Free tool
Thawing bread: how long, and how?
Choose what you are thawing and how much time you have. Enter when you want to eat, and you will get the time to start.
Short answer
Frozen bread can go straight into the oven. A whole loaf needs 20 to 30 minutes at 175 to 200 °C, and rolls 8 to 12 minutes at 200 °C. Slices go straight in the toaster. If you have time, thaw a whole loaf for 2 to 3 hours at room temperature.
Table: all times
| Bread | I have plenty of time | I'm in a hurry |
|---|---|---|
| Whole loaf | 2 to 3 hours at room temperature, in its wrapping. Then 5 to 10 minutes on a rack in the oven at 200 °C. | Straight on the rack in the oven at 175 to 200 °C for 20 to 30 minutes, without bag or foil. |
| Half a loaf | 2 to 3 hours at room temperature, in its wrapping. Then 5 to 10 minutes on a rack in the oven at 200 °C. | Straight on the rack in the oven at 175 to 200 °C. Check after 15 minutes. |
| Slices | About 1 hour at room temperature, in the wrapping. | Straight in the toaster, ideally two rounds on medium. |
| Rolls | Straight on the rack in the oven at 200 °C for 8 to 12 minutes. | Straight on the rack in the oven at 200 °C for 8 to 12 minutes. |
| Buns | About an hour at room temperature. Then 5 minutes in the oven at 175 °C. | Straight in the oven at 175 °C for 8 to 10 minutes. |
| Baguette | Straight on the rack in the oven at 200 °C for 8 to 10 minutes. | Straight on the rack in the oven at 200 °C for 8 to 10 minutes. |
The times are for bread straight from a normal freezer. Large, thick loaves need the longest. Tap the base: if it sounds hollow, the bread is ready.
Freeze and thaw in the same bag
A Bivoks™ bread bag can go in the freezer. Freeze the bread in the bag, and thaw it in the same bag.
See the bread bagFrequently asked questions
Can frozen bread go straight in the oven?
Yes. The oven must be preheated, and the bread goes straight on the rack. Foil or a tin makes the crust soft.
Can I use the microwave?
Only in an emergency. The crumb turns chewy, then hard as it cools. Eat the bread right away.
Can I refreeze the bread?
If it has thawed on the counter and still feels fresh, that is safe. Each round in the freezer makes the crumb a little drier.