The challah bread is one of the most delicious bread varieties and is made from extra fat and eggs, which gives it a smooth and luscious texture. These ingredients make the bread heavy to consume at once, which is why proper storage is enough to keep the bread fresh, so you can eat it later. With this article, we are sharing different storage methods depending on how long you want to store it.
How To Keep Challah Fresh?
- Airtight Containers
The airtight containers are perfect if you want to store the challah bread for two to seven tights. In addition to airtight containers, you can use ziplock bags. These containers and bags can be used to store the entire loaf of challah bread at once. These products help protect the bread from moisture and mold – the moisture can result in mold development and spoil the bread. So, it doesn’t matter if you use the ziplock bag or an airtight container, it will be able to keep the challah bread safe from moisture and bacteria spores. Also, the bags are recommended if you have space constraints because containers can consume more space.
- Freezing
If you want to store the challah bread for over two to three months, you can opt for freezing. That’s because freezing helps store the bread for over three months and protects it from contamination. For this purpose, you have to wrap the bread in aluminum foil or plastic cling wrap as it seals the bread and makes it suitable for long-term storage. It’s actually a reliable way of retaining the bread’s freshness. Freezing the challah bread helps preserve the flavor as well as the texture but the bread shouldn’t come in touch with other food items in the freezer.
Reheating The Challah Bread
Now that we have mentioned how to store the challah bread for over three months, it’s needless to say that you will have to reheat the bread to make sure it’s soft and hot to enjoy. In addition, incorrect reheating will make the bread soggy. So, in the section below, we are sharing different reheating methods;
- Using The Microwave Oven
First of all, you can use the microwave oven to reheat the frozen challah bread but you have to follow the below-mentioned steps to ensure the ice crystals don’t make the bread soggy;
- First of all, you’ve to dampen the paper towel and put it on the top of challah bread
- Put the plate in the microwave oven and select the low heat setting
- Then, set the timer for fifteen seconds and the bread will be fresh to eat
- Using The Toaster Oven
Another method that you can try to reheat the challah bread is to use the toaster oven. However, you will need to slice the bread to make sure it fits in the toaster oven. Once done, follow the below-mentioned instructions;
- The first step is to slice the bread and put the slices in the toaster oven
- Select the medium temperature setting
- Toast the bread for a minute and you will be done
- Using The Oven
The third and last method of reheating challah bread is to use the oven. The oven makes sure that the bread is soft inside and crispy on the outside. Now, follow the step-by-step guide below;
- Set the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for preheating the oven
- Cover the baking tray with aluminum foil and put it in for five to ten minutes (using the aluminum foil will help prevent the browning of the bread top)
The Don’ts Of Storing & Reheating The Challah Bread
Now that we have mentioned the right way of storing and reheating the challah, it’s important to understand the don’ts to prevent spoilage of the bread, such as;
- It’s common for people to refrigerate the bread to extend its shelf life but you should not refrigerate the challah bread as it can make it soggy
- Secondly, when you have to wrap the bread, make sure you don’t wrap it loosely. Instead, you must wrap it tightly to preserve the bread’s moisture and flavor
- Last but not least, never put the bread in the oven without preheating as it can burn the bread