There’s nothing worse than bringing bread home from the grocery store, only to find out that it’s moldy a few days later. You looked at the best-by date on the package and bought accordingly, so what gives? Instead of a nice buttery piece of toast for breakfast, you’re scrounging in the pantry for an old granola bar that may or may not crack your teeth when you bite into it.
It’s disappointing to have to abandon your morning toast or your midday sandwich, but there’s a simple hack that could potentially prevent it from happening again—and everything you need might already be in your refrigerator. To get to the bottom of this nifty little trick, we consulted Brian Chau, a food scientist and systems analyst who founded Chau Time, a consultancy that helps clients navigate R&D, safety and regulatory compliance. Keep reading to learn more.
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How long should bread last?
It depends on the type of bread, but generally speaking, Chau says shelf-stable bread like you buy in the store can last up to two weeks on the counter. This is different from fresh, homemade bread, which is lucky to last a few days.
Chau says two things can happen to your bread after bringing it home: Either it goes stale or it molds. “Staling is caused naturally, as moisture leaves the bread and dries it out,” he says. The staling process begins the night you open the package, or within a week of it sitting out on the counter unopened at room temperature. How fast it goes stale depends on a few conditions, such as the type of bread, the preservatives used and the type of packaging it comes in.
Moldy bread is a separate issue. “The process of staling is different from mold growth,” he says. “Bread that goes stale does not increase the chances of mold growth.” Chau says storing bread in the fridge can delay mold issues by up to two additional weeks, but it can lead to your bread going stale faster. If you freeze your bread, neither mold nor staleness should be an issue.
What speeds up the decline of bread?
It’s all about the moisture, according to Chau. Too little of it and your bread will dry out; too much of it and your bread goes moldy as the fungus feeds off the bread’s starch and sugar. If you live in a humid climate, your bread may mold faster than if you live in a drier one, and periods of higher humidity, like summer, can also accelerate the process. “High humidity in the environment and the inherently high moisture content of bread lend themselves to higher chances of mold over time,” he says.
In contrast, if you live in a drier climate you might see your bread go stale faster.
What’s the trick that can make bread last longer?
Believe it or not, it’s all about celery! This common vegetable holds the secret to keeping bread fresher longer on the counter. Celery stalks, which are high in moisture, can help keep your bread from going stale (although it can’t prevent mold).
Why does this work?
Celery helps bread last longer due to its high moisture content. The technical term for staling is called “retrogradation,” which means that the starch in bread starts to push the water out, drying it up. “Adding celery to increase the relative humidity inside the bag slows down staling issues,” Chau says.
The celery trick will work across any bread product, as long as the celery is fresh and not dried out, Chau says, and you can add it to all your bakery products, including tortillas and bagels. Chau suggests using a pre-washed celery root with the leaves cut off if you want to try it.
The only potential negative result is that your food might taste like celery if you let it touch the bread, but scientifically, there’s “no inherent harm” in trying this trick, Chau says. You’ll have to decide if the celery flavor is a deal-breaker. It’s probably OK for your sandwich, but maybe not for your kid’s quesadilla.
One important note before you try this trick: If your bread bag already has condensation inside, skip the celery stalk—this means your bread is on its way to developing mold, Chau says. To prevent condensation from forming, he says to store bread in the freezer.
Will this revive stale bread?
When it comes to reviving stale bread with celery, Chau says it’s possible to slightly revive bread that is going stale by adding a fresh, moist stalk to the bag. However, his preferred method of reviving bread is to moisten it with water directly, and his preferred storage place is the freezer to keep it from happening in the first place.
Does this celery trick work with any other pantry products?
The moisture in a fresh celery stalk can help other pantry products from going stale too quickly, such as:
- Brown sugar
- Baked goods like cookies
- Other bread products like pita bread, naan, English muffins and corn bread
Be aware, however, that this celery trick won’t help hard items like crackers and chips. These items go stale (aka limp) from too much moisture.
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Source:
- Brian Chau, founder and principal food scientist at Chau Time; interviewed, August 2025
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