This sounds like a classic riddle or a specific story snippet! Because there isn't a single universal riddle with this exact phrasing, the answer usually comes down to a few clever angles depending on the context. Here are the most common ways this puzzle plays out:

• The Key Was Made of Bread (or vice versa): A classic wordplay trick. The "key" might have just been a drawing, or the "bread" actually had the real key baked inside it.
• The Literal Survival Answer: He was starving. A key is useless if you die of hunger before you can even walk out the door.
• The "Key" Wasn't a Tool: The "key" might have been something abstract (like a piece of advice or a clue) that he couldn't use immediately, whereas the bread kept him alive. Does this match a specific riddle you are trying to solve, or is it from a book or game you are working through?

Touché. Can’t argue with that logic. A standard-issue iron key definitely lacks that freshly baked, crispy crust flavor. Plus, the dental bills from trying to chew a key would be worse than the prison sentence itself. You win this round of riddle physics!