How To Reduce Bread Waste? Tips to Prevent Bread Wastage

No matter which part of the world you live in, the bread will be a staple in your diet. But like most other kinds of foods, bread is also wasted around the world. In fact, 1.7 million tonnes of baked foods are wasted in Germany per year. That makes up for 19% of the total production of bread. In this guide, we’ll take a look at how to reduce bread waste because that is the need of the hour.

So, it’s not hard to see that we are wasting a lot of bread that we produce. Part of the reason why bread wastage is too high is that bread comes in different shapes and sizes. Therefore, it is being used in almost every household. So, when you calculate the total waste, it comes to a huge figure.

If you eat bread at home, there would definitely have been times when you had wasted your leftover toast or buns. So, how can you ensure you do not waste bread? Let’s take a look at some options below.

How to Store Bread Properly?

Part of the reason so much bread is wasted is that it goes stale if it is not stored properly. So, you have to make sure that you are storing the bread properly. Below, we will discuss three main ways to store bread in a way that it does not get stale.

Not In The Fridge

Yes, most things last for a long time in the fridge but it’s not the same for bread. You should not keep your bread in the fridge since it will cause the bread to go stale very quickly. The reason behind this is that storing the bread in the fridge does not keep moisture in it.

Owing to that, the staling process becomes quicker and you will have to waste the food since you cannot eat it. So, if you want to reduce bread waste, make sure you do not put the bread in the fridge.

Keep In The Bread Box

If you do not have a bread box at home, it is about time you invest in one. A bread box will keep the bread safe from staling and will make sure that it lasts for more days. Bread boxes have the right environment for keeping the bread fresh for up to three or more days.

So, instead of keeping the bread in the fridge, you should keep it in a bread box.

Freeze It

If there is any leftover bread that you cannot use at the moment, you should cut it up and keep it in the freezer. Doing so will freeze the bread and prevent it from stalling. Then, when you need to eat the bread, take it out of the freezer and thaw it.

In this way, you do not have to eat the whole loaf at once and you will not have to worry about it going stale either. Make sure to keep it in the freezer and not the fridge.

How To Reduce Bread Waste Through Innovation?

Although you can use some at-home methods to prevent bread wastage, there are also some modern and innovative methods that come in handy. Here are a few of them.

Industrial Innovations

Nowadays, industries do not let bread go to waste. In fact, they use up the wasted breed, ensuring that it is still being used. For instance, bread is used for feeding animals these days.

Some farms even feed bread to their pigs and cows. Also, in industrial settings, bread waste has been utilized to make ethanol in a process called fermentation.

Therefore, this wasted bread can also be used to make biofuel, which is the need of the hour. However, these experiments are still taking place at a lower level but we are hopeful that they will be large-scale enough in the future to provide an approach to preventing bread waste.

Upcycling

While this might be the first time you are hearing about this approach, we can vouch for its effectiveness. Nowadays, there are some startups in different parts of the world that are aimed at reducing bread waste by upcycling it.

Basically, they use the wasted bread to make chips. One of these companies is called Zurichips and is present in Zurich. You can even see their whole process of converting wasted bread into chips. It’s amazing, to say the least.

Tangzhong Method

Although slightly difficult to pronounce, this method is a wonderful approach to preventing the wastage of bread. Most innovations are aimed at using bread that goes to waste. However, this technique ensures a longer lifespan of the bread on the shelf.

For instance, it helps bread retain moisture for longer life to have a longer shelf life. If you want to use this method to prevent waste, you have to mix the flour you use to make bread with water over heat.

Once you notice a gluey texture of the dough, you can add the remaining dough and prepare it normally. In this way, this bread will last for a longer time and you will not have to worry about it going stale too soon.

How To Use Leftover Bread?

Sure enough, the first step is to learn how to reduce bread waste but if you have leftovers at home, you can use them to ensure they do not go to waste. Here are some ways in which you can use the leftover bread at home:

Croutons

Croutons make a perfect snack, especially if you love coffee or tea. All you have to do is take the thicker bread slices and dice them. Then, sprinkle some olive oil on top. If you want to add spices, you can do that too. Finally, bake the bread and you are good to go.

Enjoy the crisp croutons with your morning coffee or just a snack for the evening break from work.

French Toast

French toast is a popular breakfast in many parts of the world. The best thing about making french toast is that you get the best results when you use bread that is going stale. So, if you fear your bread might be going to waste, make french toast for yourself.

Breadcrumbs

If you do not want to make any other recipe, you can also use leftover bread to make breadcrumbs since they are loved by almost everyone. All you have to do is grind the bread and bake it to toast it lightly.

Then, you can add these breadcrumbs to your casserole to make it more crunchy. Or, you can add them as toppings to your pasta or soups. There are so many ways to spice up your basic recipes with bread crumbs if you need a little crunch.

Even better, add breadcrumbs to chicken wings and you will love the flavor of your food.

Beer

This may not be for everyone but if you love making your own beer at home, you can use the wasted bread to make sure you have something to drink for game night. You can get in touch with a local brewery and they may be able to help you out.

Or, you can just watch YouTube tutorials and learn how to make beer from wasted bread.

Tips to Prevent Bread Wastage

If you want to know how to reduce bread waste, you need to make sure you are not making some mistakes. Also, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Depending on the season, do not leave the bread out in the open or fungus might grow on it. Also, do not expose the bread to too much moisture as it will allow the growth of fungus.
• Make sure you only buy the amount of bread you need. If you buy more than you need, it’s likely that you will end up wasting some of it.
• If you think you have bought too much bread, you can make bread pudding for your friends and family instead of wasting the bread.
• Likewise, you might want to drop off some extra bread at the homeless shelter or a local orphanage if you have it in excess at home.

At the end of the day, you need to keep in mind that millions of people in the world are deprived of this staple food that you have an excess of. So, make sure you help anyone you can instead of throwing your extra food down the drain or letting it rot away.

These tips don’t just apply to regular bread but also to other baked goods.

Final Words

Whatever its shape, bread is a common food in the diets of many people. There are several different kinds of flatbread in addition to toast and whole wheat bread. However, bread is one of the foods that is wasted the most.

Never store bread in the refrigerator, regardless of the type. Contrary to what many people think, it won’t keep it fresher for longer. Low temperatures will draw out moisture and hasten staleness.

Store sliced bread at room temperature in its original container. After two to three days, if there are still a few slices left, just store them in the freezer and eat them afterward.

Bakery loaves have a shorter shelf life and will stale and dry up considerably more quickly without additives. It turns out that bakers actually use those brown paper bags for a reason: they actually absorb extra moisture and keep the surface from becoming hard, so your bread should stay fresh for a few days.

Frequently Asked Questions