The Best Supermarket Sourdough Bread: Experts' Ratings.

According to The Sun: Previously, sourdough bread was considered a delicacy only available in elite bakeries and cafes, but today it has gained popularity. This naturally leavened, healthy bread can even be found in budget supermarkets, and consumers are eager to buy it. For example, sales at Aldi increased by 70 percent compared to last year.

Since most supermarkets offer affordable prices for this product, consumers are curious which brands provide the best value. Laura Stott decided to test several varieties and provides her feedback with ratings from one to five.

Seeded Sourdough

500g, £1.75, ‘Specially Selected’ at Aldi

Pleasant flavor, nicely sliced, tasted great

ALDI raises the competition by offering large loaves at a lower price. This 500-gram loaf is ready to slice and has an inexpensive price compared to other sourdough options.

It truly delights with freshness and flavor. The mix of wheat, barley, and rye flour gives it a wonderful taste, and ten percent seeds provide even more texture and aroma. It’s especially nice that the seeds are not only on the crust but also inside the bread. Pleasant to taste, with good slice sizes, I believe this is an excellent choice for a ham or cheese sandwich.

5/5

Warburtons 'Our Dough

400g, £1.85, Morrisons

Not a true sourdough, but perhaps a good choice if you're unsure about this product

The well-known baker Warburtons modified the traditional format of sourdough to provide the familiar sour flavor but in a softer slice akin to standard bread. This hybrid may be a compromise if you love naturally leavened bread but don’t want its chewy texture. It contains four percent sourdough and a bit of rye flour, so it is still richer than typical white bread, but looks less authentic.

The flavor straight from the package, without toasting, does not differ much from regular bread. The consistency is very soft, so I would prefer it toasted.

2/5

Jason’s Recipe No 08 White

580g, £2.15, Tesco

Good for toasts, but a bit disappointing when fresh

Though it's a bit more expensive, this loaf weighs 580 g. Additionally, it is designed for evenly sliced pieces, allowing you to use all the content without waste. I was surprised by the minimal ingredient list: despite the bread being sliced and packaged, it is made traditionally from wheat flour, salt, fermented flour, and water. Perfect for grilled sandwiches thanks to uniform slice sizes.

3/5

White Sourdough

400g, £1.95, ‘Taste the Difference’ at Sainsbury’s

It also contains olive oil, which is a great addition for this price

It looks and smells wonderful, with a subtle sour aroma from the sourdough, slowly fermented in the bread mix. It has a nice floury crown with a good crust and hand-cut appearance, giving it an authentic look.

Acceptable for speed, the packaging and slicing are convenient when in a hurry. The bread is soft but has a chewy texture. Perfect with a boiled egg.

3/5

Rye And Mixed Seed

400g, £1.95, Tesco

Packed with tasty seeds such as flaxseed, poppy, and sunflower, which give it a healthy flavor

It consists of naturally fermented sourdough, with large and fragrant slices. One large piece is enough, thus the package contains more than you might expect. The blend of rye and white flour gives this bread a pleasant color.

It is filled with delicious seeds that add a healthy flavor. Pairs wonderfully with gourmet toppings like salmon and will be perfect for classic avocado on toast. However, the shape may be awkward when making toasts, and unfortunately, this bread spoils quickly.

3/5

Sourdough

500g, £1.75, ‘The Best’ at Morrisons

Made of rye, barley, and malt flour, delicious with an authentic dough taste and super-crispy crust

This bread is described on the package as a sourdough boule - sounds luxurious for a round, unformed loaf. And the appearance is appealing. Made from flour ground in the Cotswolds and created with natural starter, you would think you’ve walked into an expensive bakery rather than picking it up during your weekly supermarket shopping.

Composed of rye, barley, and malt flour, it has a delicious, authentic taste and a crispy crust. The large slices can be a bit cumbersome for making toasts, but the bread is tasty and fresh.

4/5

Large white Sourdough

£1.99, Lidl

The crust was a disappointment, but it would be great on a breadboard for friends to tear pieces off during parties

LIDL offers sourdough bread only from the bakery department, so if you prefer sliced bread, this option may not be suitable. But if you like the idea of a bread that you can slice to any thickness, it is the perfect choice. It is more authentic and generates a lot of crumbs, but the fresh style gives you a great aroma. The texture is a bit denser, with a tart flavor and chewiness also present.

The crust was disappointing, but this bread is ideal for a breadboard during parties, to tear off pieces – and no one will guess it costs only £1.99.

4/5

Bakery White Sourdough

£2.14, Asda

Overall, a bit of an unfortunate choice, but tasty with a thick layer of chocolate spread

Although this bread is still significantly cheaper than expensive bakeries, its price is somewhat inflated for a rather small loaf. I expected it to be very tasty. The dough has a pleasant aroma, with a slight sour scent derived from proper fermentation – the texture also seemed authentic.

However, the crust was too chewy, and the dough was so dense that it was difficult to eat straight from the package. This bread is hard to toast. Overall, it’s a choice with an uncertain outcome, but it tastes good with a thick layer of chocolate spread. However, I expected more for this price.

2/5