World's Best Baker Warns Against Cloth Bags for Bread in Summer 2026

José Roldán, named the world's best baker in 2025, has a warning for bread lovers: in summer, ditch the cloth bag. The Spanish baker explains that while cloth bags work well most of the year, the heat makes them problematic. "With the heat, it makes the bread lose moisture faster," he says. This matters because bread is one of the most wasted foods in Spain, with 58.8 million kilos thrown away annually—about nine kilos per household.

Why Cloth and Paper Bags Fail in Summer

Cloth bags allow bread to breathe, which is beneficial in moderate conditions. But when temperatures rise, that same breathability becomes a liability. The fabric wicks moisture away from the crust, accelerating staling. Paper bags have a similar issue: they are porous and don't seal in humidity. In summer, the combination of heat and air flow causes the bread to dry out and lose its coveted texture.

Roldán's advice is simple: adjust your storage method with the seasons. What works in spring may fail in July. "In summer, bread is preserved differently," he notes. This isn't just about avoiding waste—it's about maintaining quality.

The Two Processes of Bread Staling

To understand why heat is the enemy, it helps to distinguish two physical processes that occur simultaneously. First, moisture loss: water evaporates from the bread into the surrounding air. Second, starch retrogradation: starch molecules crystallize and harden over time. Heat accelerates both, but they interact in complex ways.

When you store bread in a cloth bag on a hot day, the fabric encourages moisture to escape, speeding up the first process. Meanwhile, the warm environment speeds up the second. The result is bread that goes from fresh to stale in hours rather than days.

How to Store Bread in Hot Weather

So what should you do instead? Roldán doesn't specify a single solution, but the principles are clear. You need to limit airflow and maintain a stable environment. Here are some practical takeaways:

• Skip cloth and paper bags when temperatures soar; they accelerate moisture loss.
• Use airtight containers or plastic bags to trap humidity and slow staling.
• Freeze extra bread if you can't consume it within a day or two.
• Revive stale bread by sprinkling with water and warming it in the oven.
• Buy smaller quantities more frequently to reduce waste.

These steps not only preserve texture but also cut down on the 58.8 million kilos of bread wasted annually in Spain.

Comparing Bread Storage Methods

Not all storage methods are created equal. The table below summarizes how different options perform under summer conditions.

As the table shows, plastic bags and airtight containers are far better at retaining moisture than cloth or paper. The key is to minimize exposure to air and heat.

The Environmental Trade-off

Cloth bags are often touted as eco-friendly alternatives to plastic. But if they lead to more bread waste, the environmental benefit is questionable. Food waste carries its own carbon footprint, from production to disposal. In this light, Roldán's advice highlights a broader dilemma: sometimes the greenest choice isn't obvious. Context on how this played out before sits in World's Best Baker Warns Against Cloth Bags for Bread in Summer.

That said, reusable plastic bags or containers can be part of a sustainable routine if used consistently. The goal is to balance convenience, preservation, and environmental impact. The background to this story is set out in Science: latest articles. A related thread runs through Egg Prices Soar: José Andrés' No-Egg Tortilla Solution.

What This Means for Bakers and Consumers

For professional bakers, Roldán's warning is a reminder to educate customers on proper storage. Many people don't realize that the bag they use can make or break their bread's shelf life. Simple guidance at the point of sale could reduce waste significantly. Earlier coverage in Space-Grown Lettuce More Prone to Salmonella, Study Finds shows how the argument developed. A closer look at the same subject appears in Why People Are Swapping Olive Oil for Coffee with Orange on Ham Toast.

For consumers, the takeaway is to be flexible. What works in winter may not work in summer. By adapting storage methods to the season, you can enjoy better bread and throw less away. Anyone following the wider picture can start with Freezing Bread: Healthy Convenience or Hidden Drawback. The same theme surfaces in Stop Storing Everything in the Fridge: Experts Warn of Mold Risk, which takes a different angle.