How to Store Focaccia Bread?

Bought or baked your first focaccia and not sure what’s the best way to store focaccia bread? How to store focaccia?

The Short Answer

Store your focaccia at room temperature sealed in a ziplock bag or an airtight container. If it’s topped with something else than herbs and olive oil (e.g., cherry tomatoes or olives), refrigerate it.

That’s the short version.

Want to learn more? Here’s what we cover below:

  • keeping your focaccia fresh
  • when you should consider refrigerating it
  • how do you reheat focaccia

Let’s jump right in.

Freshly baked focaccia
Freshly baked focaccia

How to Keep Focaccia Fresh?

The key to keeping your focaccia fresh is making sure it’s well-sealed so that it doesn’t dry out.

The easiest way to do that is to place it in a ziplock bag. You then squeeze out all the excess air before sealing the bag to slow down the drying process.

Another option is to cover the focaccia bread in plastic wrap. This works well for the same reasons a resealable bag does, but creates waste. Because of that, I much prefer reusable bags to plastic wrap.

An airtight container is another popular option. The only downside is that there’s extra air inside, which will slightly dry out the bread. Especially if the focaccia is already cut up.

Now, let’s talk about whether or not you should keep your focaccia in the fridge.

How to store focaccia: in a freezer bag
How to store focaccia: in a freezer bag

Does Focaccia Bread Need to Be Refrigerated?

Focaccia keeps well at room temperature for a few days, but refrigerating is also a good alternative. If yours is topped with fresh veggies (e.g., cherry tomatoes), consider keeping it in the fridge so that it doesn’t grow mold prematurely.

If it’s plain focaccia made of yeast, water, flour, salt, olive oil, a sweetener, and maybe some herbs, it’ll be just fine if it sits on the counter. It’s not that different from regular bread.

But if yours is a more fancy variety, perhaps topped with fresh cherry tomatoes, olives, or any other fresh veggies, refrigeration is probably the way to go. Those veggies will still be quite moist after baking and, therefore, vulnerable to mold growth.

(I recommend refrigerating banana bread if it includes unmashed banana chunks for the same reason.)

That said, even if yours is the plainest focaccia out there, storing it in the fridge is still a good option. For instance, John from Preppy Kitchen recommends the refrigerator as it helps the bread last longer (I used John’s recipe, it delivers).

Now, focaccia tastes better when it’s warm, so you probably want to know how to reheat it, especially if you decide to store it in the fridge.

Sliced focaccia
Sliced focaccia

How to Reheat Focaccia Bread?

Reheating Focaccia in the Oven

Place the bread on a baking sheet and bake uncovered at 350°F (175°C) to 375°F (190°C) for 6 to 8 minutes. If you’re reheating slices, limit the time to 4 to 5 minutes.

If you’re in a hurry and forgot to preheat the oven, set it to the mentioned temperature, place focaccia on a lined baking sheet and in the oven, and check it after 10 minutes if it’s done or needs more time.

Now, if you want to go the extra mile, you can mist the bread with a bit of warm water. The same technique works for toasting bagels, and many swear by it.

Related: How long do bagels last?

If you happen to have an air fryer, the same advice applies, except the time needed for the bread to warm through is closer to 3 to 4 minutes.

Reheating Focaccia in the Microwave

Microwave the focaccia under a damp paper towel for 30 seconds, and check for doneness. If it needs more time, nuke it for another 10-15 seconds at a time until done.

The damp paper towel is especially helpful if the bread is stale and hardened. However, if it’s still fresh and you just want it warm again, you can most likely skip it.

Last but not least, you can also reheat slices of focaccia in a toaster. Just remember that the slices will be not only warm but also super crispy (i.e., toasted).

Focaccia for breakfast
Focaccia for breakfast

Can You Freeze Focaccia?

Main article: Can you freeze focaccia?

Like most kinds of breads and many baked goods, focaccia freezes perfectly fine, and the process is as simple as it gets.

If you’re freezing focaccia for the short term, like up to a couple of weeks, just placing it in a freezer bag and squeezing out the air is enough.

If you suspect you might need more time to get to it, wrapping it in plastic wrap is a good idea. That extra layer will protect the dough from freezer burn and help it retain quality for longer.

When ready to eat, you defrost the focaccia overnight in the fridge and then reheat it in the oven or microwave for the best taste.

How Long Does Focaccia Last?

Focaccia is best fresh but retains quality for 2 to 3 days at room temperature and up to 5 to 6 days in the refrigerator. Either way, it should sit in a sealed bag with all the excess air squeezed out. If you need more time, you can freeze it.

Of course, the fresher the focaccia, the better it tastes. Over time it will go stale (the same way bread goes stale), and won’t be nearly as good as it used to be. Because of that, you might as well freeze the leftovers the day you bought or baked the bread.

And if you’re not sure how to use up your focaccia, here’s a list of foods to serve with focaccia. It should help give you some ideas on how to use up the leftovers.

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