How long does bread last?

Checked 24 Oct 20266 official publishers, 9 sources

Store-bought: 2-3 weeks in the fridge, 3 months in the freezer for best quality and 5 days in the pantry.

Official stance

“Canning Bread and Cake is Unsafe ... it does not destroy the organism that causes botulism.” Extension

Storage times for bread by state and place
State	Pantry	Fridge 40 °F	Freezer 0 °F
Store-bought	5 days Extension Sources disagree: 14-18 days FoodKeeper Extension	2-3 weeks FoodKeeper Extension	3 months best quality Extension Sources disagree: 3-5 months FoodKeeper Extension
Bought frozen	Not stated	Not stated	6 months best quality Extension
Homemade	3-5 days FoodKeeper Extension	2-3 months FoodKeeper	3 months best quality Extension
Whole wheat, homemade	3-5 days FoodKeeper	Not stated	3 months best quality FoodKeeper
Whole wheat, store-bought sliced	3-5 days FoodKeeper	Not stated	3 months best quality FoodKeeper
Yeast dough, unbaked	Not stated	Not stated	1 month best quality Extension
Quick bread, baked	Not stated	Not stated	2-3 months best quality Extension

Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Sources compared

Source	State	Pantry	Fridge	Freezer
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018	Store-bought	14-18 days	2-3 weeks	3-5 months
Nebraska Extension	Store-bought	14-18 days	2-3 weeks	3-5 months
Utah State University Extension	Store-bought	5 days	-	-
University of Illinois Extension	Store-bought	-	-	3 months
Utah State University Extension	Bought frozen	-	-	6 months
Nebraska Extension	Homemade	3-5 days	-	-
University of Illinois Extension	Homemade	-	-	3 months
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018	Homemade	3-5 days	2-3 months	-
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018	Whole wheat, homemade	3-5 days	-	3 months
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018	Whole wheat, store-bought sliced	3-5 days	-	3 months
University of Illinois Extension	Yeast dough, unbaked	-	-	1 month
University of Illinois Extension	Quick bread, baked	-	-	2-3 months

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

May have shorter shelf life due to lack of preservatives. FoodKeeper
May have shorter shelf life due to lack of preservatives. FoodKeeper
Refrigeration not recommended - bread will quickly dry out and become stale. FoodKeeper
Refrigeration not recommended - bread will quickly dry out and become stale. FoodKeeper
“Freezing does not refresh baked goods; it can only maintain whatever the quality of the food was before freezing.” Extension
“Precooked breads, cakes and cookies can be thawed at room temperature.” Extension
“Use one cutting board or plate for raw meat, poultry, and seafood and a separate cutting board or plate for produce, bread, and other foods” CDC

What the sources say

For store-bought bread, rolls, buns and flat breads, FoodKeeper and the Nebraska Extension chart give the same three times: 14 to 18 days in the pantry, 2 to 3 weeks in the fridge and 3 to 5 months in the freezer.¹²

FoodKeeper counts that fridge time from when the package is opened.¹

Utah State University Extension is far more cautious for fresh purchased bread kept in its original container at 70 °F, listing 5 days.³

Utah State also gives 6 months at 0 °F for bread that was bought frozen.³

The University of Illinois Extension freezer chart lists 3 months for bread, whether commercial or homemade, and suggests freezing it in a heavy-duty freezer bag.⁴

Homemade bread keeps 3 to 5 days in the pantry in both FoodKeeper and the Nebraska chart, and FoodKeeper notes it may have a shorter shelf life because it lacks preservatives.⁵²

FoodKeeper treats whole wheat bread on its own: homemade or commercially baked and pre-sliced, it lists 3 to 5 days in the pantry and 3 months in the freezer, and it does not recommend the fridge because the bread will quickly dry out and become stale.⁶⁷

Its separate entry for homemade bread in general gives 2 to 3 months in the fridge instead.⁵

For baking ahead, the Illinois chart gives 1 month for unbaked yeast bread and roll dough and 2 to 3 months for baked quick bread and muffins, and it notes that freezing cannot refresh baked goods, only keep the quality they had before freezing.⁴

The National Center for Home Food Preservation says precooked breads can be thawed at room temperature.⁸

Utah State University Extension warns that canning bread is unsafe, because the process does not destroy the organism that causes botulism.³

CDC advises keeping one cutting board or plate for raw meat, poultry and seafood and a separate one for bread, produce and other foods that will not be cooked.⁹

Rules that apply here

Freezing and refreezing Thawing safely Best-by and use-by dates

Cake Pizza Pumpkin pie

Sources

USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 195: Commercial bread products, including pan breads, flat breads, rolls, and buns. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Commercial bread products, including pan breads, flat breads, rolls, and buns. DOP_Pantry: 14-18 Days; Refrigerate_After_Opening: 2-3 Weeks; DOP_Freeze: 3-5 Months
Home Food Storage | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Bread products, baked commercially such as bread, flat breads, rolls, buns, etc. 14 to 18 daysBread products, baked commercially such as bread, flat breads, rolls, buns, etc. 14 to 18 days 2 to 3 weeksBread products, baked commercially such as bread, flat breads, rolls, buns, etc. 14 to 18 days 2 to 3 weeks 3 to 5 monthsBread, homemade 3 to 5 days
Food Storage in Home | USU. Utah State University Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Bread fresh purchased original container 70°F basement 5 daysBread frozen purchased original container 0°F freezer 6 monthsCanning Bread and Cake is Unsafe ... it does not destroy the organism that causes botulism.
Freezer Storage | Food Safety | Illinois Extension | Illinois. University of Illinois Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Bread 3 months; freeze commercial or homemade bread in a heavy-duty freezer bag.Yeast Bread and Roll Dough (unbaked) 1 monthQuick Bread and Muffins (baked) 2 to 3 monthsFreezing does not refresh baked goods; it can only maintain whatever the quality of the food was before freezing.
USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 574: Bread, homemade. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Bread, homemade. Pantry: 3-5 Days (May have shorter shelf life due to lack of preservatives.); Refrigerate: 2-3 Months
USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 460: Whole wheat bread, homemade. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Whole wheat bread, homemade. Pantry: 3-5 Days (May have shorter shelf life due to lack of preservatives.); Refrigerate: - (Refrigeration not recommended - bread will quickly dry out and become stale.); Freeze: 3 Months
USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 461: Whole wheat bread, commercially baked & pre-sliced. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Whole wheat bread, commercially baked & pre-sliced. Pantry: 3-5 Days; Refrigerate: - (Refrigeration not recommended - bread will quickly dry out and become stale.); Freeze: 3 Months
Thawing and Preparing Foods for Serving - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Precooked breads, cakes and cookies can be thawed at room temperature.
Preventing Food Poisoning | Food Safety | CDC. CDC. Dated 2025-11-24. Checked 2026-10-24. Use one cutting board or plate for raw meat, poultry, and seafood and a separate cutting board or plate for produce, bread, and other foods
REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.