Store-bought bread keeps for 14 to 18 days in the pantry. Frozen, it keeps its best quality for 3 to 5 months.
Storage times
| Bread | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Store-bought bread, rolls, buns and flat breads | 14 to 18 days | 2 to 3 weeks (once opened) | 3 to 5 months |
| Whole-wheat bread, store-bought pre-sliced | 3 to 5 days | Not recommended | 3 months |
| Whole-wheat bread, homemade | 3 to 5 days | Not recommended | 3 months |
Fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below, freezer at 0°F (−18°C) or below. Freezer times are for best quality only: food kept frozen at 0°F (−18°C) or below stays safe indefinitely. A dash means the source gives no time.
Storage tips
- Pantry times count from the day you buy it.
- Homemade bread may go off sooner because it has no preservatives.
- FoodKeeper doesn't recommend refrigerating whole-wheat bread: it dries out and goes stale quickly. Freeze it instead.
Signs it's gone off
- Bread with any mold: throw it out. Bread is porous, so mold can reach well below the spot you see.
Common questions
How long does bread last?
Store-bought bread keeps for 14 to 18 days in the pantry, according to USDA FoodKeeper. Whole-wheat and homemade bread keep for 3 to 5 days.
Can you cut mold off bread?
No. USDA advises throwing out moldy bread, because it's porous and mold can spread below the surface.
Should you keep bread in the fridge?
Store-bought bread keeps 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge once opened, but FoodKeeper doesn't recommend refrigerating whole-wheat bread because it goes stale. The freezer is a better bet.
Sources
- USDA FoodKeeper (FSIS, Cornell University and the Food Marketing Institute)
- USDA FSIS, Molds on Food: Are They Dangerous?
Guidance, not a guarantee. These times come from US government food safety sources and assume food was handled and stored safely. Always follow the date and instructions on the package, check food before you eat it, and when in doubt, throw it out. This page isn't medical advice.
