Luckily, there are a few ways to prevent your bread from turning into a paperweight. For one, you could store it in a breadbox or a plastic bag, which would limit its exposure to air. While this isn't a foolproof method (bread will still go stale eventually), it can extend the freshness of your loaf by a couple of days.

Another way to combat bread staleness is through reheating. Pop that hard slice of bread in the oven or toaster for a bit, and you'll kick those starch molecules back into a less-crystallized state, making the bread softer and more palatable again.

Other than that, ensuring that the bag is sealed with a quality bag tie/clip will do the trick too!

Have you ever left a fresh loaf of bread out on the counter overnight, only to find it tough and unappetizing the next morning? Well, bread has this funny way of becoming hard as a rock when it's exposed to air for too long. This phenomenon, known in kitchen circles as 'staling,' can transform your soft and fluffy loaf into a jaw workout quicker than you'd think.

The reason this happens is due to a scientific process called retrogradation. When bread is freshly baked, it's moist and soft because the starch molecules in the flour absorb water. But when left to their own devices, these starch molecules will start to recrystallize over time, making the bread feel stale even if it's not technically old or spoiled. It's a bit like bread's version of a mood swing!