The short answer: Bread keeps about 3 to 5 days on the counter and about 3 months in the freezer. Do not eat bread with mold.
How long bread lasts
- Counter: About 3 to 5 days
- Fridge: Goes stale faster, so only useful in humid weather
- Freezer: About 3 months for best quality
How to tell bread has gone off
- Any fuzzy spots, green, white, blue or black
- A sour or musty smell
- Throw away the whole loaf if you see mold; the roots reach further than you can see
How to make it last longer
- Freeze half the loaf the day you buy it, sliced, and toast from frozen.
- Keep it in a bread bin or paper bag, not a warm, humid spot.
- Stale bread is still good for toast, breadcrumbs and croutons.
Common questions
Can you cut mold off bread?
No. Bread is soft and porous, so mold spreads through it. Throw away the whole loaf.
Does the fridge keep bread fresher?
It slows mold but makes bread go stale sooner. The freezer is the better place for long storage.
General guidance only. These times are for food bought fresh and kept at 40°F (4°C) in the fridge or 0°F (-18°C) in the freezer. Your own fridge, the packaging and the state of the food always come first, and when in doubt, throw it out. The official US chart is on FoodSafety.gov.
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