Now that I do not have trash pickup, I am trying to keep away from plastics. We do not have a reliable recyling center for plastics. I have a problem keeping my home baked bread fresh. I have looked in a lot of books but have been unable to find a workable method. A book of World War II cookery suggested wrapping the bread tightly in waxed paper but I can't get the bread to stay wrapped. Has anyone found a solution?

-- Cheryl (bramblecottage@hotmail.com), October 29, 2000

Answers

Don't give up your plastics, just reuse them! I keep homemade bread fresh for up to a week in zip-lock freezer bags, they come in a 2 gallon size, and the freezer version is heavier and stands up to repeated ( I mean dozens)of washings, hand washing, not the machine. Yes, they are a pain to dry, but standing them open on the counter works fine. Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), October 29, 2000.

I know this is plastic, but a tupperware type container in the right shape would do the trick! They last until the next millenium if you take care of them;much less waste in the long run than any other wrappers.

-- maureenb (firegirl102@hotmail.com), October 29, 2000.

Cheryl, I'm glad you sked this question. I'm trying to get rid of plastics where food is concerned, because chemicals leech into the food. The thinner the plastic, the worse the problem. Hope someone has the answer.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), October 29, 2000.

I use a large rubbermade container. It is large and rectangular. I can get 2 loaves in it. I usually make 3 loaves and wrap one in foil. I use the foil wrapped one first. If I'm careful I can re use the foil too!

-- Denise (jphammock@msn.com), October 29, 2000.

I have used plastic bags but I have a cat that chews thru them. She loves baked goods. I do not like tupperware or rubbermade because it only takes one loaf of bread that begins to mold and from then on, all the loaves mold. I have used these products in the past and tried cleaning them with bleach etc. Once those mold spores are there, it is a lost cause. Foil will only keep the bread nice for about a day. So, as you can see, I have really thought and worked on this one. I can still use ideas. Thanks

-- Cheryl (bramblecottage@hotmail.com), October 29, 2000.

Cheryl, somewhere I saw a catalog that carried wax paper bags/sacks like what we buy baked goods in, but I don't remember where it was I saw them! Sounds like those would be better for us than plastics, however parafin wax is also made from petroleum products, like plastics are, so I don't really know now which would be better! Perhaps someone else has the answer. Annie in SE OH.

-- Annie Miller (annie@1st.net), October 29, 2000.

When I was shopping at the Backerie where I lived in germany, I had really good luck keeping my baked goods in a paper bag inside of a plastic bad. Their breds went stale quickly and this extended the shelf life considerably.

-- Chris Stogdill (cstogdill@rmci.net), October 30, 2000.

I keep my bread, wrapped in waxed deli paper, in an old metal 'bread box' with an oak bottom. It lasts nicely for a few days.

-- Kathy (catfish@bestweb.net), October 30, 2000.

I just keep it in a plastic bag in the refrigerator and take it out about a half hour before the meal. The same with butter.

-- Sandy (smd2@netzero.net), October 31, 2000.

I keep my bread in a pillow case type of situation - it works great

-- kelly (kellytree@hotmail.com), November 02, 2000.

I bake about 5 loaves plus several dozen biscuits and rolls every week. My family will eat a loaf at one meal. I take out of the oven and allow to cool completely on wire racks on the counter. I then put into zip lock bags and keep in the extra fridge. They will keep at least a couple of weeks before beginning to mold (if it ever lasts that long).

As far as washing plastics bags goes. I turn them wrong side out and throw in the washer with the cloth napkins. When done I hang from clip type hangers, open end down, and allow to air dry hanging from a rod over the guest tub.

-- Viv in TX (kudzu1@webtv.net), November 02, 2000.

When I was a young girl we kept the bread in a large "stone" crock with a tea towel laid over the top. It worked well as long as we used the bread in a timely manner. From time to time that crock was washed and placed in the sun.

-- martha gainer (2oldcrows@desoto.net), November 03, 2000.

A glass cake tray like restaurants use ???

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), November 04, 2000.

my grandmother used waxed paper, folded it up with neat mitred corners like a christmas present, and put a rubber band around the whole thing, popped into the bread box (metal). Always seemed to work for her. I use the wax paper and then usually wrap it in foil. When I do bake bread, it doesn't seem to last long enough to get stale.

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), November 04, 2000.