A freezer-burned bread is basically a dehydrated bread that is absolutely safe to eat if defrosted in a way best to re-hydrate it. However, if the freezer burns are a result of improper freezing such that after defrosting it has an awful smell, it is advisable to toss it off to avoid food poisoning.
You can eat freezer-burned bread if it has been safely frozen for less than 6 months and does not emit any off smell after defrosting.
What does freezer-burned bread look like?
Freezer burn will appear like dry and rough(to touch) sections on your bread. your bread can also feel hard especially if it has been in the freezer for longer than 3 months. All these signs are a result of water loss which if well re-hydrated before defrosting can bring back the spongy and glossy look of bread.
Can you eat freezer-burned bread?
You can eat a freezer-burned bread if it has been in the freezer for less than 6 months. Freezer burns are a result of water loss and not a sign of spoilage. However, since the bread is dehydrated, it can become hard to eat due to dryness. Therefore, you will need to re-hydrate it before defrosting it to make it palatable.
First, you can simply sprinkle it with little water then put in the oven to defrost. You can also choose to coat It with egg batter then defrost it in the oven. The egg batter will not only re-hydrate it back but also give it a tasty crust.
Most often than not your freezer-burned bread might have a stale taste which is nothing to worry about. But, if the stale taste is accompanied by an off smell then that could be a sign of spoilage which can cause food poisoning and therefore needs to be disposed off.
How to freeze bread without freezer burn
- Pre-slice the bread and store each slice separately so that you don’t have to defrost the entire bread.
- Wrap your bread with a cling film then an aluminum foil to protect it from freezer burns.
- If you prefer storing your bread in a freezer bag ensure to remove excess air before sealing it tightly.
- Label the slices clearly with a sell-by date to avoid over-freezing which can lead to freezer burns.
- Freeze your bread while it’s still fresh. If you buy freshly baked bread, set aside what you can finish in two days then freeze the rest immediately.
- If you bake bread allow it to cool off completely before putting it in the freezer as the steam from hot bread turns into ice crystals and cause freezer burns.
- Wrap bread rolls individually with plastic wrap, put them in a freezer bag, and seal tightly.
- You can keep your bread in the freezer for 3-6 months but it’s best to consume it within 3 months while still at its best quality.