The Reason Why Bread Gets Soggy When You Heat It In The Microwave
If you are used to keeping your bread fresh by using the fridge, freezer, or a very cool area of your kitchen for storage, you are also used to heating your bread. Depending on the pace of the morning, sometimes you might heat bread in your oven, but for convenience and time, you may opt to heat your bread in the microwave instead. Every time you take a bite, you remember why this is usually a bad idea. The microwave makes the bread soggy. Later, it gets worse: After it cools down, your bread may be rock hard.
Microwaves heat the inside of the bread first. Therefore, the water inside the bread heats ups and evaporates in less than seconds. This evaporation then transforms to steam and surrounds the bread. The result? A soggy and unpleasant chewiness. Bread then hardens because the water inside the bread evaporates, causing the bread to dry out.
Another explanation for soggy bread is related to sugar: Bread contains starch from the flour, and starch contains sugar molecules. These sugar molecules soften in high temperatures, making the bread feel soft after it's heated in the microwave. The microwave can definitely ruin your expectations of perfectly warmed bread. Therefore, heating bread should be done with other kitchen tools.
Make the most out of your bread at home
If you insist on using the microwave to reheat the bread, there are some tricks you should know. Use less heat intensity, wrap your bread in a damp paper towel, or even place a mug of water inside with the bread. The point is to let the microwave absorb water from somewhere else. However, this still won't assure you'll get the breakfast toast of your dreams, as minor mistakes can make it soggy anyway. This will also happen with pizza, pastries, or anything else using batter or dough.
Preferably, toast your bread in an oven at whatever temperature you prefer for darker or lighter toast. For the best results, try wrapping it in foil first. A regular pan, a toaster oven, or a classic toaster are also great alternatives to the microwave. Or, you can even try using the air fryer. Once again, you can wrap it in aluminum foil or just put the bread in by itself. Just check on it every few minutes to ensure it doesn't burn. Top your toast with avocado and a fried egg, a sweet spread, or have it as is — we hope your bread tastes fresh as possible!