Can’t go to Paris but still want the best baguette? You’ve come to the right place. We tasted 14 baguettes, purchased from supermarkets, in search of the best baguettes to buy.
How we sourced the baguettes
We bought all manner of baguettes from grocery stores that were as nationally present as possible. We sourced sourdough baguettes, classic French baguettes, take-and-bake baguettes, and even gluten free baguettes. We chose baguettes from both grocery store bakeries and prepackaged baguettes available in the bread section.
How we tasted the baguettes
We ripped hunks of these baguettes off and shoved them into our mouths the second they arrived at the office. We didn’t want them to get even somewhat stale and skew our ranking. If they were take-and-bake baguettes, we followed the instructions, baking them in an oven per the instructions on the packaging.
What we looked for in the best baguettes
We looked at three qualities when evaluating the best baguettes: crust, innards, and flavor. A classic French baguette should have a crackly crust that shatters when you break it, giving way to soft, slightly chewy innards. The flavor should be mildly yeasty with a slight tang. But French baguettes aren’t the only style of baguette we tried. Sourdough baguettes should focus more on that tart, tangy flavor. And gluten-free baguettes should taste as much like a traditional baguette as possible. We also held the take-and-bake baguettes to a higher standard. If they require you to put in work, then they better reward you with extra crunchy crust and soft, chewy innards.
Here are the best baguettes to buy at the grocery store.
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- Schar Gluten Free Baguette
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Sometimes gluten free products are so good they rank high even amongst their gluten-full comrades in our taste tests. This is not one of those occasions. This is the best gluten free baguette simply because it is acceptable. The crust is light and crispy. The innards are fine, if bland. It sort of tastes like if you turned a water cracker into a baguette. But it’s still better than any of the other gluten free baguettes we tried.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread
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I know, I know. In no way is this a traditional baguette. It’s long brown bread topped with oats. But it’s good long brown bread with oats. The wheat bread itself is a little sweet and malty. The instructions on the package tell you to heat the bread at 350°F for 5 minutes, so it’s not quite take-and-bake, but you do need to put in a little bit of effort. And it pays off—the heat brings out that rich flavor. It’s the best baguette to serve with a simple soup and salad.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- La Brea Bakery Sourdough Baguette
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You’re going to see a lot of La Brea Bakery on this list. They make good bread! And while this isn’t the number one best baguette from La Brea, it is the best sourdough baguette we tasted. The crust could be crispier (throw it in the oven for a few minutes to solve that), but the innards are chewy and delightfully tangy. Personally, I think this is the best grocery store baguette to slice into rounds and toast for crostini or to sop up a rich soup like bouillabaisse.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Sprouts Classic Baguette
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Sprouts aren’t everywhere but they are in a lot of places—and they continue to expand their footprint. And that’s good news for folks who enjoy a good grocery store bakery. We liked the Sprouts take-and-bake baguette (just not as much as our number one best take-and-bake baguette), and we really enjoyed their classic baguette, as well. It has a thin, crispy crust that flakes when you break off a chunk. And the innards have a mild flavor and good chew. It’s a perfect baguette to grab right from the store and plonk down on the table with a quick salad and a rotisserie chicken.
Credit: Merc / Sprouts
- Trader Joe’s Organic French Baguette
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Trader Joe’s bread can be hit or miss (check out our ranking of 30 varieties of Trader Joe’s bread for proof), but the baguette is one of the good ones. It’s chewy and doughy and it tastes fresh. Straight from the store, the crust isn’t super crunchy or crisp, but it’s nothing a few minutes in the oven won’t fix. If you can’t find La Brea or you regularly shop at TJ’s, this is the best baguette to eat in chunks. Just rip some off and chow down—maybe paired with some good prosciutto and gooey brie.
Credit: Merc / Trader Joe’s
- La Brea Take and Bake Baguette
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We tasted La Brea’s take-and-bake baguette head-to-head with Sprouts’ take-and-bake baguette, and it just edged it out. If you have a Sprouts near you, by all means, buy their take-and-bake baguette. It’s very good. But La Brea’s offering really ends up tasting like super fresh baked bread. It’s hearty and cozy and it has a touch more of that yeasty, I-made-this-with-my-own-sourdough-starter flavor.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- La Brea Bakery French Baguette
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Here’s the best baguette of all the baguettes we tasted. Yes, it’s even better than the La Brea take-and-bake baguette. The flavor is simply incredible. It practically tastes like it’s already slathered in butter—it’s wild. I would love this baguette for breakfast, with a cup of cafe au lait and a lot of butter. It’s straight up Parisian as all get out.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Best Gluten Free Baguette
Best Brown Bread Baguette
Best Sourdough Baguette
Best Thin Crust
Best Grocery Store Brand Bread
Best Take-and-Bake
Best of the Best
Other baguettes we tried: BFree Gluten Free Baguette, Marketside French Baguette, Signature Select French Baguette, Signature Select Artisan French Baguette, Kirkland Signature Baguette, Signature Select Sourdough Baguette, Sprouts French Baguette Take and Bake
Might be something wrong with this article because every baguette got the same rating of 7.5.