Can You Freeze a Baguette? (Here’s How)

Here’s a short guide to freezing baguettes. Learn how to freeze, defrost, and reheat baguettes.

Got a half-finished baguette and considering freezing it? Can you freeze a baguette?

That’s the 2-sentence answer if you’re in a hurry.

Interested in learning more, including details on the freezing process and ways to defrost or reheat a baguette?

If so, this article is for you. Read on.

How to Freeze a Baguette

As you already know, baguettes freeze well. What’s even better is that the whole process is as simple as it gets, and all you need is a knife, some resealable bags, and a few spare minutes.

Here’s how you freeze a baguette:

1. Prep. Decide what’s the best way to prep your baguette. If you’re going to eat the whole thing after defrosting, you can leave it as is. If not, consider cutting it up. I recommend slicing baguettes because this allows you to grab a few slices when needed and leave the rest in the freezer. You can also cut them in half lengthwise to speed up defrosting.
2. Wrap. If your baguettes will sit in the freezer for a couple of weeks max, simply placing them in a freezer bag is good enough to protect against freezer burn. But if you’re expecting that they might stay there for even a couple of months, an extra layer of protection would be helpful. For that, I recommend wrapping the bread with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Once wrapped, put it in the bag. As usual, squeeze out the air before sealing the bag. Last, label the bag with its contents and date if you like.
3. Freeze. Stick the bag or bags in the freezer.

(You can use the same process for freezing bread or freezing focaccia.)

If you’re wondering how long a baguette lasts in the freezer, there isn’t a clear-cut answer to that question.

I recommend using it up within a month if it’s single-wrapped and up to 3 months if it’s double-wrapped.

That said, sitting in the freezer for a slightly more extended period isn’t a big deal. All that’s going to happen is that you might notice that the quality of the baguette is somewhat worse. That’s all.

Now that we have the baguette frozen, let’s talk about defrosting.

How to Defrost a Baguette

When you’re ready to enjoy that frozen baguette, you have to decide whether you’re only going to defrost it or do you want to reheat it too.

If defrosting is enough, simply placing the baguette on the counter is enough to do the trick.

If it’s an entire baguette or a halved (crosswise) one, you’ll need between an hour and 2 hours until it’s ready. That means unless you’re getting up early, they won’t be ready for breakfast if you start to defrost them in the morning.

If you decide to slice the baguette or cut it lengthwise, the needed period drops to 20 to 30 minutes, which is much easier to work with on a weekday morning.

(That’s why I recommend freezing baguettes sliced.)

But if a cold baguette isn’t exactly your thing, you can defrost and reheat it before eating. Let’s talk about how.

How to Reheat a Frozen Baguette

In the Oven

An oven is a great option for defrosting and reheating whole baguettes. Here’s how you go about it:

1. Preheat the oven to 300ºF (~150ºC) to 350ºF (~180ºF). The higher the temperature, the sooner the baguette will warm up, but it’s also possible that you’ll burn it if you don’t watch it closely.
2. Bake the baguette uncovered for 7 to 10 minutes if defrosting, and 12 to 16 minutes if you want to warm it up too. Adjust the time based on the size of the baguette and the oven temperature you’re going with. As usual, it’s better to take it out early to see how things are progressing than to leave it for too long in the oven.

If you’d like to freshen the baguette a bit in the process, take it out once it’s defrosted, moisten it using wet hands or a spray bottle, and replace it in the oven until it’s warmed up.

In the Microwave

To defrost a baguette, set your microwave on defrost or 50% power, and microwave the French bread for 30 seconds (if sliced) or 90 seconds (if whole). If it’s still not up to your liking, continue blasting it in 15-second intervals until it’s warmed up.

Again, to get a slightly better-tasting baguette, spray it with some water or place a moist paper towel on top once it’s defrosted.

Other Options

While the oven and the microwave are the two most popular options for defrosting and reheating food, there are other options too.

A toaster oven is great if you’re working with an entire baguette, while a regular toaster will get your baguette slices nice and warm in no time at all.

You can also use air fryers and similar appliances for this purpose.