How to freeze and reheat sourdough bread

There’s nothing better than a warm loaf of sourdough bread with a perfectly golden, crisp crust. But if you’ve ever baked a loaf, you know that the crust can turn from crisp to tough after a few days. Unlike store-bought breads, sourdough is not full of preservatives, so it does not stay as fresh for long. 

Luckily, artisan sourdough bread freezes and reheats perfectly when done right, giving it that fresh-from-the-oven taste and texture. 

Why freeze sourdough bread? 

Freezing sourdough bread isn’t just a great way to keep it fresh—it’s also a huge time-saver. If you’re already putting in the effort to bake a loaf, why not double or triple the recipe and freeze the extras? That way, you always have fresh sourdough on hand without the extra work.

Not only can you freeze classic sourdough loaves, but just about any sourdough bread product freezes well. Whether it’s sourdough bagels, sandwich bread, dinner rolls, or even sourdough cinnamon rolls, freezing allows you to bake in bulk and enjoy homemade bread whenever you need it.

How to freeze a whole loaf of sourdough bread 

Freezing a loaf of sourdough bread is actually quite simple! 

1. After baking your loaf of bread let it cool completely on a cooling rack (at least 2 hours). 
2. Wrap the loaf in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. 
3. Write on the outside with a permanent marker the date it’s going into the freezer and what’s inside, especially if you are adding inclusions like jalapeno cheddar, hot honey and asiago, or chocolate so you know what exactly what type of bread it is.
4. For added protection, add the wrapped bread to a large freezer bag. Sometimes a gallon size is too small depending on the size of the loaf so you may need a larger size. If you don’t have any you can just double wrap your loaf to avoid freezer burn.
5. Place it in the freezer for up to 3 months for optimal freshness.

How to freeze bread slices 

If you can’t eat a whole loaf of bread before it goes stale, slicing it before you freeze it is a great option. Or you could opt to make mini sourdough loaves instead.

1. Slice the loaf and place pieces of parchment paper or wax paper in between each of the slices of bread. 
2. Place the slices in an extra large freezer-safe ziplock bag and remove as much excess air as possible.
3. Write the date the loaf was frozen on the outside of the bag and the flavor of the bread. 
4. Place it in the freezer.

Then you can grab a slice at a time and place it in the toaster or toaster oven to reheat for breakfast or in a sandwich. 

Defrosting sourdough bread 

To thaw out a entire loaf of sourdough, simply pull it out of the freezer the night before (about 12 hours) and leave it at room temperature, wrapped and in the bag to defrost. 

If you are in a hurry and need to defrost the loaf quickly, unwrap the loaf and defrost it in the microwave. Just keep an eye on it, and let it defrost until it is mostly thawed. 

Refreshing stale bread 

This method will give you a delicious, crispy crust every time!

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
2. Unwrap the loaf and quickly run it under water. It shouldn’t be drenched, but the water should coat the entire loaf. This helps restore moisture to the bread and crisp up the outside crust again.
3. Add the loaf to the preheated oven and let it bake for 10-15 minutes or until crispy.
4. Remove it from the oven, slice it, and enjoy!

Stovetop method

This is a great method to use if you are grabbing individual slices of sourdough bread from the freezer. 

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat on the stovetop.
2. Add a little butter or olive oil to the pan.
3. Add your slice of sourdough bread straight from the freezer and toast for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown, and then flip and toast on the other side.

Toaster Method

This is another method that works great with individual slices of frozen sourdough bread. 

1. Remove individual slices of sourdough bread from the freezer and add to your toaster or toaster oven.
2. Toast for a couple of minutes or until golden brown and toasted.

The best storage for freshly baked sourdough bread

Here are the best methods for storing fresh bread:

1. Counter: Store a whole loaf, or a side that can be placed cut side down with only the crust exposed, on the counter up to 2 days with just a tea towel over it. 
2. Bread box: If the bread has been cut into or the inside is exposed, store it in a bread box.
3. Bread bags or brown paper bag: It’s best to store the bread in a material that is breathable, rather than an airtight container. 

What to do with stale bread

If you do not freeze your sourdough bread before it turns stale, don’t throw it out! Using stale bread is actually the ideal way to make certain recipes because it will soak up liquid and flavor without getting soggy. My favorite recipes to use stale sourdough bread include Sourdough Stuffing, Sourdough French Toast Casserole and Sourdough Breakfast Casserole.