It's Getting Warm Up Here

• To maintain the low temperatures inside your refrigerator, the compressor takes the warm air created by opening the door to the appliance or placing warm items inside it and sends the air to the condenser. The condenser is either behind or below your refrigerator and it releases the heat from the refrigerator into the area around the fridge. Because hot air rises, this means that the area on top of your refrigerator will be warm. It will also likely be humid because condensation can form on the gasket around the door of the refrigerator. Heat and moisture are what age your bread.

Eek! It's Moldy!

• When you place your bread in an area that is warm, it will go stale more quickly than if it were stored in a cool spot, becoming dry and hard. If the area is humid as well, it can encourage the growth of mold on bread. The space above the refrigerator is always warm and usually humid, making it the perfect environment for mold to grow. Bread molds can make you sick if you eat baked goods contaminated with them. If you see even a little mold on your bread, throw out the whole loaf because the fungi may have burrowed deep into the porous surface of the bread where it isn't visible to the eye.

Breads and Refrigerators Don't Mix

• When storing your bread to maintain its freshness and prevent it from becoming moldy, store it in a cool pantry or on a cool shelf. Keep your bread away from any of your appliances, including your stove, dishwasher or refrigerator, because they can give off heat. While storing your bread in the refrigerator itself can help deter mold because of the lower temperatures, the lack of humidity inside the fridge will dry the bread out quickly. To keep the bread fresh for longer, place it in your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit for up to eight months.

Keeping It Fresh

• Wrap your bread in a paper bag to allow it to breathe if the bread isn't sliced. If the bread is already sliced, place it into a plastic bag to keep it moist. Bread stored in a cool, room-temperature location should last for around five days, although bakery or homemade bread may last for only three days. If you store the bread on top of your refrigerator, it won't last as long. Storing bread or anything else on the fridge may also impede the air circulation around the appliance, which can negatively affect its performance.