Hint: Keeping French bread fresh and [almost] ready to serve

Crusty French loaves such as baguettes add substantial flavor and nourishment to a meal but rapidly go stale. Freezing the whole loaf will preserve much of its freshness but is slow to defrost, which delays its use. A useful workaround is to divide the loaf into serving-size pieces (2 to 4 ounces), return them to plastic bag it was sold in – if suitable, and freeze. If the bag is perforated or made from paper, use a new plastic freezer bag instead. When it's time for a yeasty, crusty side to soup, salad, or spread, just take one and freeze the rest. Defrosts in less than 30 seconds in the µwave. Don't forget to mist and cover before microwaving bread.