Publix Sourdough Bake-at-Home Bread (Greenwise Organic)
I have a crust-crush.
I’ve been eyeing this “bake at home” sourdough bread from Publix for several months. I finally decided it was TIME.
Previously, I reviewed the Aldi “take and bake” Italian Bread, which was completely fabulous. In fact, that loaf turned me into an ardent proselytizer for “bake at home” breads. Aldi’s version is a tough act to follow, so let’s see how the Publix Bakery has risen to the challenge.
Ha ha. Risen. Bread puns.
The first minor disappointment is that my loaf was previously frozen. When I picked it up from my local Publix, it was cold and covered in condensation, like it had just defrosted. Because it had already been frozen (and thawed), it really isn’t a candidate for re-freezing at home and storing for later use. Not a deal-breaker, just an observation.
Although this sourdough is technically already baked, it is (obviously) meant to be re-baked at home before serving. Straight out of the bag, the bread has a nice browned color, but is flabby and with no bread aroma. Only a truly desperate situation — like imminent death from starvation — would convince me to eat it directly from the bag.
Baking Instructions for Publix Sourdough Bread
Because I like my bread verrrry crusty, I opted to bake mine for 12 minutes at 400 degrees. The instructions (from the bag) say to place the loaf directly on the center oven rack (not on a baking sheet), so I did this.
This sourdough doesn’t rise or expand — or really change much during baking — mine only got very slightly darker in appearance.
I am impressed by the result. Oh, the crustage! So very crustly. I have a crust-crush. If you love crispy, crusty bread, you will be delighted. This is the crustiest bread I have had in quite a while. In fact, mine was soooo stiff, I worried I might have overcooked it, and it would be hard inside.
But fear not, gentle reader, for such tragedy was avoided. When I sliced into my loaf, the inside was amazingly moist. In fact, the innards are almost TOO moist. Not sure how that is possible. I would not call the inside undercooked — but any moister, and it would be “dough.”
Thus, you are getting the very best of both bread-worlds: a crisp, chewy crust — and a tender, soft inside. When cut open, the loaf released a pleasant, twangy aroma. A distinct fermented smell. It has a mild sour flavor — less pungent than other sourdoughs, but not weak. It’s no where near as sour as The Fresh Market Sourdough Bread, but if you read my review, you know they achieved that remarkable sourness by adding tartness enhancers. Is that cheating? I don’t know. More about the Publix ingredients later.
The crumb has surprisingly consistent air pockets throughout — surprising, because so many other loaves of sourdough seem to have enormous, cavernous gaps. This bread is peppered with small and medium cavities only. Much more homogenous. That’s nice if you don’t want your butter to fall through a hole before you eat it.
This isn’t a large loaf, and the slices are quite petite. About half the size of a normal bread slice. I don’t mind this for “side bread” and snackage, but I probably wouldn’t make sandwiches out of this.
Nutrition Facts in Publix Greenwise Sourdough Bread
A 14 ounce loaf has 7 servings, which seems like a low estimate. Each serving has 120 calories, and 25 grams of carbohydrates. There are 4 grams of protein, 0 grams of fat, and 0 grams of sugar. Nice.
Ingredients in Bake at Home Sourdough from Publix Greenwise
Here are the ingredients from the label:
- Water
- Organic Wheat Flour
- Sourdough Culture (Organic wheat flour, Water, Organic whole wheat flour)
- Sea Salt
- Organic Yeast
So there is added yeast, in addition to the natural sourdough culture. This is pretty typical of mass-produced sourdoughs — for consistent rise. This is sometimes called “hybrid sourdough.” It may not satisfy the strictest sourdough purists, but I accept it.
More info from the label:
- “No artificial flavors or colors.”
- Certified Organic by QAI
- USDA Organic
- Kosher (K Pareve)
Here’s a picture of the bottom of the loaf, for no reason at all:
Price and Shelf-life of Publix Organic Sourdough Bread
My 14-ounce loaf cost $4.79. Normally, I would consider this “a bit high” for such a small loaf. But, it IS organic, and I do expect to pay more for an organic product. Since there are 7 servings per loaf, this works out to 68 cents per 2 ounce serving.
The sell-by sticker on my loaf is dated for 5 days after purchase. I put my loaf in my refrigerator as soon as I got home, and I baked it the following day. It’s nice to know I can buy this several days before I need it, and then bake it right before serving.
As previously mentioned, because my loaf was already frozen (by Publix), I would not recommend re-freezing this product.
I stored my (re-baked) loaf in a plastic bag in my refrigerator, to maximize the lifespan. I’m a slow eater, and it will probably take me a week to finish this.
Dramatic Conclusion
This sourdough bread was objectively good. In fact, it might be the best supermarket sourdough I’ve ever had. I would buy it again. It’s perfect as a side-item with a meal, but too small for typical sandwiches. As long as you have an oven at home, this bread is a convenient and quick way to get “almost homemade” results.
The end.
More Reviews You Might Like (or Hate)
Check out these other bread reviews I’ve written:
- Sourdough Bread from The Fresh Market
- Costco Bakery Sourdough Bread
- Aldi Italian Bread Take & Bake
- Costco Bakery Green Chile Corn Bread
