Helpful Hints In The Kitchen

Defrosting Sandwich Bread

A great many people freeze sandwich bread to prevent it from going stale. A question we get asked often, is: "What is the best way to defrost the bread?" Many people think that by removing the desired number of slices from the freezer and letting them thaw out at room temperature would be the best approach. This is not so. By leaving the bread at room temperature, you actually stale it. As frozen bread warms, the starch molecules begin to form crystalline regions which absorb the water in bread. The process, called retrogradation, will eventually produce a dry, stale texture. The best way to thaw frozen bread is to place the slices on a plate (uncovered) and microwave them on high power for 15-25 seconds. This will get the starch and water molecules to bread down the crystalline regions producing soft, ready to eat bread.