Best Bread Boxes: Brabantia, Yamazaki, Joseph Joseph, Oggi

A bread box does one thing: it keeps a crusty loaf from going soft in a bag or stale on the board, for a couple of days. Six that do it, sized from one loaf to two, from a $16 steel box to a Japanese steel and wood case.

By the Bonwits editorsUpdated November 9, 20266 picks

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Our top picks

6 picks, each linked to the exact listing

1
Best overallBrabantia Roll Top Bread Box, Large, Brilliant Steel
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2
The sensible entry pointAmazon Basics Carbon Steel Bread Box with Acacia Wood Lid
Check priceAmazon
3
The big stainless one for the moneyOggi Stainless Steel Roll Top Bread Box with Stainless Steel Lid
Check priceAmazon
4
The bamboo oneHOOBRO Bamboo Roll Top Bread Box, Natural
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5
If you want the cutting board lidJoseph Joseph Bread Box with Removable Bamboo Cutting Board
Check priceAmazon
6
If money is no objectYAMAZAKI Home Tosca Bread Box, Vertical, Steel + Wood
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The bread box that earns its counter space

Bread has two enemies and they want opposite things. Air dries the crumb. A sealed plastic bag keeps the crumb soft but turns a good crust to leather within hours. King Arthur Baking's advice for a crusty loaf is to leave it uncovered for the first half day, cover it loosely so air can still circulate at about a day, and bag it only after that. A bread box is the loose cover: closed enough to slow drying, open enough that the crust stays a crust. It also gets the loaf off the counter and out of sight.

The things that matter are plain. Capacity, which the makers state in loaves. Material: steel wipes clean and lasts, bamboo and wood look warmer and need a wipe rather than a wash. The lid: a roll top disappears into the body and takes no clearance in front, a fall-front door needs room to swing, a lift-off lid can double as a cutting board. Footprint, because the box lives on the counter. And whether the box breathes a little, since a box that seals tight traps moisture.

Below are six, from a $16 steel box with a wood lid to Yamazaki's $175 two-tier case. The one to buy for most kitchens is Brabantia's roll top, which holds two loaves, comes with a ten-year guarantee and comes from a maker that promises spare parts for twenty years. Who should skip a bread box entirely is covered at the end.

How we chose

Capacity in loaves. The maker's own figure, since boxes that look alike differ by a loaf.
Lid and footprint. Roll top, fall front or lift-off, and the counter space each takes when open and closed.
Material and care. Steel, bamboo or wood, and whether it wipes clean or asks for more.
Who sells it. Every pick is sold on Amazon US by Amazon.com or the maker itself.

We read makers’ specifications, warranties, care instructions and the sources listed at the end. We do not accept paid placements. How we choose

The 6 picks, in detail

Best overallNo. 1

Brabantia Roll Top Bread Box, Large, Brilliant Steel

Our take. Two loaves, a roll top that disappears into the body, a raised base for airflow and a ten-year guarantee and spare parts for twenty.

Check priceAmazon

Made in: China
Keeps for: Decades; ten-year guarantee, spare parts for up to twenty years per the maker
Capacity: 2 loaves; 16 liters
Material: Corrosion-resistant steel
Lid: Roll top with noise dampener; magnetic closure per the listing
Footprint: 17.5 x 10.3 x 6.8 in
Airflow: Raised, knobbly base
Guarantee: 10 years; spare parts up to 20 years

Brabantia's roll-top bread bin is the one most people picture when they hear the words. The large size holds two loaves, per both the Amazon listing and Brabantia's own page, which gives the volume as 16 liters and the dimensions as 17.5 by 10.3 by 6.8 inches. The lid rolls back into the body with a noise dampener, closes with a magnet according to the listing, and the base is raised in a knobbly pattern that Brabantia says gives better airflow around the loaf. The partly flat top takes a canister or two.

The guarantee is the reason this is the pick. Brabantia gives ten years of guarantee and service and says spare parts are available for up to twenty, and the box is Cradle to Cradle Certified at the Bronze level. Brabantia's page says it is made in China. The steel is described as corrosion-resistant for steamy kitchens, and care is a wipe with a damp cloth. Amazon.com sells the brilliant steel finish for about $65; matte black and white run about $94, and Brabantia's own price is $96.

Skip it if you eat one loaf a week, where the medium size at about $53 holds one loaf and saves five inches of counter. Skip it too if the counter has no depth to spare: 10.3 inches is deeper than most boxes here.

The catch. Deep for a counter, and the brilliant steel finish shows fingerprints more than matte.

The sensible entry pointNo. 2

Amazon Basics Carbon Steel Bread Box with Acacia Wood Lid

Our take. A one-loaf steel box with a wood lid that doubles as a cutting board, for the price of two loaves.

Check priceAmazon

Keeps for: Years; powder-coated steel and a wood lid that wants an occasional oiling
Capacity: 1 loaf
Material: Powder-coated carbon steel; acacia wood lid
Lid: Lift-off; doubles as a cutting board
Footprint: 11.9 x 7.1 x 5.2 in
Ventilation: Air holes in the body

The listing describes a powder-coated carbon steel box with an acacia wood lid, ventilation holes for airflow, and a footprint of 11.9 by 7.1 by 5.2 inches. It holds one loaf. The lid lifts off and doubles as a small cutting board, so the loaf can be sliced on the box it came out of. Amazon.com sells it directly and lists the weight at about 2.5 pounds.

At this size it suits a household that buys one loaf at a time, or a baguette cut in half. The ventilation holes are a point in its favor; a sealed box holds moisture against the crust. Wipe both parts with a damp cloth. Skip it if you bake large boules, which will not fit, or if you want a box that sits closed while you cut.

The catch. One loaf only, and a small one at that.

The big stainless one for the moneyNo. 3

Oggi Stainless Steel Roll Top Bread Box with Stainless Steel Lid

Our take. A large stainless roll top for under $30, for a household that keeps more than one loaf on hand.

Check priceAmazon

Keeps for: Years; stainless steel with nothing to wear but the roll track
Capacity: Multiple large loaves, per the listing
Material: Stainless steel, body and lid
Lid: Roll top
Footprint: About 17.75 x 7.5 x 11 in
Weight: About 3 lb

Oggi's box is stainless steel through and through, including the roll-top lid, and the listing says it fits multiple large loaves. Amazon gives the footprint as about 17.75 by 7.5 by 11 inches, so it is the tallest box here and holds a boule upright with room beside it for rolls or bagels. Amazon.com sells it, and the weight is about 3 pounds.

The roll top is the right lid for a tight counter: it slides into the body and nothing swings out in front. Stainless shows fingerprints, as it does on appliances, and the listing calls the box airtight, which is a mixed blessing for crusty bread; crack the lid if a loaf is still warm. Skip it if the kitchen is mostly wood and warm tones, where a stainless box looks like a toaster.

The catch. Shows fingerprints, and the tall profile takes up a lot of visual room.

The bamboo oneNo. 4

HOOBRO Bamboo Roll Top Bread Box, Natural

Our take. A bamboo roll top with a side-pull door, for a kitchen that wants wood on the counter without a wood price.

Check priceAmazon

Keeps for: Years, kept dry; bamboo and MDF do not want a wet counter
Capacity: Whole loaves, per the listing; count not stated
Material: Bamboo panels, MDF backboard
Lid: Side-pull roller door
Footprint: About 15.7 x 9.8 x 7.9 in
Assembly: Required; tools included

HOOBRO sells this box on Amazon through its own storefront. The listing describes natural bamboo panels with an MDF backboard, a side-pull roller door that runs in a grooved track, non-slip pads underneath and a flat top for extra storage. It arrives flat and needs assembly with the tools in the box; the listing calls the parts numbered. Amazon gives the assembled size as about 15.7 by 9.8 by 7.9 inches and the weight as about 5.5 pounds.

Bamboo is a natural fit for bread because it breathes a little and does not sweat the way steel can. The trade is care: wipe it, do not wash it, and keep it away from the sink. The listing says it holds whole loaves and does not give a count, so assume one large loaf or two small ones. Skip it if you want a box that is ready out of the carton, or one with a maker's guarantee behind it.

The catch. Flat-pack assembly, an MDF back panel, and no stated loaf count.

If you want the cutting board lidNo. 5

Joseph Joseph Bread Box with Removable Bamboo Cutting Board

Our take. A plastic bin with a reversible bamboo lid that is a real cutting board, with crumb grooves and a handle.

Check priceAmazon

Keeps for: Years; the bamboo lid is the part that ages
Capacity: About 1 large loaf; not stated on the listing
Material: Plastic bin; bamboo lid
Lid: Lift-off, reversible cutting board with crumb grooves
Footprint: About 14.6 x 8.7 x 7.1 in
Base: Non-slip

Joseph Joseph sells this on its own site as the Bread Bin with Bamboo Lid. The Amazon listing, sold by Amazon.com, describes an easy-clean storage bin with a non-slip base and a reversible bamboo cutting board lid with crumb-catching grooves on the board side and an easy-lift handle. Amazon gives the size as about 14.6 by 8.7 by 7.1 inches and the weight as about 3.3 pounds. This is the white version.

The idea is that the loaf comes out, the lid flips over, and you slice on it, with the grooves catching the crumbs that otherwise end up on the floor. It works, and the bin wipes clean. The trade is that a lift-off lid needs somewhere to go while you cut, and the bin is plastic rather than steel, which some kitchens will not want on show. Skip it if you already have a bread knife and board you like.

The catch. A plastic bin at a steel price, and no loaf count on the listing.

If money is no objectNo. 6

YAMAZAKI Home Tosca Bread Box, Vertical, Steel + Wood

Our take. A two-tier white steel case with a wood handle, built for a small kitchen that wants the bread box to look like furniture.

Check priceAmazon

Keeps for: Decades; powder-coated steel with a wood handle
Capacity: 2 tiers; loaf count not stated
Material: Steel with a wood handle
Lid: Magnetic closure; airflow hinge, not airtight (maker)
Footprint: 14.2 x 8.7 x 16.1 in tall
Load: Top 4.4 lb; inner shelf 11 lb
Weight: About 12.35 lb

Yamazaki, whose listing describes the brand as inspired by small-space living in Japan, makes the Tosca line in white steel with wood accents. The vertical bread box stands 16.1 inches tall on a 14.2 by 8.7 inch footprint, weighs about 12 pounds, and has two tiers inside at different depths, so a loaf goes on one level and jars or a bottle stand in front on the other. The listing rates the top for 4.4 pounds and the inner shelf for 11. Yamazaki sells it on Amazon through its own storefront.

Yamazaki's own guide to its bread boxes describes the Tosca as having a magnetic lid closure and an airflow hinge, and says its boxes are not airtight, which it credits with keeping crust texture. The listing adds a care note worth repeating for any box: do not put hot, fresh bread inside, because the moisture builds up and damages the finish. At $175 it is a furniture purchase, not a bread purchase. Skip it if the loaf is the point; the Brabantia does that job for a third of the price.

The catch. Tall, heavy and expensive for what is, at bottom, a steel box.

Compare the picks

Pick	Best for	Made in	Keeps for	Buy
Brabantia Roll Top Bread Box, Large, Brilliant Steel	Best overall	China	Decades; ten-year guarantee, spare parts for up to twenty years per the maker	Check priceAmazon
Amazon Basics Carbon Steel Bread Box with Acacia Wood Lid	The sensible entry point	Not stated	Years; powder-coated steel and a wood lid that wants an occasional oiling	Check priceAmazon
Oggi Stainless Steel Roll Top Bread Box with Stainless Steel Lid	The big stainless one for the money	Not stated	Years; stainless steel with nothing to wear but the roll track	Check priceAmazon
HOOBRO Bamboo Roll Top Bread Box, Natural	The bamboo one	Not stated	Years, kept dry; bamboo and MDF do not want a wet counter	Check priceAmazon
Joseph Joseph Bread Box with Removable Bamboo Cutting Board	If you want the cutting board lid	Not stated	Years; the bamboo lid is the part that ages	Check priceAmazon
YAMAZAKI Home Tosca Bread Box, Vertical, Steel + Wood	If money is no object	Not stated	Decades; powder-coated steel with a wood handle	Check priceAmazon

Compared.

Every comparison

How to use one

Let a fresh loaf cool completely before it goes in. King Arthur Baking's advice for crusty bread is to leave it uncovered for the first half day; a warm loaf in a closed box steams its own crust. King Arthur also suggests starting the first cut in the center of the loaf and pressing the halves back together, so the crumb is not left open to the air. Expect a day or two of good eating from a crusty loaf in a box; after about 24 hours King Arthur recommends bagging it, and for anything longer, slicing and freezing rather than refrigerating, which it says dries bread out quickly.

Clear the crumbs every few days. A wipe with a damp cloth is all any of these boxes asks, and the bamboo and wood ones should never be soaked.

Who should skip a bread box

Households that finish a loaf the day they buy it, who are storing nothing. Anyone who eats mostly sliced sandwich bread, which keeps better in its own bag than in a box. Very humid kitchens, where a closed box holds moisture against the crust and mold arrives faster than staleness; there, a loose cloth or a paper bag for a day and the freezer after that serve better. And small counters: every box here takes a foot or more of space, and a cake dome does the same job for a single loaf.

Roll top, fall front or lift-off

A roll top is the easiest to live with: the lid slides into the body and nothing projects when open. A fall-front door, which Brabantia also makes, needs clear counter in front to swing down. A lift-off lid is the simplest and the cheapest, and when it doubles as a cutting board it saves a step, but it needs somewhere to rest while you slice.

Frequently asked questions

Do bread boxes actually keep bread fresh?

For crusty bread, yes, for a couple of days. A box slows drying without sealing in moisture the way a plastic bag does, so the crust stays crisp. For soft sandwich bread the original bag works as well or better.

What size bread box do I need?

One loaf for a household of one or two that buys bread as needed; two loaves, like the large Brabantia, for a family or a baker. Check the loaf count on the listing, since boxes that look similar differ by a loaf.

Should a bread box be airtight?

No. Bread needs a little air, or moisture builds up against the crust. Brabantia raises the base for airflow, Yamazaki says its boxes are not airtight on purpose, and the cheapest box here has ventilation holes.

Is wood or metal better for a bread box?

Metal wipes clean, lasts longer and usually carries a guarantee. Wood and bamboo breathe slightly and look warmer, but want to stay dry and cannot be washed. Both keep bread equally well if the box has some airflow.

Can I put warm bread in a bread box?

Let it cool fully first. Yamazaki warns on its listing that hot bread causes moisture build-up that damages the box, and King Arthur Baking advises leaving a fresh loaf uncovered for the first half day.