Bread is AMAZING!!! You know it. Come on, even Oprah knows it! And I have to believe that since it’s a long-standing staple for civilization as we know it, other people believe the same thing. It has sustained and satisfied people for millenniums being baked both commercially as well as at home in kitchens just like yours. So, let’s explore some of the benefits that you can gain from baking bread at home.

Does baking my bread at home save money compared to buying it?

The short answer is yes. It monetarily cost less to make your bread.

But, of course, there are always exceptions. Money-saving hacks and methods like riding the wave of sales, using coupons, shopping at membership stores, or ordering online can be a great advantage. There’s always a way to do it.

But what if I want a specialty bread or seasonal selection?

Specialty bread and seasonal selections usually require a different approach. Let’s look at my favorite bread to make: Challah.

Now, up front, I love bakeries. I love them so much that I work at one. But let’s see how we can create that added benefit for your wallet as a home baker. A 1 lb. traditional challah can range from $5 to $15 per loaf. That price is well-founded and includes the refined skill of bakers, energy and effort, packaging and everything it takes for that organization to deliver a fresh and flavorful loaf. So, mad respect. But as a comparison, here’s the Cost Breakdown Benefit Analysis for baking at home.

Traditional Challah Recipe Ingredients

The cost of ingredients as shown are average retail price and works out to be about $1.92 per loaf.

***Note: If you have to stock and purchase these ingredients all at one time and exclusively use them for bread baking in these proportions, the cost is closer to $4.56 per loaf. Changing the quantities, omitting an ingredient, or changing the type of ingredient (organic or local) will also create fluctuations. But the cost breakdown process remains the same.

A Quick Recap

Yes, baking bread at home saves money. You can play around with the price of ingredients to determine just how much money you’re saving.

Is there a health benefit to baking bread at home?

Let’s look at a few factors.

Is Homemade Bread Healthy?

Ingredients

Homemade Bread is highly customizable regarding the quality and quantity of ingredients that you choose. Organic. Whole wheat. Raw Sugar. You name it, the sky’s the limit here. If you don’t like the amount of sugar in the recipe, decrease it. If you prefer to use olive oil over vegetable oil, go for it! Depending on your health consideration, add-ons like seeds, nuts, and fruits can increase the nutritional benefits of the bread. It is also likely that you’ll leave out extenders or preservatives from your recipes that are common for large commercial baking operations. That’s a win!

Personal Health

You can cater to you and your family’s dietary needs and restrictions. Creating bread that is Diabetic-friendly, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Paleo, or a personal choice suitable to your taste is a big benefit to home baking that can keep your family on track to maintaining and meeting their personal health goals.

*As I am not a licensed healthcare professional, be certain to consult with a professional who would be able to give you the greatest guidance on how to craft your recipes to fit your lifestyle.*

How long does bread last?

Well, that all depends on how long you and your family or guests can resist devouring fresh made bread! Can I get an AMEN!?!

No joke, I have a friend who actually hid the fresh bread I gifted him just so his family wouldn’t eat it all before he could get a slice. Yes, fresh bread is just that good!

Keep it fresh

But let’s say that you have bread that you want to store away for now. Then, a short term storage method will come in pretty handy. Just place the completely cooled bread in a:

(Re)seal-able plastic bag
Plastic wrap (double coverage)
A closed paper bag
An airtight container
A bread box, tin, or bread bag
On a cutting board (sliced side down)
In the Microwave ( while not in use:-)
In a cool Dutch Oven (with the lid on)

The method you choose, either commonly used or creative, will depend largely on the type and size of the bread that’s being stored. Simply use what you have available to you now and then make adjustments to your short term storage method depending on your result. Remember to give the bread just a little bit of space to allow for air circulation and avoid wrapping or bagging to tightly as not to smoosh the bread.

Keep it from molding

Always allow fresh-baked bread to cool completely before storage. Otherwise, the bread will create steam and moisture in its’ packaging that can set it up to mold. And the bread will get soggy! Yuck. When the bread is cooled, store in a dry place with an airtight/draft-free method.

Keep it from going stale

When protecting your bread from going stale, you typically want to satisfy 2 main objectives:

Moisture retention
Slowing the chemical process called recrystallization or retrogradation

These objectives can be accomplished through the methods of Short Term Storage at Room Temp 73° F (23° C) or Long Term Storage at Freezing 0° F (-18° C).

Interestingly enough, bread and your refrigerator at 40° F (4° C) don’t really get along so well. Nope, they don’t. The refrigerator will actually accelerate the recrystallization of starch molecules that were once fluid and hydrated during the bread-making process. Refrigeration will create the effect of staleness and should be avoided.

Bonus Benefit

Credit: Chuck Liddy *CLIDDY@NEWSOBSERVER.COM* / News and Observer

How to handle the dreaded empty bread aisle

North Carolina is a beautiful state where we have natural coastlines and breathtaking mountains. Each yeah we enjoy all four distinct seasons that are absolutely lovely. And although it boggles the minds of those who are short tern visitors or people who move from out of state, this is exactly what the bread shelves in grocery stores looked like when a big hurricane or snow+ice event is about to hit. And there might not be another shipment until the storms have cleared.

But you’re not worried. If you even encounter this situation, you know exactly how to handle it! The bread aisle might be ransacked and empty but the eggs, oil, flour, and other ingredients are still well-stocked on the shelves for you to make your best bread at home.

Last things to know

Oh heck yeah, homemade bread can save you money! You’re absolutely in control of what you put into your bread and have a-whole-lot-a freedom to customize whatever you want. Customize the flavors, quantities, and ingredient quality to your lip-smacking taste. Use the method of storage, short or long term, that works best for your needs and capitalize on all the ways that home baking benefits you.

So, let us know. How do you store your bread at home to maximize freshness? Are there more ways to keep it fresher longer? Leave a comment about your style of storage below.