If you want to prevent a loaf of bread from going stale, the easiest thing to do is to freeze it when it's fresh. By freezing bread, you can extend the shelf life by as much as three months. The trick is to pre-slice the bread before freezing it and storing it in an airtight freezer bag or wrapped tightly in aluminum foil; this makes it easy to grab a slice or two right out of the freezer. Simply use a toaster oven to reheat it; as the ice particles melt, the starches inside the bread re-gelatinize and the bread becomes deliciously chewy again.
ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION