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Sourdough Bread from The Fresh Market Review

A loaf of sourdough in a clear plastic bag with a label that says The Fresh Market. The loaf is held in a hand in front of other loafs in baskets inside the store.

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.

A loaf of decorated sourdough, with the end sliced off, sitting on a wooden table.

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.)

A loaf of sourdough from The Fresh Market, sliced open, sitting on a table.

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.

A close-up of the texture inside a loaf of sourdough from The Fresh Market.

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.

Label from The Fresh Market sourdough bread, showing ingredients and price.

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.

A loaf of decorated sourdough from The Fresh Market, held in a hand over a wooden table.

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.

A slice of sourdough bread from The Fresh Market, showing the size in the palm of a hand.

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.

A slice of sourdough from The Fresh Market on a plate with some butter and a butter knife.

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.

Several baskets full of different varieties of sourdough bread from The Fresh Market.

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.

Rosemary Sea Salt sourdough loaves from The Fresh Market, sitting in a basket in the store.

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.


Author’s note: Obviously, I wasn’t paid to write this review. I bought this bread with my own monies. I have no affiliation with The Fresh Market or the Sandwich Police.

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