If you have a bumper crop of zucchini, whipping up a large batch of quick bread sounds like a good plan. After all, you’ll enjoy the baked treat for longer while saving prep time and cutting down on cleanup.
In terms of storage, however, you might wonder, does zucchini bread need to be refrigerated?
Read on to find out whether it’s safe to chuck zucchini bread in the fridge and break down its shelf life in storage.
How Long Does Zucchini Bread Last at Room Temperature?
Staleness and mold are your worst enemies when storing bread.
Exposure to air can dry out bread as moisture evaporates. It’s the quickest way to make croutons and breadcrumbs, which isn’t why you make zucchini bread, right?
Meanwhile, mold is partial to a lack of airflow and humid conditions. Plastic bags and canisters are good at trapping mold-causing moisture.
The best way to bust these twin issues is by storing bread in a paper bag or wrapping it in breathable fabric, like cotton or linen. These materials are excellent at covering bread while allowing air to circulate, avoiding dryness and dampness at the same time.
After wrapping the bread, you can place it in a breadbox and leave it on the countertop. You can also store it in the cupboard.
All in all, properly stored zucchini bread can last about 2–3 days at room temperature. If left untouched after three days, consider popping it in the fridge to extend its shelf life for up to a week. However, don’t expect your zucchini bread to taste as fresh as the first time you made it.
How Long Does Zucchini Bread Last in the Fridge?
Zucchini, or summer squash, lends lots of moisture to baked goods, regardless of the recipe used. Moist food is Disneyland for germs and fungus, and zucchini bread is no exception.
If an entire loaf of zucchini bread is more than you can eat, slice a portion and toss the rest in the fridge for up to a week.
Just be sure to refrigerate any leftovers tightly wrapped in cling plastic or sealed in a lidded container. You can also wrap slices individually for convenience.
This way, you can preserve as much moisture as possible and prevent odors from leaching into your fridge.
How Long Does Zucchini Bread Last in the Freezer?
If you want to make several loaves of zucchini bread, your best option is to freeze them. The summer treat can last up to 3 months when frozen.
Keep in mind that the quality of the bread suffers as it loses moisture, so freeze it while it’s still fresh. Leaving it out in the open for too long shortens the window for its peak consumption.
How to Store Zucchini Bread in the Freezer
It’s imperative to wait for zucchini bread to cool down to room temperature before freezing it. Otherwise, warmth will condense in the freezer and turn the bread soggy.
Afterward, follow these steps for freezing zucchini bread to maintain maximum freshness during storage:
Using a Freezer-Safe Bag
- Wrap the whole bread in paper towels. You can also wrap individual serving-size slices of bread, so you can take only what you need.
- Put the bread in a resealable freezer bag to avoid freezer burn or freezer-odor contamination.
- Press out any air before sealing the bag. A vacuum food sealer is a handy tool for this purpose.
- Label the bag with the freezing date to keep track of the age of your bread.
- Place the bread in the freezer.
- Discard all unused bread after three months.
Using a Plastic Container
- Line the bottom with paper towels for the bread to sit on.
- Cover the bread with more paper towels, tucking in the edges for good measure.
- Replace the lid securely and mark the date of freezing.
Can You Refrigerate Thawed Zucchini Bread Again?
I strongly advise against refrigerating thawed zucchini bread. By then, the bread would have lost so much flavor and moisture it might as well taste like paper.
After thawing, consume the bread within 24 hours and discard any leftovers beyond that time.
Can You Refrigerate Zucchini Bread Batter?
Zucchini bread is a quick bread; it’s ready for the oven right after tossing in all the ingredients and giving it a good mix. Unlike yeast bread, it involves a different chemical reaction to make it puffy.
Baking soda is a leavening agent that lifts the bread and gives it an airy, springy texture. It’ll work its magic as soon as it hits the batter.
However, waiting too long to bake your bread will neutralize the baking soda, resulting in less rise and denser bread.
That said, it’s okay to store zucchini bread batter in the fridge overnight if you’re pinched for time.
How to Refrigerate Zucchini Bread Batter
Here’s a quick guide on how to store zucchini bread batter in the fridge:
- Scoop the batter into a loaf pan, so you have one less thing to do in the morning.
- Lay a sheet of plastic wrap on the batter’s top surface.
- Wrap the pan in two layers of plastic wrap.
Note: The last two steps prevent a crust from forming on top of the batter.
How to Tell If Zucchini Bread Is Bad
These are the telltale signs your zucchini bread has gone bad:
1 – Visible Mold Growth
Dark, damp, and cold conditions are the perfect invitation for mold to colonize an unsuspecting piece of bread.
Fuzzy spots in black, green, or white varieties are the distinct features of moldy bread. Throw away bread at the first sign of mold before it can release fungal spores in the air.
2 – Sour Taste or Smell
Under-baking can cause excess acids and bacteria to linger in the bread, leading to a sour taste or smell.
Discard the whole thing if you get even the faintest hint of acidity in the bread.
3 – Freezer Burn
Ice crystallines, rough textures, and dry spots are classic signs of freezer burn on baked goods. Improper storage is the number one culprit of freezer burn in starchy food.
A rip in the bag or a loose container lid can also cause cold, dry air to permeate the bread.
4 – Off Texture
A dry, rough texture is a dead giveaway for stale zucchini bread. You can rehydrate rock-hard bread as long as there are no signs of mold or any unpleasant smell.
It’s safe to eat, although it’ll probably taste like any stale bread—flavorless! A better option is to toast it to add some flavor.
Final Thoughts
All things considered, zucchini bread needs to be refrigerated so you can enjoy it for longer. Whether storing it in the fridge or freezing it, the rule is to double-wrap the bread to preserve its moisture.
Additionally, you can refrigerate a zucchini bread batter overnight and bake it first thing in the morning.
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.