Use This and You’ll Never Throw Out Stale Bread Again

As my New York-Italian family always says, “It’s not a meal without bread.” Between all the loaves I bake from scratch and the bagels, muffins, and pastries I hoard from local bakeries, it’s clear I take that sentiment seriously.  But with baked goods comes mold and staleness, and I hate throwing out food. I was skeptical that a bread box was a functional kitchen tool, but seven years after buying my first, I’m convinced. All my baked goods last nearly a week longer. Bread boxes work because the enclosed space becomes a controlled environment regulating the humidity inside. It traps some moisture, keeping the bread from going stale as quickly, but allows for that air to circulate and slowly escape so that it doesn’t stay damp enough to grow mold. Whether homemade or store-bought, keep your bread tasty longer with one of the boxes below. 

_{Prices are accurate as of February 25, 2025. Subject to change.}

Brabantia Fall Front Bread Box

The Belgian-made Brabantia has a build quality that most other bread boxes could only dream of. Its stainless steel construction practically shouts sturdiness, which is the only noise it makes. Utterly silently, noise-damping materials do an excellent job of keeping the door clatter-free when opening or closing, and a magnetic seal keeps the door tightly shut when down. It’ll hold two large bread loaves, plus a few odds and ends, such as English muffins and croissants.

Oggi Stainless Steel Roll-Top Bread Box

Enraptured by the Brabantia’s gleaming stainless steel, but wish for a more affordable price tag? The Oggi offers premium stainless steel materials with the option of a stainless steel, bamboo, or frosted plexiglass lid. At 15 inches long, you could fit a couple of loaves in the Oggi if you stack them and if the one on top isn’t too wide. Stack smaller baked goods, such as cookies and bagels, in the remaining room.

Culinary Couture White Bread Box

Going for a rustic look in your kitchen? You need the sort of bread box you’d have seen on the countertop of a country farmhouse back before stainless steel was even invented. The Culinary Couture’s white-painted steel leans heavily into the vintage look, and its bamboo lid doubles as a cutting board for your bread loaves. It’s sized perfectly to hold one typical loaf of bread, although you may be able to fit in a few cookies. You know, just for emergencies when you need a quick treat.

Williams Sonoma Walnut Bread Box

Solid walnut wood frames this exclusive bread box available only at Williams Sonoma. The dark, reddish-brown hue displays a wonderfully varied and natural wood grain. Steal a quick glance at its contents through the clear, sliding lid to know whenever you’re running low on ciabatta, sourdough, or whichever two loaves you’ve tucked inside. There’s an olivewood version for $200 if you’d prefer a lighter shade.

Homekoko Bamboo Two-Tier Bread Box

Larger families seem to go through bread as quickly as they go through drinking water. This solid bamboo bread box doubles the amount of space available for loaves compared to most without increasing its footprint on your countertop. Both windowed lids flip downward on simple hinges and let the whole family see what goodies are inside for the taking.

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