Kitchen Design
Kitchen Accessory: The Breadbox
The breadbox — freestanding or built-in — still has a place in the modern kitchen
Did you know that those crusty loaves of bread you love are best stored in a breadbox? It's true. The breadbox may sound like a kitchen relic from the Mad Men era, but it's actually a purposeful storage solution, even in a modern kitchen.
You may think you should stick everything you don't want to get moldy into the refrigerator. But refrigerators are actually not the best places to store bread. The cold temperature dries out the bread and make it taste stale sooner than if you kept it at room temperature in a breadbox.
It's best to keep your breadbox on the countertop or, if you're lucky, have it custom-built into your cabinetry. Get some ideas for adding this time-tested helper to your kitchen.
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You may think you should stick everything you don't want to get moldy into the refrigerator. But refrigerators are actually not the best places to store bread. The cold temperature dries out the bread and make it taste stale sooner than if you kept it at room temperature in a breadbox.
It's best to keep your breadbox on the countertop or, if you're lucky, have it custom-built into your cabinetry. Get some ideas for adding this time-tested helper to your kitchen.
Browse kitchen photos
This breadbox built into the corner of the kitchen cabinetry makes clever use of an awkward space.
This classic kitchen has a breadbox built into the cabinetry. Flip up the cabinet door on the left for fresh bread.
Tip: Fragrance from the dish soap you use to clean the breadbox may transfer to your bread. Keep your breadbox clean using a fragrance-free solution of baking soda and water.
Tip: Fragrance from the dish soap you use to clean the breadbox may transfer to your bread. Keep your breadbox clean using a fragrance-free solution of baking soda and water.
I spy a breadbox built into the cabinetry to the right of the refrigerator. But I also see baskets of bread in these drawers. To keep bread fresher longer, you want to be sure the bread is wrapped inside the breadbox.
Tip: Don't store your bread on top of the refrigerator; that spot gets too warm and can turn your bread moldy.
Tip: Don't store your bread on top of the refrigerator; that spot gets too warm and can turn your bread moldy.
Here is another corner breadbox that takes up a small footprint on the counter and maximizes an awkward space.
I love this metal breadbox on the counter. The typography feels retro and adds style to the counter (while keeping your bread fresh!).
A metal box like this one is a great choice for a breadbox because the metal is moisture resistant and cleans easily.
A metal box like this one is a great choice for a breadbox because the metal is moisture resistant and cleans easily.
This metal breadbox fits right in with the vintage accents of this kitchen, including schoolhouse light fixtures and industrial stools.
Wow, what a cool modern design for a breadbox! This would be my pick if I could design a breadbox for my kitchen. I love how this breadbox saves on counter space, since the box is built into the kitchen counter.
Note: The bread here is unwrapped for the photo; be sure to wrap any bread you store in a breadbox. If you want to keep your bread around longer than a few days, you'll need to wrap it up tightly and freeze it. Frozen bread will stay good for up to three months. But the frozen bread will only taste as fresh as it did when you put it in the freezer — so be sure to freeze fresh-baked bread you don't plan to eat right away.
More: Browse breadboxes
How to Set Up Your Kitchen
Baking Stations Make Cooking More Fun
Note: The bread here is unwrapped for the photo; be sure to wrap any bread you store in a breadbox. If you want to keep your bread around longer than a few days, you'll need to wrap it up tightly and freeze it. Frozen bread will stay good for up to three months. But the frozen bread will only taste as fresh as it did when you put it in the freezer — so be sure to freeze fresh-baked bread you don't plan to eat right away.
More: Browse breadboxes
How to Set Up Your Kitchen
Baking Stations Make Cooking More Fun