Five Ways To Naturally Keep Baked Goods Fresher Longer

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Why do bakery cookies last all week while yours go stale in a day? Well, a lot of places pump in harsh chemicals that are terrible for your health so they last for months.

Instead, here are five natural tricks to keep your bakes fresh for a few extra days:

Binders

Fiber rich ingredients like flax gel or psyllium husk trap moisture and hold structure, preventing bakes from becoming dry and crumbly. Besides prolonging the life of your bake, you’ll get a better texture overall.

Turn It Down

Baking at a lower temperature for longer will ensure the texture of your bakes stays moist, soft, and chewy. Low and slow baking allows for a more consistent moisture level throughout your bake, which prevents bakes from drying out and even reduces risk of spoilage.

Acidity

A splash of an acid such as vinegar or lemon lowers pH. This inhibits mold growth in an easy and natural way by creating an environment that is inhospitable to mold. It also can boost the flavor of your bake, but only use a small amount so you don’t get a vinegary taste.

Sweet and Stable

Honey, maple syrup, and molasses are natural humectants, which means they attract and retain moisture. This keeps bakes moist and fresh, and lowers water activity levels, which is essential for longevity. They also can enhance and add some depth to the sweetness of your treats.

Freezing

It no secret freezing is the most reliable way to keep foods from going bad, but it should be done carefully and selectively as it will destroy the texture of some bakes. We have found that our bars, brownies, and cheesecakes freeze the best.

Final Thoughts

These are just a few techniques used at our bakery that are replicatable on a home baking scale. There are many more tricks and techniques out there that are more specifically suited to hobby and smaller scale baking, or to commercial baking. Find what works well for you and is best suited to your needs.

Whichever techniques you choose, there are many natural and even benefical ways to extend the shelf life of baked goods.

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