your freezer door open longer than necessary, and don’t open it more often than absolutely necessary. Every opening ensures an exchange of air and thus temperature fluctuations. After your purchase, make sure that your frozen bread or rolls end up back in the freezer as soon as possible.
Tip: Cool bags or boxes can be very useful here if you have them further home!
- Proper storage and packaging: It is important that the packaging contains as little air as possible, which the bread could come into contact with. Vacuum packed is ideal, but other types of packaging that can be sealed airtight also reduce the risk of freezer burn. The material should be as close to the bread as possible, so the surface does not come into direct contact with warm air and the bread stays fresh and undamaged.
Note: There are specially made freezer bags for bread, but regular plastic bags will also work if they fit snugly and are closed tightly.
When stored properly, bread can last for months in the freezer, unlike other foods, with the only concern being an expected loss of flavor.
What to do with freezer burn?
You can cut off the affected areas and eat the rest without hesitation. If you feel the taste and texture haven’t been affected to the point that your bread is inedible, you can safely eat or use it. Sometimes it is unfortunately no longer edible for us, but before it goes into the bin, one or the other animal might be happy about it.
Properly defrost frozen bread
If you want to defrost frozen bread, it’s best to give your bread time. Take it out of the freezer for a few hours or overnight and let it thaw evenly at room temperature.
Defrosting individual slices can be successful in the toaster. When defrosting a whole loaf, there are a few tricks you can use to make your bread crispy and fluffy. In our posts on defrosting the bread in the oven and defrosting the bread in the microwave, we show you the best way to defrost frozen bread!
