Can Bread mix be frozen ?

[Joanne]

I use bread mix in the winter as i am a good way from the shops, bread mix does not have a very good shelf life, can it be frozen to extend the life ? I was thinking of storing some in the freezer. Anyone ever done this ?

[snapdragon]

I've never frozen the dried mix - but have frozen fresh yeast and dry pastry mix (I tend to make a batch) so I should think it would be fine

[ina]

Why not? Breadmix shouldn't really be anything else but flour, yeast and salt - why not store those separately (keep almost forever), and mix it up fresh? I'm currently using dried yeast that's at least one year out of date - no problem whatsoever. Actually, does breadmix really go off if you keep it a bit longer? There's no reason for it to do so - unless the mice get in.

[Odsox]

This may be a stupid question but, why do you use bread mix when it's just as easy to use flour & dried yeast ?
And as Ina says, flour lasts pretty much forever and dried yeast kept in a fridge even when opened keeps for a good 6 months.
I have no idea on the price of bread mix but it must be more expensive that way too.

[Annpan]

I think you should use flour and yeast too.... it is a lot cheaper than those bread mixes

I think some people find it difficult making things from the raw ingredients. You need a good recipe, all the right ingredients and a bit of time to experiment. But it is worth the effort and just ask if you need any tips. Some of us get into the habit of buying these mixes.

[jampot]

ok so ditto on the "why- use -pre- mix -not- flour" but, along the same lines,
can freshly made dough be frozen and baked (succesfully) at a later date?

[Odsox]

can freshly made dough be frozen and baked (succesfully) at a later date?

Yes it can, although I must admit I've never done it.
I always make 3 x 1lb loaves in one go, slice them and then freeze them.
As there is only the two of us we can then get out the exact amount of slices we need every day, with no waste.

[Peggy Sue]

I make bread from ingredients and its so easy a blindfold child could do it so give it a go! If you use quickyeast (just as cheap) al you do is bung all the stuff together, give it a quick knead and leave it to rise while you bog off and do something else like weeding!!

As to freezing, it does deplete the activity of the yeast so you are supposed to use extra yeast if you freeze.... I haven't done it either I bake a batch and freeze the loaves

[Thomzo]

Erm, I have to say that aren't we meant to be Ish? If Joanne wants to make bread from a mix, that is fine by me. I use mixes some of the time because they probably save about 10 minutes on weighing everything out and, if time is short, 10 minutes is worth saving.

I assume bread mix has a shorter shelf life than flour, yeast, sugar and salt because it will contain some form of dried fat, either butter or milk powder, which will go off. I don't know this but just guessing. So I guess the answer is to read the packet, if all the main ingrediants can be frozen, then the mix can be frozen. But it might be a good idea to add an extra teaspoon of yeast (the dried stuff keeps for ages in the fridge).

I suppose the only real answer is to try it and see.

Cheers
Zoe

[Millymollymandy]

Lately I have started freezing pizza dough (essentially bread dough) and it works a treat - there is no difference between fresh and defrosted dough.

I use Lidl bread mixes sometimes too as they do save time and sometimes I just can't be bothered with the weighing out as Zoe says.

[jampot]

thanks for the info on freezing dough
i might not be bale to resist baking it straight away tho!!

[Joanne]

Erm, I have to say that aren't we meant to be Ish? If Joanne wants to make bread from a mix, that is fine by me. I use mixes some of the time because they probably save about 10 minutes on weighing everything out and, if time is short, 10 minutes is worth saving.

I assume bread mix has a shorter shelf life than flour, yeast, sugar and salt because it will contain some form of dried fat, either butter or milk powder, which will go off. I don't know this but just guessing. So I guess the answer is to read the packet, if all the main ingrediants can be frozen, then the mix can be frozen. But it might be a good idea to add an extra teaspoon of yeast (the dried stuff keeps for ages in the fridge).

I suppose the only real answer is to try it and see.

Cheers
Zoe

It seems to work well, with a small boost of yeast as it does not rise as well, but on the whole a worthwhile thing for me to do as the expiry dates are short. Thanks Zoe.