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Original poster

Gluten free bread. It is awful!

45 replies

BabbleBee · 03/04/2022 17:38

Earlier this year I changed my diet to exclude all gluten following GP advice.

It is definitely been beneficial and if I’ve had anything with gluten in it now, I know about it! I’m guessing the intolerance is even worse now I have none at all.

I’m really missing beans on toast, and struggling with lunches especially. Can anyone recommend some properly nice bread? I’ve tried Schar, Genius, Warbertons, Tesco / Asda / Morrison own brand and none are sink-ya-teeth-in tasty. They’re all dry and crumbly which I really don’t like.

Any suggestions? Or even a recipe to make my own?

OP posts:
SailingandSauvignon · 03/04/2022 17:43

I don't often eat bread, because of this! But, I like M+S rolls the best
Or the genius tiger bloomer.

Looseleaf · 03/04/2022 17:44

There’s a nice rectangular pack in Holland and Barrett where you mix water or something into the contents and bake it as it is and it’s really good. I can’t remember its name though , and it’s not the cheapest option but they do have good offers often

Lollypop701 · 03/04/2022 17:44

M&S gluten free bread is good … but I think they are all crumbly

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Utini · 03/04/2022 17:45

M&S are the best I've found.

Phoenixrising2020 · 03/04/2022 17:46

I second the Genius tiger bloomer.

Looseleaf · 03/04/2022 17:46

I also google things like GF naan recipes as often homemade is reasonably easy and much nicer : there’s one recipe with gF flour and yoghurt we make in a pan and love. Adding Nigella seeds make it more like normal naan and it’s great

pastabest · 03/04/2022 17:49

The wheat free bakery online (unless you live nearby) - buy in bulk and get an extra freezer if needed!

The best widely available one is in our opinion the Wharburtons Tiger bread loaf.

You aren't going to find a direct replacement though. Sorry.

Also - have you been tested for coeliac before you gave up gluten?

SickAndTiredAgain · 03/04/2022 17:56

They are mainly awful, yes.

The one I personally like the best is genius brown bread, or triple seeded. Their white bread is horrible.

However it could just be that I’ve been gf for so long that I’ve forgotten what real bread tastes like, so the genius brown bread seems ok.

Anomalocaris · 03/04/2022 17:57

I've tried so many that people have recommended as the best GF bread and they've nearly all been awful, some are tolerable but I can't see the point of tolerating sub-par food tbh.

The only loaf I eat is Warburtons tiger bread and only for toast.

Schar frozen white rolls are amazing, 7 minutes in the oven and they're almost indistinguishable from proper crusty rolls (I've tested them on non-GFers), I use these for having with soup, to make garlic bread, and if I fancy a 'sandwich' when I cool them for about half an hour before eating.

Most of the breads and wraps have a really grim non-foody smell that I can't get past.

Anomalocaris · 03/04/2022 17:58

Becky Excell's blog, books and FB group are fab resources for GF baking.

dontgobaconmyheart · 03/04/2022 18:00

I don't want to sound like a moaner but I think all the supermarket options are pretty disappointing (at best) and inedible at worse. None are a patch on a loaf with gluten in and I've been gluten free for a few years now. It isn't a loaf, but the Old El Paso GF wraps are a passable substitute for the real thing if those might be of interest, very soft and no aftertaste.

I tend to look for GF loaves at markets or seek out gluten free bakeries- a lot easier if you are near London, though you can have them delivered for a premium. I find the Doves Farm Free range of flour very good and they have a bread flour, the recipes on their website are my go to for cakes and scones.

Punkyfish3000 · 03/04/2022 18:01

When my mum was going without wheat (which she did for years on account of digestive issues) she found Tesco's own brand free-from bread the nicest, followed by Warburton's Bakehouse free-from bread. I see you weren't so lucky with either. But otherwise free-from bread is awful as it tastes of cardboard.

Sandwich thins are available in the free-from range, would these be worth a try? My mum liked these iirc. She also ate a lot of rice cakes.

TargusEasting · 03/04/2022 18:02

Irish Potato Cakes. You can substitute the wheat flour element with rice or maize flour.

Theunamedcat · 03/04/2022 18:03

The Warburton tiger bread is good however it has am ingredient that I still react too so be aware (I've no clue what it is)

Have you turned your toaster down? Gluten free does not go brown fast so you might be overcooking it which is why it's so crumbling

PragmaticWench · 03/04/2022 18:07

I found a recipe online for gluten free dinner rolls and they're amazing! DD is coeliac but I'm used to normal rolls and I thought these were fab. Easy to make as well.

Original poster
BabbleBee · 03/04/2022 18:08

I hadn’t thought of looking in Holland and Barrett, will check it out thank you.

OP posts:
ClumpingBambooIsALie · 03/04/2022 18:09

For white sliced, I like Promise best. Warburton's Tiger is good for solid loaves. BFree for pittas. Morrison's and Asda own brand good for white rolls.

Original poster
BabbleBee · 03/04/2022 18:09

@SailingandSauvignon

I don't often eat bread, because of this! But, I like M+S rolls the best Or the genius tiger bloomer.
I didn’t like the tiger bloomer much. The M&S chocolate cookies however…. now they are very good!
OP posts:
Original poster
BabbleBee · 03/04/2022 18:12

@pastabest

The wheat free bakery online (unless you live nearby) - buy in bulk and get an extra freezer if needed!

The best widely available one is in our opinion the Wharburtons Tiger bread loaf.

You aren't going to find a direct replacement though. Sorry.

Also - have you been tested for coeliac before you gave up gluten?

I’ll have a look at the online bakery, thank you.

Yes, I was tested for Coeliac but that was negative. I had quite a few inflammatory markers, and a long (20yrs+) history of problems. GP suggested trying further dietary changes, I’d already done lactose with no changes a few years ago so tried gluten free. It wasn’t an overnight change but by 3 months of no gluten I was much, much better.

OP posts:
Original poster
BabbleBee · 03/04/2022 18:14

@Theunamedcat

The Warburton tiger bread is good however it has am ingredient that I still react too so be aware (I've no clue what it is)

Have you turned your toaster down? Gluten free does not go brown fast so you might be overcooking it which is why it's so crumbling

I’ll try the toaster turned down, anything for decent toast!
OP posts:
Original poster
BabbleBee · 03/04/2022 18:16

Glad to see I’m not the only one who finds it generally unpleasant. I’m managing main evening meals quite well but lunch is a big stumbling block and that’s resulted in me not eating enough through the day.

OP posts:
Crinkle77 · 03/04/2022 18:20

My mum is coeliac and the best shop bread is the Warburtons tiger loaf. She gets flour on prescription and makes her own but even that's not great and is very crumbly.

Coronado2 · 03/04/2022 18:22

Promise is the best I've had. Sainsbury's is the only place I can get it here. It is expensive, about £3.25 a loaf, but it just means I eat a lot less bread than I used to. I'd rather that than rubbish, but cheaper, bread.

Anomalocaris · 03/04/2022 18:23

Lunch is the hardest one for me too. I've ended up when at home just have a late breakfast and then an early dinner to avoid having to think about it.

But do try the schar frozen white rolls, they've been a bit of a gamechanger for me. BFree stone baked pittas are good too (just remembered I use them instead of wraps as all the wraps smell vile).

LetsPlayBamboozled · 03/04/2022 18:23

I second the Schar frozen bread rolls. Best I've found in five years!