Whether you prefer a rustic farmhouse look or a sleek minimalist kitchen, there’s a bread box to match your style. Our top pick preserves homemade or store-bought bread well, preventing mold growth and staving off staleness.
A transparent lid makes it easy to see what’s inside. Its stainless steel and frosted plexiglass construction withstands smudges while blending in with most kitchen aesthetics.
Size
A corner bread box helps prevent crumbs and mold from ruining fresh, delicious bread. It’s a great addition to any kitchen, especially if you and your family eat a lot of bread. However, choosing the best one requires taking several factors into consideration. To maximize the performance and functionality of your bread box, consider the size, material, lid style, and ventilation of the model you choose.
When shopping for a bread box, first determine how much your household typically eats each week. Then, choose a model that will accommodate your daily consumption. Some models are designed to hold just a single loaf of bread, while others will accommodate two or more, as well as a bag of rolls or a small sleeve of bagels.
Another important factor to consider is the overall size of your countertop. The best bread boxes will fit comfortably on your counter, without overcrowding it. If your counter space is limited, you can also opt for a wall-mounted bread box.
The next thing to consider is the lid style. There are various options, including roll-up, hinged, flip-down, and front lids. The type you choose will directly impact how easily you can access your bread and how much you can stack on top of it. Hinged lids require more space to open and are best suited for open countertops, while rolling up bread boxes can be used with a minimal amount of space. Some models also have flat, wooden lids that double as a cutting board and feature crumb-catching grooves.
Finally, it’s also important to consider how easy the bread box will be to clean. Most models are easy to wipe down and are dishwasher safe, but some models may be more difficult to clean than others. For example, wood can warp or get smudge-marked if not properly cared for, while metal can dent more easily than a glass or ceramic bread keeper. It’s also a good idea to opt for a durable material that will stand up to stains and wear and tear over time, such as stainless steel or a high-density hardwood like olivewood.
Material
A bread storage for homemade loaves might seem like a retro kitchen item suited for log cabins or Colonial Williamsburg, but it’s actually an essential tool that helps preserve the flavor of your home-baked loaves and ward off mold. Unlike airtight plastic bags, which quickly dry out and stale the bread, a well-designed bread box maintains both the moisture in your loaf and enough open space to allow the proper amount of oxygen to reach the inside.
The materials used to make your bread box have an impact on its performance, and different models are available in a variety of finishes and colors. The best models in our tests feature sturdy, durable constructions that are lightweight and easy to clean. Most are made of stainless steel or wood, and some have clear plastic lids that let you easily see how the bread is doing without opening the box.
When choosing the best bread box for your kitchen, you’ll also want to consider the design of the product and whether it will complement the aesthetic of your counters. Look for a sleek, minimalist style that won’t compete with the look of your other kitchen appliances. Most bread boxes require little assembly, but some have hinges or other moving parts that may need extra care to keep working properly over time.
This honey-colored bread box from Simply Gourmet is made of lightweight, sustainable bamboo with a frosted acrylic door that resits smudge marks and allows you to see what’s inside. It looks great and performed very well in our testing, maintaining freshness for five days with a range of breads and rolls.
If you prefer a more contemporary look, opt for a model made of stainless steel with an attractive finish. These durable and versatile boxes tend to have a slightly higher price tag than other types, but they’re still less expensive than most models that offer the same level of functionality. In addition to looking good, these stainless steel bread boxes are also rust-resistant and easy to wipe clean. Some models are even dishwasher safe for added convenience.
Lid Style
Unlike storing bread in plastic bags or leaving it exposed on the counter, a bread box creates an optimal environment for preserving freshness. In addition, the dark interior helps prevent premature spoilage from sunlight exposure. Additionally, a corner bread box can help free up precious countertop space for other kitchen tasks and minimize clutter.
When choosing a bread box, consider its lid style as this will directly impact accessibility and your ability to stack items on top of it. Some bread boxes have a hinged lid that opens up from the side, similar to a cookie jar, while others have a flat lid that lifts off the top, like a lunchbox. If you plan to stack other supplies on top of your bread box, look for one with a flat top that can double as a cutting board.
Some models have a frosted glass or acrylic door that lets you see the contents inside, while others are clear so you can store larger items on top. Depending on your kitchen decor, you might prefer a more neutral look or something that reflects your aesthetic preferences.
The material used to make a bread box also impacts how well it performs. Metal and plastic bread boxes tend to be more airtight than natural wood or bamboo. This can cause mold to form faster, so they might be better suited for households that regularly freeze their bread or use a toaster oven. However, numerous models in our tests had excellent ventilation and kept bread fresh well past their expiration dates.
This model from Joseph Joseph has a curved, square body and a slick exterior that blends in with modern kitchens. Its brushed aluminum finish resists stains and wipes clean easily, making it an excellent choice for busy households. In our testing, this bread box maintained a tight seal to keep out moisture and humidity while allowing a small amount of air to circulate. It’s large enough to fit a couple of large sandwich loaves without squishing them and has an internal shelf for bonus storage space.
Ventilation
A bread box with proper ventilation helps keep crusty loafs and soft baguettes fresh. The airflow prevents condensation and humidity from forming inside the container, which can lead to mold growth or staleness. Well-designed bread boxes have some degree of ventilation, either through a gap in the seam or a dedicated hole. In addition to ventilation, a bread box’s materials will also impact how well it maintains the right moisture level.
The best performing bread boxes have good ventilation and can hold more than one loaf of bread. They are often made from a porous material, such as wood or rattan, so they can absorb the air that helps keep bread moist and soft. They also have a lid that can be opened and closed easily. They may have a hinged lid or a rolling top, depending on the style you choose. Some even have a built-in cutting board for added functionality.
Some bread boxes are designed with helper handles on either side for easy transport and storage on a counter or tabletop. Others, like the Home-it bread box, have a sleek stainless steel design that fits in well with most kitchen styles. This bread box is easy to open and close, and it has a sizeable capacity that can fit large rounds and batards along with sandwich trays and a variety of other baked goods.
Another top performer is the Yamazaki Tosca bread box. This Japanese-designed model is minimalist with a clean line and simple aesthetic. It has a non-slip base and an easy-to-lift bamboo lid that doubles as a cutting board with crumb-catching grooves. It’s tall enough to stack items on top, and its lid lies flat when it’s closed. It’s a bit pricey, but it performs exceptionally well. It has a small ventilation gap to promote airflow, and our testers found it kept a loaf of sourdough fresh for seven days but was slightly less flavorful than the control loaf.
If you love Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Table kitchen, this large rustic farmhouse-style bread box might be perfect for you. It has a roll-up lid that doesn’t require much space, making it ideal for narrow countertop spaces. It’s also available in a black finish that blends in nicely with most kitchen colors and styles. Several recent buyers praised this bread box for its large capacity and stylish looks, saying it was worth the extra cost.