The Absolute Best Bread From Whole Foods, Ranked 

One of the joys of shopping at Whole Foods is their vast selection of fresh bread to choose from. But with so many choices, it’s hard to tell which ones are going to be best without getting to try them first. That’s where I come in. I tried 13 loaves of bread from Whole Foods, so you don’t have to. Here’s their ranking, from best to worst.  

Videos by Sporked

1 ― Country White Bread Pan Loaf

This loaf genuinely surprised me. This bread is the most versatile in flavor and texture compared to the others I tried. It is universally palatable, with excellent texture. It is soft and tender, but still resilient and flexible. The chew pairs perfectly with the loaf’s slightly sweet, slightly salty flavor. And, after eating 13 slices of bread, this is the only bite I could fathom coming back to. 

2 ― Chocolate Swirl Brioche Bread

This loaf was faultless. It is definitely sweet and should be purchased with that in mind, but I would take a slice of this bread over a donut 10 times out of 10. It is light, but also rich and sweet. The chocolate doesn’t take away from the brioche flavor and the chocolate is dark enough to feel very balanced. The texture is chewy and oh-so soft. The only reason it isn’t number one is because of its inherent lack of versatility.  

3 ― San Francisco Sourdough Loaf 

Out of all the sourdoughs available at Whole Foods, this loaf was far and beyond better than the rest. It was a true sourdough and, per its namesake, tasted very similar to the strong, chewy loaves coming out of Boudin Bakery. If you like sourdough, and haven’t had the time to develop your own starter, this is an excellent loaf to see you through.  

4 ― Japanese Milk Bread

If you like soft white bread and don’t mind sacrificing some structural integrity to get it, then this is the best loaf I can recommend. It’s a little bit sweet and probably the most tender bread I have ever eaten. This milk bread would be the perfect choice for anyone who is looking for a vessel to let other flavors shine, without taking away from the overall taste of your dish.  

5 ― Forbidden Rice Sourdough Batard 

The flavor of this loaf is almost better than it should be. The forbidden rice gives the loaf a nutty rice flavor―beyond the unique purplish color. The loaf’s subtle sourdough flavor, in combination with the toasted sesame seed crust, is very pleasant and would make an easy complement to all your sandwich needs. It’s a unique flavor, but not too bold or funky to use as you would any other slice. The crust has a lovely crunch and the crumb is chewy, tender, and moist.

6 ― Italian Semolina Loaf

This bread tastes like your favorite ciabatta roll transformed into a delicious sandwich loaf. The flavor is plain, certainly, but the texture makes it a stand-out. It’s not sweet, nicely salted, and the crust-to-interior juxtaposition makes each bite a good experience.  

7 ― Multigrain Bread Pan Loaf

The multigrain pan loaf is a great example of what multigrain sandwich bread should be. It feels very similar to the loaves of Scandinavian breakfasts―dense with an array of seeds and very filling. It has a nice nutty flavor, but unless you are already a big fan of multigrain bread, I can’t say this is the loaf for you.  

8 ― French Baguette

The Whole Foods baguette is just a bit better than “okay.” It just feels very plain. The flavor is one note and the crust of the baguette is lacking. It’s by no means bad, and could easily be doctored up, but on its own it’s far from delicious.  

9 ― Mt. Athos Fire Sourdough Loaf 

This sourdough wasn’t bad, per se, but when the San Francisco sourdough is available, this one is put to shame. The crumb and overall texture are much worse. The flavor is honestly comparable, but it reads very dry and uninteresting on its own. 

10 ― “Seeduction” Bread

This bread tastes like one thing: a mouthful of poppy seeds. It’s less “seeductive” and more off-putting. If you’re a huge fan of poppy flavor, then you would love this! But if you intend on eating this with something you actually want to taste the flavor of, then I’d skip this one.  

11 ― Braided Brioche Loaf

Oh, my sweetness! This brioche is far sweeter than any I’ve ever tried, and it’s probably sweeter than the cakes available at Whole Foods―and honestly this feels very cake-like. The texture is pretty nice, and it would probably make a good dessert. But it isn’t versatile like a brioche should be. If you put this with eggs or meat, it would taste more like a food experiment than a good time.  

12 ― Cheese Swirl Brioche Bread

I’m of the belief that if you are advertising a flavor or ingredient in the name of the product, you should actually be able to taste it. There is no discernable cheese flavor in this bread. While sometimes you might get a bite that feels a little creamy, it’s nowhere near enough to make it a selling point or going out of your way to try this loaf. Not terrible―just not what you’re paying for.  

13 ― Heritage Grain Sourdough Loaf  

To me, this is the only bread that was genuinely unpleasant to eat. It was bitter, dry, tasted healthy in a bad way, and fell apart before I could even get the package open. Literally, the crust came off the entire loaf because of how crumbly it was. If the texture was better, it would have been redeemable. But as is, I didn’t want to finish the bite.