by John and Jennifer Burkhart
In our book, the bread upon which you build a sandwich is as important as the ingredients between the slices. Luckily, there are quite a few tasty organic bread options available – unless you prefer a hefty dose of glyphosate in your wheat. From sourdough to super grain, we sliced, layered and spread to find out which brand you should buy for your next sky-high “Dagwood.”
Rudi’s Organic Bakery | Rocky Mountain Sourdough, USDA Organic
HE SAID: It’s amazing what flour, water, salt, air and time can make. This sourdough bread had a nice sour bite and a wonderful light crunch; it would make an excellent garlic bread. If bread is the staff of life, I will eat this every day.
He gave it: ★★★★★
SHE SAID: Yum! Straight outta the bag this bread was soft, doughy and slightly sour. I like a strong sourdough flavor, so I was a bit disappointed that the sourness disappeared after toasting. Even so, slightly toasted, these slices would make a mouthwatering BLT.
She gave it: ★★★★
Dave’s Killer Bread | White Bread Done Right, USDA Organic
HE SAID: This White Bread Done Right lives up to its name. It’s super soft and airy, yet chewy with noticeable whole grains. The bread had a light sweet flavor and was scrumptious toasted with butter and jelly. I have no doubt this would make killer grilled- cheese sandwiches.
He gave it: ★★★★
SHE SAID: Not exactly white bread, but it had what I love about white bread: a doughy texture and mild flavor. Kids will love it, and so will adults with its 10 grams of whole grains. Don’t expect the thin slices to handle much more than PB&J though.
She gave it: ★★★★
One Degree Organic Foods | Veganic Lentil Grain, USDA Organic
HE SAID: This one was dry and stiff straight out of the bag with a slight earthy flavor, but a quick trip to the toaster helped quite a bit. Hot butter and jam on your breakfast toast is my recommended use for this bread. Also, One Degree gets major kudos for its super eco- friendly farming practices and transparency.
He gave it: ★★★★
SHE SAID: Lentils and sprouted wheat give this high-protein bread its punch. Be sure to pile on lots of flavorful toppings and mayo though, because it was a bit dry. I do love that raisins were used instead of sugar to add a bit of sweetness. I also love that “veganic” means the farmers ensure that no animal byproducts are plowed into the soil.
She gave it: ★★★
Eureka | SAAA-WHEAT, USDA Organic
HE SAID: This is your everything-but-the-kitchen-sink bread. The loaf is covered in oats, sunflower seeds, and black-and-white sesame seeds. It had a sweet wheat flavor with a fairly strong sunflower seed aftertaste. I could see this bread topping a fully loaded turkey sandwich with sprouts. Yum!
He gave it: ★★★★
SHE SAID: For a flavorful “stick to your bones” toast in the morning, this is a great pick. The seven grams of protein per slice will keep your belly full. It had lots of crunch and was slightly sweet due to a bit of added sugar. I prefer no sugar in my bread (my coffee takes care of my sugar intake for the day), but overall this was a tasty slice – and vegan, too!
She gave it: ★★★★
Alpine Valley Natural Whole Grain Bread | Super Grains, USDA Organic
HE SAID: Here’s another seedy loaf that tastes like it was dragged through a granary (in a good way). Not quite as sweet as the Eureka bread, but just as chewy with a nutty sunflower seed taste, this bread is the perfect sandwich builder.
He gave it: ★★★★
SHE SAID: Well, you can’t beat organic and local! This Mesa-based company is one of my favorite bread brands. Sure, you might need a mile of floss to get all those “power seeds” out of your teeth, but it’ll be worth it. Lightly sweet, soft, hearty and full of flavor, it’s perfect for toast or sandwiches – but plan for a triple-decker since the slices are smaller than average.
She gave it: ★★★★
See more product reviews at greenlivingaz.com/hgsg
