5 Tips on Storing Garlic Bread & More

Let’s take a close look at the best way to store garlic bread.

How to store garlic bread:

Garlic bread is best stored at room temperature for one to two days.
Garlic bread can be stored in the refrigerator but dries out easily.
Garlic bread can be stored in the freezer up to three months.
Store garlic bread wrapped.
Garlic cheese bread’s storage depends on the cheese used.

As a Certified Health Coach many clients ask me about food storage including garlic bread. Therefore, I have researched this topic in the past and present. Let’s examine the methods closely.

Garlic bread on a plate. — Garlic bread on a plate

1. Storing Garlic Bread at Room Temperature

Garlic bread contains butter, therefore a common question is, can garlic bread be left at room temperature or overnight?

Garlic bread may be stored at room temperature or overnight for one to two days. The USDA states butter left at room temperature should be used within one or two days before the flavor turns rancid. Bread maintains its moist fresh taste best when kept at room temperature.

The bread should be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or foil to keep the air out and from drying the bread.

A bread box is a cool, dry and dark place to store bread so it doesn’t dry out. However, just enough air can circulate to keep humidity out. You don’t have to wrap the bread before placing it in a bread box. The buttered garlic bread should only be kept there for a day or two.

Disclaimer: Some links in this article are affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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You might think the butter in garlic bread becomes rancid if you leave the bread sitting out. That’s what I original thought. But, the US Department of Agriculture assures us butter and margarine are safe at room temperature.

However, it should be used within a day or two because the flavor can turn rancid¹. Even though it’s unrecommended, if margarine is used for garlic bread, it can separate into oil or water and solids when it’s unrefrigerated.

For keeping garlic bread longer than a few days, keep reading the next few sections below.

Keto Bread Tip: Great News! Did you know, you don’t have to give up your favorite bread, pizza or sandwiches to follow a 100% Keto diet. Find out more in the KetoBreads website by clicking here, Keto Breads.

2. Storing Garlic Bread In the Refrigerator

Store garlic bread in the refrigerator to extend the freshness. While room temperature may be best for the first few days, if the weather is hot and humid, move it to the refrigerator sooner. In addition, the butter will start turning.

However, bread will dry out in the refrigerator and absorb other flavors if it’s not tightly wrapped. That’s true of leftover garlic bread, so if you want it to taste good the next day, don’t leave it open to the cold air. The best way to wrap it is using a good plastic wrap sealed tightly around the bread.

If you need to store it for a more extended period, read the next section about freezing. Fresh garlic bread will not last as long in the fridge as store bought bread. Store bought bread contains preservatives which allows it to last longer.

Have you ever thought about making your own garlic bread starting with the bread first? Using homemade bread elevates garlic bread to a different level. Check out some affordable bread makers on Amazon, Bread Makers.

3. Freezing Garlic Bread

Some people may want to skip the refrigerator because of the bread drying out or the need to store the garlic bread longer. Many people ask, can I freeze cooked garlic bread?

Cooked garlic bread can be placed into the freezer and frozen for up to three months. The garlic bread should be cooled, wrapped in plastic wrap, placed into a freezer bag and the excess air removed.

How to freeze garlic bread:

Allow the bread to cool preventing condensation.
Wrap the bread tightly with plastic wrap.
Place the wrapped garlic bread into a plastic freezer bag.
Remove the excess air and seal the bag.
Date the bag.
Store the bag in the freezer for up to three months.

Wrapping the bread with plastic wrap is crucial for avoiding air gaps which may cause freezer burn. If you wish to freeze the bread in slices for individual servings, you’ll need to modify the process.

How to freeze slices of garlic bread:

Place the slices of garlic bread spaced out onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Place the cookie sheet into the freezer.
Once frozen remove the cookie sheet.
Wrap each slice tightly with plastic wrap.
Place the frozen garlic bread slices into a plastic freezer bag.
Remove the excess air from the bag and seal.
Date the bag.
Store the bag in the freezer for up to three months.

How Do You Defrost Garlic Bread Without Destroying It?

Frozen garlic bread may be frosted in five ways:

Move the frozen garlic bread to the refrigerator until it thaws.
Place the frozen garlic bread on the counter until it thaws.
Bake frozen garlic bread slices in the oven at 350 degrees for a two minutes.
Place frozen garlic bread slices in the microwave for 20 seconds.
Bake a defrosted loaf of garlic bread in the oven at 350 degrees for about ten minutes.

The more fresh the bread is before freezing it, the more fresh it will be once it’s defrosted. Freezing sliced bread will speed up the defrosting process. Do not refreeze defrosted bread.

4. Storing Garlic Bread Wrapped

Plastic wrap works best because you want a tight seal around the garlic bread. Plastic wraps mold to the bread which keeps out air. Ziplock freezer bags can work if you extract as much air as possible and you zip it closed.

It is recommended to wrap the bread first, then place it into a freezer bag. Many people like wrapping the bread in foil. Can use freeze garlic bread in foil?

Garlic bread can be frozen in foil but it makes it harder to remove the air and may cause air pockets which should be avoided. Be careful not to tear the foil leaving the bread exposed to the air.

Be a little kinder to the environment by using biodegradable household products. For example, there are storage wraps and bags on the market not made from plastic and are reusable. Some are made from silicon and some from cotton.

Some people use beeswax for wrapping bread because it’s available in rolls which can bind tightly. It seals tightly to keep the air out and freshness in. And, of course, it’s reusable. Beeswax storage is also available in bags, but for wrapping bread, rolls are better.

You can find plastic containers shaped to fit a bread loaf and seal tightly. Plastic allows moisture to build up, leading to mold. There are good bread boxes available for storing garlic bread at room temperature.

The best way to store garlic bread short-term is at room temperature in a cool dark room. For storage beyond a few days, the freezer is the best option over the refrigerator².

5. Storing Garlic Cheese Bread

Who doesn’t love garlic bread with cheese melted on top? For some, the more cheese the better. This creates another question, does garlic cheese bread need to be refrigerated?

Garlic cheese bread needs to be refrigerated if it’s made with soft cheeses. If the garlic bread is made with a hard cheese, it can be left at room temperature for one to two days.

Typically, most garlic bread cheeses are mozzarella, cheddar or parmesan³. The following lists show different cheeses and their hardness.

Soft Cheeses:

Brie
Cottage Cheese
Cream Cheese
Ricotta
Feta
Camembert

Semi-soft Cheeses:

Brick
Blue
Monterey Jack
Mozzarella
Muenster
Provolone
Havarti

Hard Cheeses:

Cheddar
Swiss
Gouda
Edam
Colby

Very Hard Cheeses:

Parmesan
Romano

Garlic cheese bread made with hard cheeses can be frozen, but there will be changes in the cheese’s texture affecting the quality.

The slower cheese is thawed the better so it won’t lose its moisture⁴. Therefore, the best way to defrost frozen garlic cheese bread is to place it in the refrigerator until it is thawed.

Check out my article about six cheeses not requiring refrigeration. You’ll find them interesting. Check out the article by clicking here, 6 Cheeses That Can Be Left Unrefrigerated.

Store Bought Garlic Bread

Frozen garlic bread from the store should remain frozen until used.
Cooked store bought garlic bread can remain at room temperature for one to two days.
Cooked store bought garlic bread can be frozen for up to three months.
Store bought garlic bread remains fresh up to the best used by date on the package⁵.

Use Garlic Bread Before It Loses Its Flavor

What if you don’t use your garlic bread right away? It could lose its flavor because if garlic sits out or is not sealed properly, it can quickly lose its pungent flavor and aroma⁶.

Therefore, use up the garlic bread soon, or you could end up with stale, bland bread. If it’s impossible to use the bread quickly, freezing it as soon as possible will preserve its flavor the best.

Gluten Free Garlic Bread Storage

If you have celiac disease or choose to eat gluten free, you may want to know how to store gluten free garlic bread?

Gluten free garlic bread can be stored the same as regular garlic bread. It can be left at room temperature for one day or stored in the freezer for up to three months. It can be refrigerated for the short term but may dry out faster.

Follow all the garlic bread tips earlier in this article for gluten free bread garlic bread.

If you have any questions to ask me about this article don’t hesitate to comment below or email us. You can find an email on our contact page.