Sourdough Bread from The Fresh Market Review
Author’s note: Obviously, I wasn’t paid to write this review. Obvs! I bought this bread with my own monies. I have no affiliation with The Fresh Market nor the Sandwich Police.
Ridiculously tangy. And soft. But not-so-fresh.
I would not have known about this bread from The Fresh Market, except for a random ad that popped up while I was browsing Facebook. The ad promised “artisanal” sourdough, fermented slowly over a period of 3 days.
Whoa. I definitely wanted to try it. I guess that ad budget is paying off! Give your marketing team a reward. I actually made a special trip just to buy this bread.
If you’re accustomed to true bakery bread with a crusty-crust that is baked the same day you buy it, you may be disappointed to see that this comes in a plastic bag, instead of a paper bag (or no bag). Mine had a sell-by date 3 days in the future. I dug through the display in the store and picked out the loaf with the most distant expiration, hoping it was the freshest.
The Fresh Market ad specifically said the bread was “baked fresh daily,” so this was a moderate bummer. They may be baking bread every day, but continuing to sell the 2 or 3 day old bread. The loaves in my store did not all have the same sell-by date, so clearly some of it was not baked the same day.
When I unwrapped my loaf at home, the crust was not-so-crusty — it had softened from the moist air inside the bag, and become flabby. The good news is, you can pop the whole thing in your oven and toast it up again. Mine also started to get a little less soft just from sitting out on my table for a couple hours.
As usual, The Fresh Market gets five stars for aesthetics. This is a gorgeous loaf. From the bubbly, browned crust to the deeply scored pattern, this is a sight for sore (and hungry) eyes.
(If you really have sore eyes, though, you should see your doctor. Mmmkay.)
I was struck by how soft this bread is. I am used to chewier texture, but I liked this a lot. It’s almost velvety soft. Easier on my mouth and jaw. The crumb is quite dense, without being heavy. Although there are some air pockets, the overall texture is “less open” than other sourdough varieties.
(Do you prefer very chewy loaves? Perhaps you would enjoy the Sourdough Bread from Costco; you can read my silly review here.)
The most important thing to know, however, is that this bread is SUPER tangy. If this loaf was an epic super-hero, “tanginess” would be its superpower. It would vanquish its foes with sourness alone. It would achieve world domination solely on this attribute.
I have honestly never tasted bread this tart before. Fortunately, I’m a lover of “sour” (it fuels my sour personality, eh), so I was destined to adore this bread. I will buy it again simply because it has such an amazing flavor.
If you don’t like tangy bread, don’t buy this. Leave it for the rest of us.
(Are you looking for a sourdough bread to bake at home? You might like my review of the Publix Organic Bake-at-Home Sourdough Loaf from their Greenwise store-brand.)
Ingredients in The Fresh Market Sourdough
Unfortunately, that wonderful sourness may not be achieved entirely via the natural yeast of the sourdough. The ingredients list other tartness enhancers, like fumaric acid and ascorbic acid. I don’t love the addition of soybean oil, either, although this is probably a very small amount.
The ingredients don’t specifically state whether or not the flour is bleached or bromated, so I’m hoping it isn’t. This isn’t an organic product.
These are not big loaves. They’re 1-pound loaves, but long and narrow. Like a baguette that goes to the gym every day and eats steroids for breakfast.
In general, the smaller loaf size is perfect for a single person, such as myself. I will be able to eat it all before it goes stale. Win.
I am not the sandwich police, but I personally don’t consider this loaf ideal for sandwiches. It’s just too small, once sliced. The Fresh Market did have other loaf shapes available, such as a round boule loaf, which might work better for sandwich purposes.
It is, however, perfect for serving with soup or salad, or as a petite slice of morning toast. It’s just the right size for a little afternoon nosh.
Additional Sourdough Varieties from The Fresh Market
If you like this sourdough, you’d be glad to hear there are several other varieties to try, including rolls, a round loaf, and a “Rosemary Sea Salt” flavor. You can also buy this pre-sliced.
Not gonna lie, I really want to try the Rosemary Sea Salt flavor, now that I have gazed upon it.
Price for The Fresh Market Sourdough
The current price of ~$6 per loaf seems overpriced for the size and not being baked the same day you buy it. But, I am probably going to buy it again anyway, because…super tangy rocks my world. It just does.
The End.
More Slightly Eccentric Reviews You Might Like (or Hate)
Check out these other reviews I’ve written. Or don’t. That’s fine, too:
