Clingfilm.

Baking paper.

Packaging from ingredients.

All things that might only be used a handful of times when baking bread at home, before ending up in the rubbish.

So if you’d like to cut down on potential waste when baking at home then what can you do?

Whether you’d like to avoid too much single-use plastic where possible, or even save some money finding things to re-use.

Watch the video below for my top five quick and easy ways to reduce waste when you bake great bread at home. Or read on to find out more.

1. Buy ingredients in bulk if you can

If you’re a regular bread baker, you’ll probably get through quite a bit of flour.

Many regular bakers now source their flour online, often directly from the mill that produces it.

As well as small bags, such suppliers often have the option to order larger sacks of flour. These can start from 4kg per bag.

Flour often has a shelf life of months. So, if you have the storage space and will use the flour, consider ordering online.

This will cut down on packaging and your trips out to the shops to buy baking supplies.

For more information on where (in the UK) to order flour online, click here to read my blog. 

2. Use re-usable baking sheets

Almost all my recipes call for a lined baking tray or baking sheet.

Something to put that beautiful, free-form loaf or rolls on as they bake, without the risk of sticking.

Baking paper is the go-to for lining such trays. But, even if you get a couple of uses out of one sheet, it usually ends up in the bin (possibly the recyling).

Instead, why not try using re-usable baking sheets or liners? Wash and dry them between bakes, these can be used again and again.

Re-usable liners also often don’t need extra grease or flour on them, saving additional ingredients too.

3. Alternative ways to cover your dough whilst it rises

It’s important not to let a crust form on your dough as it rises.

So you’ll need to cover the bowl somehow. Clingfilm, or plastic wrap, can often be the quick answer to this.

However, there are plenty of alternatives if you’d like to avoid wasting single-use plastic.

In my online classes, I show participants how I re-use shower caps to cover my bowls. The stretchy elastic edges help keep them in place. And they can be washed and re-used multiple times.

Another alternative is re-usable beeswax wraps, or a clean, non-fluffy teatowel draped over the bowl.

Or you could rest a suitably-sized plate on the bowl, or cover rising buns with an over-turned roasting dish.

4. Store your loaves well

Bread, especially if homemade, doesn’t last that long.

So store yours well to get the most out of your loaf.

You could use a bread bin. Or wrap your loaf in a clean tea towel or linen bread bag.

Lastly, if your bread isn’t going to be eaten in time, try freezing it if you can.

Find out more about how to store your bread by clicking here to read my blog post.

5. Use up stale bread in other ways

If your loaf has started to stale, you can still use it!

Try turning it into bread crumbs – you can freeze these until you need them in a recipe.

Or look up recipes for croutons or chips (crisps) to use with dips. You can flavour these with spices or herbs of your choice.

Alternatively, in summer, my favourite thing to use stale bread for is a delicious summer pudding. Filled with seasonal fruit and a rich sauce that soaks into the bread, it’s a wonderful treat.