Italian Bread

Store at room temperature in a paper bag or breadbox to keep the crust crispy. Refrigeration accelerates staling. Freeze whole or sliced for longer storage; thaw at room temperature or toast from frozen.

Refresh day-old bread by spritzing with water and warming in a 350°F oven for 5–10 minutes to revive the crust.

Italian bread is ideal for making bruschetta, garlic bread, croutons, or breadcrumbs when it starts to stale.

Slice against the grain for a cleaner cut and better sandwich structure.

Serve at room temperature or lightly warmed for best flavor and texture.

Storing in plastic bags, which traps steam and softens the crust.

Refrigerating the bread, which causes it to dry out and stale faster.

Cutting while still warm, which can compress the crumb and cause it to crumble.