Aldi Power Grains Sourdough Rolls Review
Author’s note: Not a paid review. These are my own seedy opinions. I have no affiliation with Aldi.
I like big buns, and I cannot lie.
Ok, but maybe not THIS big. These are chonky rolls. And super hearty. This is a big ‘ol bunch of carbs. Fortunately, they’re partially made with whole wheat, and leavened with a natural “sourdough culture.” More about that later.
Beware the bun aggression.
I served mine with Aldi’s Chipotle Salmon Burgers (read my silly review here). My opinion is that the thick buns overwhelm the delicate salmon patties. Full stop.
I found these rolls worked better for a meaty turkey sandwich (made with Costco’s Oven Browned Turkey Breast) where the robust pile of meat could hold its own against the bun aggression:
That’s a slice of Holy Sheep aged Gouda, if you are wondering. I bet you were wondering.
You’re full of seeds.
Anyway. Aldi calls these “Power Grains” rolls, but they should be called “Power Seeds.” Because they’re full of seeds. Poppy, sunflower, flax, and pumpkin. And millet. And even some rolled oats, which shall receive “honorary seed status” in this review. No one can stop me.
There are a LOT of seeds here. I thought it was just an aesthetic garnish on top when I bought the rolls. But, no. The seeds are generously mixed throughout the dough. This is particularly true (or just noticeable?) for the poppy seeds. Behold:
These rolls are SO full of seeds, they crumble a bit, and the bun tends to fall apart/split in two or three pieces. Especially the bottom bun. Especially right before you’re about to eat your sandwich. Just saying. No one skimped on seeds here!
Sweet honey flavor.
These are soft rolls. Not crusty. They also careen sharply to the sweet, rather than salty or savory, side. I would describe them as having a “honey wheat” flavor. This might be due to the added “organic honey” in the ingredients. And of course, the actual whole wheat. They have much more sugar per serving than I expected for a bun.
There’s no sourdough twang. Sourdough twang is my favorite, so this made me sad. There isn’t really a yeasty aroma, either. Or, if there is, it is drowned out by the prominent seed-and-honey flavors. Definitely a nice flavor, jut not “sourdough” flavor.
Brothers from different oven mothers.
The buns are strangely inconsistent in size and color. It looks like they didn’t rise evenly or bake at the same temperature. Bizarrely, I got exactly half of each kind — the pale, flatter ones were in a row under the darker, bigger ones inside my bag. Huh.
Here’s a side-by-side color comparison. I preferred the darker color, as the bread had risen more and was less dense and compacted. I know natural sourdough is a little unpredictable, but I was still surprised by the huge difference.
Ingredients in Aldi Power Seeds Sourdough Rolls
I do greatly admire these ingredients:
- Water
- Sourdough Culture (Wheat Flour, Water)
- Whole Wheat Flour
- Wheat Flour
- Organic Honey
- Poppy Seeds
- Millet
- Sunflower Seeds
- Flax Seeds
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Rolled Oats
- Sea Salt
- Enzymes
It’s fabulous to see naturally fermented sourdough products at a store like Aldi. I have nothing sassy or critical to say about these ingredients. I’ll try harder next time.
(Inexplicably, I didn’t have a great experience with Aldi’s famous Sourdough Round Loaf. You can read my cranky review here.)
Nutrition Facts
A serving is one roll and contains 310 calories. Yikes. You get 10 grams of fat and 10 grams of protein. I am assuming almost all that fat comes from the seeds, FYI. There’s a hearty 4 grams of fiber, and a sort-of-shocking 7 grams of sugar (6 grams are added sugars) from each roll. In total, there are 47 grams of carbohydrates per serving. There’s also a slightly staggering 25% of your daily value of sodium per bun. Sheesh.
Shelf-Life and Bread Snobbery
The “best by” date on my package was dated for about 6 days after purchase. It took me 8 days to eat all my buns. I kept mine in the refrigerator, and pan toasted them with a little butter before eating them. The toasting vanquished any staleness, and my rolls tasted fresh each day. Otherwise, they have a moderate flabby, sad texture. I wouldn’t eat these right out of the bag. But maybe I’m a bread snob.
Price and Servings
My 24 ounce package of 6 rolls cost $3.99 at my local Aldi. Per roll, that is 67 cents. Per ounce, that is 17 cents.
Dramatic Conclusion
Would I buy these rolls again? Meh. They were too big for even a big-bun-lover like me. And too crumbly. And the sourdough flavor was MIA. So, probably not. Life is too short to eat carbs that don’t completely thrill you. But, hat’s off to Aldi for making something that belongs in a health food store.
The End.
More Reviews You Might Like (or Hate)
Check out these other sourdough reviews I’ve written. Or don’t. That’s fine, too:
