Baking zucchini bread is all fun and games until it comes out dense and dry. To prevent that, you might be wondering how to make zucchini bread moist.
To make a loaf of moist zucchini bread, you can do it by making sure your ingredients are proportionally measured and not overbaked. Additionally, you can use alternative ingredients such as yeast, coconut oil, and starch mixture to trap moisture.
Read on for an in-depth guide on how to make some delicious and moist zucchini bread!
What Makes Zucchini Bread Moist?
There are some factors to consider to ensure your zucchini bread isn’t dry after baking.
Listed below are some tips that you can follow for a loaf of moist and incredibly flavorful zucchini bread.
1 – Use Plenty of Fresh Zucchini
For everything that we cook and bake, using fresh ingredients makes a difference. Hence, for making zucchini bread, using at least three medium-sized fresh zucchini will do the trick for a single loaf of bread.
The extra juices from your zucchinis will provide additional moisture to prevent your bread from being dry. On top of that, you’ll get a more pronounced zucchini flavor in your bread.
2 – Utilize a Fine Grater
When it comes to grating zucchini, most use a large grater to get bigger pieces of zucchini. People often do that to make the zucchini fairly noticeable in the bread.
However, using a fine grater is a better idea because it presses out the excess juices from the zucchini.
Still, it’s best to follow your better judgment when following this tip so that you don’t end up with too much moisture in your bread.
3 – Put Enough Water
We all know water keeps your bread hydrated during baking. Water isn’t just there for you to mix all the ingredients.
However, the amount of water you’ll use will depend on the type of flour you have.
For example, if you’re going to use whole wheat flour, you’ll want to add a little bit more water since whole grain flour is rich in fiber. Fiber tends to trap enough water to keep moisture inside the bread.
Another thing to consider is the milling process the flour has gone through.
If the flour was milled in a stone grind, it can absorb more fluids. The reason for this is that stone-ground wheat isn’t finely ground, enabling it to hold more liquid.
4 – Replace Butter With Coconut Oil
Aside from the fact that coconut oil is a good substitute for butter, it’s also great for maintaining moisture in the bread.
Coconut oil, or oil in general, prevents the water from evaporating when you’re baking. Since the water and juices are retained, it results in moist and soft bread.
In addition, coconut oil provides a light distinct taste of coconut, not to mention that it’s healthier in the long run since it’s rich in antioxidants.
Take note not to use too much coconut oil as it would result in a longer baking time for your zucchini bread.
5 – Apply Starch Mixture on the Bread
Another great trick in keeping the moisture in your zucchini bread is using a starch mixture.
To prepare the mixture, pour some boiling water into a bowl. Then, add a little amount of starch—either corn or potato will work.
Halfway through the baking process, as soon as the top layer of your zucchini bread is firm, cover the dough with the mixture using a brush.
Just like oil, the starch mixture will keep the moisture from evaporating. With this, you’ll have a nice crispy top layer of bread and a soft and fluffy inside.
6 – Make Use of Yeast
Using yeast in baking zucchini bread is ideal for keeping its moisture. Unlike the case in which you use baking soda or baking powder, you’ll have to wait until the dough rises up before baking it.
By waiting for the dough to rise, you’ll have more control over the outcome of the bread. You can adjust the dough’s consistency by adding dry or wet ingredients depending on how moist you want it to be.
The yeast also ferments the sugar in the dough, which increases its volume. The fermentation process will make tiny bubbles in the dough, and these will break with baking, which makes the bread light and fluffy.
Let the dough rest for at least thirty to sixty minutes for best results.
The only downside of using yeast in zucchini bread will be the increased baking time.
How to Keep Zucchini Bread Moist After Baking
Now that you know what makes a moist zucchini bread, let’s proceed with how to keep your zucchini bread moist after baking.
1 – Freeze Your Bread
Freezing is a widely used method for long-term food storage. So if you want to keep the moisture of the zucchini bread for a few days, freezing it is the way to go.
Freezing your zucchini bread will prevent it from spoilage while keeping it moist. Before freezing the bread, it’s recommended to put it in a freezer bag. Make sure to push out as much air as you possibly can before sealing it.
If you want to eat the bread after freezing, just toss it into the oven or a toaster to restore the moisture in it.
2 – Use a Bread Box
A bread box is another great tool for keeping your zucchini bread crusty on the outside and soft inside. The bread box allows air circulation, which is essential in keeping the bread in its moist state.
Zucchini bread left inside the bread box should be good for at least a few days.
3 – Plastic Seal Your Bread
Zucchini bread properly sealed in a plastic bag can go a few days without going dry. Just make sure to push out as much air as possible before sealing it inside.
Just keep in mind that the longer that you leave your bread inside the bag, the less crusty on the outside it’ll be. So, try to consume your zucchini bread within a couple of days so that it doesn’t end up too moist.
No one likes soggy bread!
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how to make your zucchini bread moist, you should be able to apply these tips to your favorite zucchini bread recipe.
Some useful pieces of advice include using the right amount of water, finely grating your zucchini, swapping butter with coconut oil, and adding yeast to your dough.
After the bread comes out of the oven, you can maintain its moisture further by sealing it in a bag, dropping it in a bread box, or putting it in the freezer.
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.