How to Package Bread
Who doesn’t love the taste of freshly baked bread? It’s a universal delight. When bread is warm to the touch we want to eat it right on the spot. Bread baked for immediate consumption is often packaged in paper bags. As much as we enjoy bread, it’s hard to eat a whole loaf in one sitting. When you want longer-lasting freshness, plastic bags are a popular choice for bread packaging.
Unlike paper bags, one of the benefits of plastic bread bags is that customers can see your bread from top to bottom or, in the case of a sourdough round, the whole circle. Bread, as we know, comes in all shapes and sizes. So, what bags are best for packaging all these different types of bread?
Well, that all depends on what you have. Do you have soft, pull-apart dinner rolls? A crusty artisan bread? Or, perhaps you have cinnamon rolls or a dessert bread? Bread not only varies in shape and size but also in texture. Aww, texture! Texture may be everything when it comes to bread. We have expectations about how bread should feel when we take a bite of a sponge-like cake or a crusty French bread. When it isn’t right, it’s pretty disappointing.
Texture is definitely an important factor when it comes to packaging bread. So, do you have crusty bread or soft bread? Let’s explore a few packaging options that work best for these two very different textures.
Crusty Bread
What do sourdough baguettes, French bread, and Ciabatta bread all have in common? Besides being delicious, they are examples of crusty bread. Slice into this bread and you’ll often see some leftover crumbs. This is the bread people like to tear off with their hands. Crusty bread is crisp on the outside and moist inside. So, what works best for this delicate combination of textures?
Micro-Perforated Bags
To keep this perfect balance of crunchy and soft textures, micro-perforated bags are the best choice for crusty bread. The micro-perforations provide a high oxygen transfer level, keeping your bread fresh for longer periods. These types of bags have pin-size holes that allow moisture to escape when the bag is closed, preventing your bread from going hard or stale. The pin-size holes provide aeration, so the air circulates inside the bag, releasing the delicious scent of baked bread. Made of crystal clear BOPP material, these bags also offer an enticing presentation for the eyes as well. Your customers won’t be able to resist!
Micro-perforated bags come on wicket dispensers and are handy to use. The top and bottom of these bags are unperforated, so they are strong and durable to handle the weight of heavier, thicker loaves. Close these bags with twist ties.
Soft Bread
By and large, soft bread lasts longer than crusty bread. That said, you still want to make sure your bag has a low to medium barrier to ensure your bread stays fresh. Two great choices are poly flat bags and poly side gusset bags. Both of these bags work well for softer loaves, rolls, and dessert bread. What bag works best for you depends on your preferences. Let’s see what these two bags have to offer.
Poly Flat Bags: Wide Selection of Sizes
Soft bread choices like dinner rolls, croissants, brioche, banana bread, and muffins do well in poly flat bags made of polypropylene material. These bags offer an excellent presentation and are available in a wide selection of sizes to accommodate many types of bread. The material is crinkly and a bit more stiff than the poly side gusset bags.
From single muffins to elongated loaves, you are likely to find a poly flat bag in a size that works for you. They also come in three different thicknesses (1.0, 1.5, 2 mil), from lightweight to more durable, and are reasonably priced for bulk, wholesale products. A crimp at the bottom allows slightly less usable space. These bags are designed with a double-sealed bottom and strong seams, making them a good choice for thicker, heavier loaves.
Poly flat bags come in an outer bag for convenient storage and are open-ended for easy packaging. Close with twist ties or a heat sealer.
Poly Side Gusset Bags: Extra Wiggle Room
When you need a little wiggle room for your baked bread, our poly side gussets will put your mind at ease. No worries here. Poly side gusset bags are designed for bulky products and are practically made for bread packaging. Their gusseted sides expand and allow extra room for soft baked bread, croissants, dinner rolls, brioche, muffins, and more.
Made of polyethylene material, these gusseted bags are well known for maintaining freshness and aromas. The material is a bit softer and less clear than the poly flat bags. Still, they offer high clarity and the expandable gussets make packaging long or bulky products more manageable. For added convenience, you can find these in a variety of longer-lengths to accommodate different types of bread and they are sold at bulk quantities.
Like the poly flat bags, poly side gusset bags have a crimped bottom and are bottom-sealed for added support. At just 1 mil thick, these bags are lightweight yet durable enough for heavy bread and rolls.
Side gussets are packaged in an outer bag with a round dispenser hole for efficient packaging, great for busy kitchens! While these bags are not heat sealable, they can easily be closed with twist ties.
We hope this information helps guide you through your adventures in bread packaging! Clear bread bags show your customers what they’ll be missing if they don’t pick up one of your loaves. Don’t forget, you can easily add a bit of personality to these clear options by adding a custom design or a simple label. Please reach out to us if we can assist in your packaging needs. Until then, happy baking!
