How to defrost bread

I love to bake and also live in a household of one, so I can rarely make it through a loaf of freshly baked bread on my own before it goes stale (or worse: moldy). To avoid throwing the ends of my lovingly made creations in the compost, I rely on my freezer to keep them fresh. Eating half a loaf of bread fresh and then freezing the rest for later is a helpful strategy to waste less and savor the entire loaf at your own pace.

But when you’re ready to pull it from the freezer, what’s the best way to defrost bread? According to the experts at The Baker’s Hotline, the best method is the simplest: pulling your bread out of the freezer and letting it thaw at room temperature. If you’ve pre-sliced your bread before freezing (my preferred method, so I can pull out just what I need), those slices will take about 30 minutes to thaw at room temperature, or you can transfer them directly from the freezer to a toaster or toaster oven to speed up the process (and enjoy your bread lightly toasted). Individual rolls like burger buns or Hawaiian rolls will take about an hour to thaw, and whole loaves like a rustic loaf or sandwich bread will take about three hours, depending on the size of the loaf and the temperature of your kitchen.

Photography and food styling by Liz Neily

Wondering about how to defrost sourdough in particular? After thawing on the counter, refresh crusty, artisan loaves like rustic sourdough or no-knead sourdough bread in a 350°F oven for a few minutes before serving to re-crisp the crust. If you’re worried about the crust getting too brown, simply tent the slices or the loaf with foil in the oven. (This method is also great for non-sourdough artisan-style breads, like classic baguettes.) 

You can use the microwave to thaw frozen bread, but that doesn’t mean you should. If you’re in a hurry, wrap single slices of frozen bread or single rolls in a damp paper towel or kitchen towel and microwave for 30 to 45 seconds. While the bread may be soft and steamy at first, make sure to enjoy it right away — your microwaved slice will quickly turn hard and stale as the moisture evaporates. Microwaves also tend to defrost bread unevenly, with some spots overcooking while others are still cold, so it’s not an ideal choice. If you’ve got the time, let your frozen bread thaw on the counter or in the toaster instead.

Cover photo (Extra-Tangy Sourdough Bread) by Patrick Marinello; food styling by Yekaterina Boytsova.