Panettone is airy and rich in butter, and it is ready to eat when you buy it. As long as the pack is closed, it keeps for a long time. Once opened, it dries out quickly.
Black Month pack How long panettone keeps
| Panettone | Keeps for |
|---|---|
| Shop-bought, in an unopened pack | See the date on the pack |
| Opened, in the bread bag in the fridge | Best in the first few days |
| Home-baked, well wrapped | About a week |
| In the freezer | 2 to 3 months at good quality |
The times are a guide. Shop-bought panettone often keeps longer than home-baked, so always read the pack.
Before you open the pack
- Keep the pack closed: The inner bag holds in the moisture, so only open it when you are ready to eat.
- Choose somewhere cool and dry: Avoid the shelf above the stove and a sunny windowsill.
- Do not stack anything on top: The crumb is airy and easily squashed.
Once the pack is open
- Cut the panettone into wedges with a bread knife.
- Place the cut faces against each other so they do not dry out.
- Put the pieces in the bread bag and close with the clip.
- Keep the bag in the fridge. The dry air does not reach the bread.
- Take out what you want to eat about an hour before, as the butter in the crumb sets in the cold.
How to freeze panettone
Cut it into pieces and freeze them in the bread bag on the day you open the pack. Thaw the pieces in the bag at room temperature, and warm them for a couple of minutes in the oven at 150 °C if you like. The crumb turns soft again, and the kitchen smells of Christmas. See also how long bread can stay in the freezer.
When the pieces have turned dry
- Toast them: Slices in the toaster or in a pan with a little butter.
- Use them in a dessert: Dry pieces soak up well in bread pudding.
- Warm them: A couple of minutes in the oven helps the crumb.
Bivoks™ bread bag299 NOKCotton and linen with beeswax on the inside. Measures 30.5 × 43 cm, closes with a clip and can go in the freezer.
Frequently asked questions
Can panettone go in the fridge?
Yes, in the bread bag. Uncovered in the fridge it dries out. The butter firms up in the cold, so warm the piece a little before eating it. If you have a cool pantry, the bag can stay there too.
Does this also apply to pandoro?
Yes. Pandoro is also an airy, buttery yeast bake and is stored the same way.
Why is my panettone dry right after opening?
Check the date on the pack. If the inner bag is intact and the date is fine, warming the piece in the oven helps.
Can panettone be frozen whole?
Yes, but pieces are easier. That way you only take out what you need.
Need help with dry bread? See reviving dry bread.
Take care of your panettone
Put the pieces in the Bivoks™ bread bag and keep the bag in the fridge or the freezer.
See the bread bag →- 365-day guarantee
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- Closes with a clip
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- Reusable for 12+ months