Plastic bag? Paper bag? Freezer? We’ve tested every method, so you don’t have to.
For the first day or two, keep your loaf cut-side down on a board or in a paper bag — this protects the crust while keeping the crumb soft. Avoid plastic at room temperature; it traps moisture and softens that crust you paid for.
To keep it longer, slice the whole loaf and freeze it in a sealed bag. Toast slices straight from frozen — they come back to life beautifully, almost like the morning they were baked.