Best bread boxes for kitchen counters

Top pick: the 27-litre bread box with a lid — the biggest, simplest counter box here, and the one with the strongest owner ratings. A large lid you lift off means no fiddly doors, and the volume swallows a couple of loaves plus rolls.

Who the others suit:

• Steel + wood box — if you want something that looks like furniture on an open counter; the wood top doubles as a small shelf.
• Wide steel box — for long baguettes or a big household; the raised base lets air move underneath.
• Double-layer bamboo boxes — for tight corners or small kitchens, with a second tier for rolls.
• Clear-door bamboo box — if you like seeing what's inside without opening it.
• Stainless steel box — for a plain, easy-wipe look that matches appliances.

Whichever you choose, look for a little airflow and a snug lid: bread keeps best in a dry, ventilated box, not a sealed one.