When someone brings a bread machine into the kitchen, two common concerns usually come up.
One worry is that homemade bread will become irresistible and lead to overindulgence. The other is the opposite: that you won’t be able to eat the loaves fast enough and they’ll go stale, wasting time and ingredients.
Let’s address both of these concerns.
Fear One – I’ll eat too much bread.
Yes, the first few loaves are a bit of a novelty and you’ll likely indulge more than usual. The smell of fresh bread is hard to resist, and freshly baked slices are a treat. However, that initial enthusiasm settles down after a couple of loaves. You’ll still appreciate the aroma and flavor, you’ll prefer fresh homemade bread over store-bought, and you may start experimenting with rolls and buns—but it won’t lead to constant overconsumption.
Fear Two – The bread will go bad before I can eat it all.
This is easy to prevent. Allow the loaf to cool completely, then slice it all at once. Place the slices in a resealable plastic bag and store them in the freezer.
When you want a slice, remove the number you need from the freezer and toast them directly. Most modern toasters will both thaw and toast a frozen slice in one cycle. If your toaster needs more time, a second cycle will finish the job. Either way, frozen slices retain the flavor and texture of fresh bread, so you avoid waste without sacrificing quality.