Whole-Wheat Bread

January 25, 2012

Kitchen Daily

Taste Test: The Best Whole-Wheat Sandwich Bread

Sandwich bread is a mainstay in home kitchens -- what would our school lunches have been without sliced bread? You'll easily find a bag of store-bought bread in anyone's fridge or cupboard. And nowadays everyone has made the switch from white bread to wheat bread. But not all wheat breads are created equal. Our aim is to find the best-tasting wheat bread out of the bunch.
Most of us just buy whatever bread is on sale, or the one that's always the least expensive. Many of us grew up eating the same brand, like Wonder bread, so we keep buying it to keep the nostalgia alive. But we at Kitchen Daily needed to know: which wheat bread is the best in taste and texture? Which one is the right choice for sandwiches?
Our editors blind-tasted 10 different wheat breads. We discovered that many brands offer different types of wheat breads, such as country-style or stone ground. Many of them had a true wheat flavor and good texture. Some were very dry, bordering on stale. Others had a bitter taste. And unfortunately there were some that were just too soft to handle, becoming gummy in the mouth. So which wheat bread should you be buying in the future?

#1: Nature's Pride 100% Whole Wheat Bread - "Savory, slightly bitter. Good for toast." "Earthy, tastes like brown bread and beer. Good texture." "Nice substantive wheat bread with brown crust. Impressive for mass-produced bread." "Deeper taste than most, almost artisanal." "Hard, sweet and yeasty. Good flavor."

#2: Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse 100% Whole Wheat Bread - "Very soft and moist with definite wheat flavor." "Tastes earthy but slightly off." "Hearty yet light." "Standard, fine." "A little sweet but otherwise ok." "Bitter and doughy."

#3: Whole Foods Organic 100% Whole Wheat Bread - "Very soft and moist with definite wheat flavor." "Tastes earthy but slightly off." "Hearty yet light." "Standard, fine." "A little sweet but otherwise ok." "Bitter and doughy."

#4: Whole Foods 100% Whole Wheat Bread - Nice chewy bounceback. Good mild wheat flavor." "Above average bread." "Middle of the road... good for sandwiches." "Little bit gritty, but not much flavor." "Soft and doughy... semi-sweet flavor."

#5: Wonder Stone Ground 100% Whole Wheat Bread - Marshmallowy texture, perfect for soft sandwiches." "Nice and soft... good taste." "Very mushy like Wonder bread." "Funny sour smell." "Nice and pillowy." "Tastes bitter, rancid."

#6: Arnold Country Wheat Bread – "Nutty and soft." "Nice sweetness." "Chewy and gummy with a processed taste." "Too sweet."

#7: Arnold 100% Whole Wheat Bread - "Nutty and hearty... good for cold cuts but not peanut butter and jelly." "Good thickness." "Earthy but with a slightly metallic taste." "Really soft and doughy, but fragile." "Too sweet and moist." "Too soft, too sweet, and almost tastes rancid."

#8: Pepperidge Farm Stone Ground 100% Whole Wheat Bread - "Nutty and soft." "Nice sweetness." "Chewy and gummy with a processed taste." "Too sweet."  

#9: Home Pride Wheat Bread- Dry texture." "Lacks flavor... tastes like white bread." "Like wonder bread but with wheat." "Mushy texture but ok flavor." "Lacks flavor."

#10: Arnold Stone Ground 100% Whole Wheat Bread - "Stale texture." "Bitter taste." "Too dry, but flavor is ok and wheaty." "Weird bitterness." "Weird taste." "Bland."