Tag: Mold on bread

According to the USDA, most store-bought bread can last up to a week at room temperature, while homemade bread lasts only 3-4 days. This means that in many cases, 4 day old bread is safe to eat, provided it shows no signs of spoilage. The key to safety lies in a careful sensory check, as mold or a strange odor are definitive signs to discard the entire loaf.

According to a 2021 ReFED report, American households waste an estimated 1.3 million tons of bread and baked goods every year. A common point of confusion is whether bread is still safe to eat if it's not moldy, but past its 'best by' date. While many foods can be salvaged, bread requires a closer inspection beyond just looking for fuzzy spots.

According to the USDA, if a loaf of bread shows any signs of mold, it should be entirely discarded, as the porous nature of bread allows mold to spread invisibly beneath the surface. This is just one of several critical situations when you should not eat sourdough, despite its popular health benefits.