Article: If you're only going to use a portion of your sliced bread, it's best to defrost that portion only. Thawing out an entire loaf of sliced bread when you only need a few slices will require you to either consume the rest of the loaf or refreeze it. Refreezing bread repeatedly can dry the bread out, making it hard and/or stale. Set aside as many slices as you'll need to defrost and save the rest in the freezer. If the slices are stuck together, you can try using a clean fork or knife to gently pry them apart. Take the slices you've chosen to defrost and arrange them on a plate. Most permanent kitchen dinnerware is safe to microwave; if you're not sure, check the bottom of the plate, as manufacturers will stamp some kitchenware as being microwave safe. Do not cover the bread. Simply arrange your slices on a plate with a little space in between each slice. Some bakers recommend wrapping frozen bread in a paper towel before microwaving. Make sure the plate can safely be microwaved. Avoid using disposable plates or anything made of plastic. While most loaves of bread will not defrost well in the microwave, sliced bread can be microwaved effectively. As the bread thaws, the starch molecules in each slice will form crystals, which can draw out any moisture that was previously in the bread (called retrogradation). Using a microwave allows the crystals to break down inside the slices of bread so that each piece is soft and warm. Set the microwave on high power. Heat the sliced bread in your microwave for increments of 10 seconds. Check on the slices after 10 seconds before adding more time in the microwave. It should not take more than 15 to 25 seconds for most microwaves to defrost sliced bread. However, there may be some variance in defrost time, depending on your particular microwave. Do not microwave bread for longer than a minute, as this will probably overheat it. Make sure the bread isn't too hot before eating. Be aware that microwaving bread is likely to make it either overly chewy or hard and stale. This is because the bread loses its water content as the microwave turns that water into vapor, which leaves the bread. If you don't have a microwave or would rather not use one, you can defrost frozen bread in a toaster oven. This method may not work well for whole loaves of bread, though, so it's best to only use toaster ovens for slices of bread. Adjust the setting to "defrost" or "frozen" to warm up sliced bread from the freezer. As always, make sure the bread hasn't gotten too hot while toasting.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Thaw out as many slices as you'll need. Arrange the slices on a microwave-safe plate. Use a microwave to warm the frozen slices. Heat up frozen slices of bread in a toaster oven.