Pita bread is a flattened bread that comes from the Middle East; in fact, it is also known as Arabic bread. And like traditional bread, you can eat it with various ingredients, but how is pita bread preserved?
You can store homemade pita bread at room temperature for up to 4 days, ideally in a bread box. Using an airtight container, you can extend its shelf life in the fridge for 4 – 7 days. Finally, you can also freeze it for four months. Store-bought pita bread lasts longer than homemade, stored in the same way.
You must keep reading to know the right way to preserve pita bread.
How to store homemade pan pita
You can store the pita bread as you would store bread in general, but due to the small amount of yeast it carries and its flattened shape, the methods and times of preservation vary a bit.
Store homemade pita bread at room temperature
If you see yourself with a considerable amount of pita bread, you can store it at room temperature without any problem, and you just have to follow these instructions to do that:
- Step 1: Wait for the pita bread to cool.
Before storing the pita bread, please wait for it to cool completely between the tea towels so that later the internal steam does not create moisture.
- Step 2: Bag the pita bread.
You can use a regular bag (not airtight) to put the pita bread and tight it. You can also use an airtight container, or if you have a special box to store bread, that’s even better.
- Step 3: Store the pita bread in a dark, dry place.
Humidity is the main enemy of any type of bread, so where you place it must be dark, dry, and where the heat does not stick directly.
Homemade pita bread can be kept in good condition for 2 to 4 days at room temperature. [1]
Keep homemade pita bread in the fridge
As with conventional bread, it’s not a good idea to refrigerate pita bread. The fridge usually provides a humid environment, affecting the texture of your pita bread.
However, if you take into account the following measures, you can store pita bread in the refrigerator with total peace of mind:
- Step 1: Wait for the pita bread to cool completely.
As in the previous method, let it cool to prevent the development of moisture due to the steam produced by the hot bread.
- Step 2: Bag the pita bread, then put it in a container.
Once the bread is cold, put them inside a typical bag, make a knot and then put it inside an airtight container, which will serve as protection, in addition to preventing the bread from absorbing the smell of other foods.
- Step 3: Write down the storage date.
It may be convenient to write the date of storage of the pita bread.
- Step 4: Store the homemade pita bread in the fridge.
Put pita bread in the least cold area of your refrigerator (the doors). So homemade pita bread can be in the fridge for 4 to 7 days. [2]
How to freeze homemade pita bread
Can pita bread be frozen? Yes, you can freeze pita bread to extend its shelf life. It is a better idea to freeze pita bread rather than refrigerate it.
- Step 1: Wait for it to cool.
If you just made the pita bread, it is best to wait for it to cool completely before storing it.
- Step 2: Wrap the pita bread.
Use plastic film to wrap the pita bread, and then add another layer, either aluminum foil or the same plastic film. Given the low temperatures of the freezer, the double layer will protect the bread from frostbite burns.
- Step 3: Bag the pita bread.
Then put the pita bread wrapped in a freezer bag with an airtight closure.
- Step 4: Label with the storage date.
Write the storage date of the pita bread on the bag.
- Step 5: Store the pita bread in the freezer.
Considering these indications, you may freeze the pita bread for about four months.
When you thaw it, leave it in the same package for a couple of hours at room temperature.
You can also put it in the microwave for about 20 seconds; just remove the paper that covers it and spray a little water, so it does not harden. Finally, you can reheat it in the pan or oven if you want it hot.
How to keep the commercial pita bread
There is no difference between in how to store homemade or store-bought pita bread, but the shelf life is different based on the artificial conservatives.
In addition, if you keep it sealed on its package, you will save it until the expiration date indicated by the manufacturer.
Once uncovered, the best thing you can do is leave the pita bread in the same packaging and store it in a dry, cool, and dark place at room temperature for 5 to 7 days.
In case of refrigeration, leave it back in its packaging and put it inside an airtight container, where it will remain in good condition for about seven days, although there is a risk that the pita bread will dry.
If the original packaging breaks, treat it as if it is homemade using the methods I mentioned above.
How to preserve the dough to make pita bread?
There are two methods you can use to preserve pita bread dough. The first and simplest is to leave the dough inside the fridge, wrapped with film paper, and inside an airtight container.
Unlike dough to make regular bread, pita bread dough can be 3 to 5 days inside the fridge due to the yeast content.
Now to make it last much longer, you can freeze the pita bread dough as follows:
- Step 1: Separate the dough.
Divide all your dough into portions to assemble the pita bread.
- Step 2: Shape the pita bread.
Flatten the dough to give it the shape of pita bread.
- Step 3: Wrap each flattened dough.
Then wrap each flattened dough with plastic film.
- Step 4: Bag or put inside a container.
Place the dough portions in a freezer bag or an airtight container that fits in the freezer.
- Step 5: Write down the storage date.
Write the storage date of the dough or paste a label with that information.
- Step 6: Store the pita bread dough in the freezer.
You can freeze the pita bread dough for 3 to 6 months. Then, when cooking the pita bread, please take out the portions you want and bake or place them on the grill directly.
FAQs
How do you know if pita bread got bad?
To know for sure if the pita bread is in poor condition, you must present at least some of these details:
- Presence of mold: this is evident when the pita bread begins to come out with some green or black spots or lint.
- They are sticky or moist: if the pita bread is not well stored and is placed in a humid environment, it will absorb moisture and become sticky and viscous.
- Hardening: This can happen when you leave them outdoors for a long time or when they are stored too long. Pita bread loses its freshness and becomes rigid.
- Bad smell and taste: when a product is bad, both the taste and smell change, and in the case of pita bread, it can become rancid.
It is best not to eat pita bread if it has any of the conditions mentioned above to prevent poisoning or stomach pain.
Why does pita bread spoil?
Pita bread is affected by the same agents as regular bread. For example, an extremely hot and ventilated environment will harden your pita bread since its crumb will lose moisture.
While in very humid environments, it will cause the pita bread to become viscous since the bread tends to absorb the humidity of the environment, causing the rapid appearance of mold and other microorganisms harmful to health.
In addition, oxygen and light further accelerate the deterioration of bread.
How long does pita bread last at room temperature?
The homemade pita bread lasts 2 or 4 days at room temperature, ideally using a bread box. In the case of store-bought pita bread, it last 5 or 7 days at room temperature if you open the sealed package; otherwise, follow the expiration date by the manufacturer.
How long does pita bread last in the fridge?
The homemade pita bread lasts 5 or 7 days in the fridge if you use an airtight container. The store-bought option tends to last a little bit longer, ranging from 7 – 8 days.
How long does pita bread last in the freezer
The homemade pita bread lasts four months in the freezer if you use an airtight container. The store-bought lasts up to 6 months.
Summarizing the information for “how long does pita bread last” in the table:
Product | Duration |
Homemade pita bread at room temperature | 2 – 4 days |
Homemade pita bread refrigerated | 4 – 7 days |
Frozen homemade pita bread | 4 months |
Commercial pita bread at room temperature | 5 – 7 days |
Commercial pita bread in the fridge | 7 days |
Frozen commercial pita bread | 4 – 6 months |
Refrigerated pita bread dough | 3 days |
Frozen pita bread dough | 3 – 6 months |
What is the best way to preserve pita bread?
Like any other bread, you could say that pita bread is best preserved if stored at room temperature in a dry, dark, and cool place.
If you refrigerate the pita bread, you risk hardening much faster if it is not well stored.
Luckily, you can freeze pita bread and the dough, an excellent option for storing it for a long time.
The pita bread dough can be refrigerated, and if you have it well stored, it will keep for a couple of days.
To learn how to preserve some other food, you can search or explore on this site everything you want. I have many topics covered, and more others are coming soon.
[1] https://foodbanksbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Food-Storage-Guidelines3.pdf
[2] https://lee.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/TheFoodKeeper.pdf?fwd=no