FAQ's
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Frequently asked questions
Wait, I’ve ordered a Bread Queen Sourdough, so do I have to bake it myself?
It is a finish at home loaf, so kind of! We bake each loaf nearly to perfection, then wrap it all up nicely and send it to you. All you need to do is put it back in the oven and complete the magic. It couldn’t be easier. All you need to do is follow our bake-off guide (see here) and your house will transform into a bakery, but without having to fret about a starter, dough making or shaping. No mess, just warm, crusty magic. Pure indulgent pleasure and that gorgeous seductive smell!
How should I store the bread before baking it?
When you get your delivery, decide what you would like to bake-off in the following 24-36 hours. Leave that in its packaging and just keep it by the side in your kitchen or put it in your larder. Make sure it is out of direct sunlight or not directly next to a heat source. Freeze the rest. Your freezer is a time machine and trust us it will be just as good as the day you received it. You can keep the Bread and Cinnamon Buns in the freezer for up to 2 months. Just let them defrost fully before baking unless it’s the baguette which can be baked off straight from frozen. Please see our bake-off guide here. NEVER put your bread in the fridge. That will speed up staling.
Am I supposed to bake off all the bread on receipt?
Not unless you want to eat it all at once! Decide what you want to bake within 24-36 hours of receiving your order. Stash the rest in the freezer and take it out when you need more.
I forgot to bake my loaf for a for a few days. Is it still good?
It depends on what you mean by few days! If you mean a two-week vacation, the answer is no, but three to four days will be fine. The bread won’t stay fresh as long after baking, as one that was baked within our recommended time frame, but it will be ok. Just make sure there is no mold on it. Next time freeze it sooner.
Do I need to thaw the bread before baking?
Sourdoughs and Cinnamon Buns, yes, Baguettes no. Please see our bake-off guide here.
How long do I need to bake the bread for?
Please see our bake-off guide here.
Do I need a baking tray? A stone? A bread wizard’s wand?
Nope. Straight on the oven rack works just fine. If you’ve got a tray or pizza stone and you want to be fancy, go for it, but it’s not required. However, if you use a stone make sure it is in the oven while that is heating up. Mind your hands and wear an oven glove when you load the bread onto it. The stone will be very hot!
Cooling time, can I eat the bread immediately after baking?
No. You must let it cool down. Hot bread is not enjoyable. The flavours only come out once they have cooled down. If you prefer a little bit of residual warmth in your bread that is fair enough and a personal choice, but please allow 1-2 hours for sourdough and about 40 minutes cooling time for the baguettes. Trust us, it is worth the wait.
What about after I’ve baked it? How do I keep it fresh?
Bread wants to breathe. Just like us! The uber advantage you now have is that your loaf is super fresh (fresher than anything you can buy in a shop or supermarket), and our advice is for the first two days, just leave it cut – side facing down on your chopping board. If you wish you can cover it lightly with some paper (like the one we spread over the contents of your box when we send it out) to prevent Mr McFly landing on it, you can do that, but it really doesn’t need any other means to stay fresh. The crust will take care of this for you. By the time it starts to dry out, you will have eaten it and will have your next loaf in the oven! Whatever you do, under NO circumstance should you put the bread in the fridge. It will speed up the staling process as starch recrystallizes in the fridge.
Why does the bread have such an open structure inside and holes?
Those glorious bubbles are what sourdough is all about. They are fermentation bubbles. They form while the loaf is proving and developing its flavour.
How is it different from supermarket sourdough?
That is a very big question. We could write several pages on this but, in a nutshell – Sourdough takes time – and patience is key. Lots of it. It takes several days to make your bread. There is no way to rush this process or take shortcuts. There is a lot of fake sourdough about, which had yeast added to it or other additives to speed up the process, but this doesn’t work because the flavour won’t be there, and digestibility will not be the same either. It’s a bit like a pregnancy. You can’t speed that up either. Great things come to those who wait.
What if my loaf looks a bit…unique and not quite like the others?
Good! No two loaves are the same. Bread has its own mind and individual personality and character….blisters, cracks, colour variations- all totally normal. They are hand-made not factory faked.
Is the crust supposed to be dark?
Yes! That caramelized, blistered, toasty look is sourdough doing its thing. Remember you are not baking off a white bloomer. It adds flavour but if you prefer a slightly lighter look just deduct a few minutes of the baking time. Have a look at our baking guide here #thisishowilikemycrust
Will it arrive sliced?
In short, no. If you work out how to bake off a sliced loaf that will be a first.
How should I store the cinnamon buns and lemon cake?
Cinnamon buns. Unless you are planning to bake them off, within 24-36 hours after arrival, please put them in the freezer. Once they are baked off you can easily store them in a tin, or airtight container, for a couple of days if you are not eating them straight away.
Lemon Cake: just in a cool and dry place. (Not the fridge). If you are not eating it all at once you can keep it in its packaging. Please also read the label.
I have subscribed, can I change the quantities and flavours?
Yes you can, all you need to do for subscriptions is choose a box of 4 Sourdoughs as an minimum. You can add more including additional loaves. All we ask for is one week’s notice for any changes you wish to make.
I am going on holiday. Can I pause my subscription?
Of course you can pause. In your manage subscriptions in your account area is a calendar where you can kick your next delivery down the line to a suitable day. Please bear in mind that we require one week’s notice.
Can I cancel anytime? Or am I locked in for life?
Cancel anytime – no stress, no hidden fees and definitely no sour faces. Please just give us one week’s warning so your order hasn’t gone through our system yet.
Can I send a gift to someone who loves bread as much as I do?
Absolutely. Great surprise to send to new parents, friends that have just moved home and have boxes coming out of their ears or anyone who needs a crusty hug. Nothing better than wholesome sourdough and that beautiful smell meandering though the house. Just choose the gift option at checkout, write a note and we will take care of the rest for you. Alternatively you can purchase a Gift Voucher from our Shop.
What if my loaf arrives squashed?
That is rare but if your loaves arrive looking like they lost a fight, please send us a photo and we will make it right. Please do not return it because we can’t accept returns as it is a perishable product. Please also see our Returns policy.
