Sourdough Tier List

[worldshottestmom]

I have an unhealthy addiction to sourdough bread, and I have recently been trying the sourdough from various places, including supermarkets, bakeries, coffee shops, etc.

Here's my ratings so far:

#1 - Co-op bakery sourdough - the undefeated king. Such a rich sour taste that I've found to be unbeaten (£2.65 or so).

#2 - Martin's Bakery - cheap as hell and you get a huge sourdough! Really nice tasting, just not as good as coop imo. (£2.45 ish)

#3 - Tesco standard - delectable and underrated; much better than the finest! (Around £2.10)

#4 - Morrisons standard - also way better than the Best version (again around £2)

#5 - Gail's Bakery - tried the San Fran sourdough and was okay - was expecting better for the price. Outer crust was borderline burnt and inside was flavourful, but not as much as i'd hoped. (around £4.85).

#6 - Morrisons XL cali bloomer - not really much like sourdough at all, was very bready with no air gaps in it. Maybe just the one I got was a dud, but who knows, wasn't impressed. (Around £2.75?)

#7 - Tesco Finest sourdough bloomer - putting this low on the list as i was tricked into thinking it was a white bloomer, which it was not! Idk, just didn't enjoy it. (Around £2.90)

So, what's your favourite sourdough, and from where? I'm looking to find the greatest sourdough in the UK, which I will worship for all of eternity.

And if anyone suggests making my own; I refuse, as it seems I would have to tend to it and look after it more than a newborn baby and I don't have the mental commitment for to deal with that.

Thanks!

OK I won't suggest making your own but I do make ours. The starter doesn't take much looking after. I take it out of the fridge and give it a couple of feeds on day1. I then mix it, knead and stretch and fold. Maybe half an hour's work. Next day I knock it back a bit, let it rise and bake. Maybe 20 minutes tops.
OK I need to be around for the 2 days but unless working outside the home it's a breeze.

Aldi seeded sliced sourdough
Asda wholemeal & rye sliced sourdough

I have tried some from Waitrose and Jason's but prefer the above two. I lurve chewy sourdough too!

I usually make my own but when I can’t Asda’s is my favourite. As much as I love M&S food this is the one thing that they do really badly.

Im gonna give Asda's a try, its really well reviewed. I think i may give making my own a go, im just worried ill dedicate my life to it and it'll turn out horribly lmao but thanks everyone!

Jason’s

Two days? I just don’t have the kind of brain that can deal with thinking on Friday that I’ll fancy bread on Sunday. I tried making the starter once but gave up after feeding it for a week because it seemed like an absolute faff with no bread to show for it!
I like the M&S one.

Aldi White Sourdough (apparently made from a 30 year old starter).

my only issue is that there are always short dates on every loaf.

"my only issue is that there are always short dates on every loaf" but you can freeze them? I do, and the bread is fine when toasted, or just defrosted on top of the toaster.

You absolutely 100% do not need to make a big production about starter. I have a jar in the fridge which I top up with 50g of flour and 50g of water the night before I need it. I use all of it in the loaf, leaving just scrapings in the jar. This is enough to get the next lot going. It can be left quite happily for several weeks without doing anything.

I make one sourdough loaf a week and it is far nicer than any I have bought.

If you are inclined to give it a try look at the Bake With Jack YouTube channel on how to start and use starter.

Has anyone made sourdough in a bread maker please

I haven’t and I suspect it wouldn’t work, but happy to be proved wrong. I make sourdough using the Tartine method and the series of stretch and folds isn’t something my bread machine would do. Also, cooking it requires initial explosive heat and again a machine does not provide that.

I slice it after it cools and it goes in the freezer. We take it out as we need it. It's healthier being frozen as it increases the resistant starch. There's only 2 of us and I bake one 1.2kg loaf per week.

@ The Gander is right. You would get an edible loaf but it would just look like any other bread maker loaf.

If you want a lovely light bubbly sourdough loaf you need to do the long slow rise and fold method

@GameofPhones yes re freezing.

By short dates I meant if I go in 4th the date on the shelf is the 5th. I only buy a loaf for the weekend so it’s not a problem (and I also don’t have to make sure there’s bread available for anyone else).

1: Jasons from Waitrose- a night light one.
2: Aldi wheat and rye if I want a denser one.

If you want a quick easy homemade bread, make a soda bread, takes 5 minute prep, 30 minutes in the oven.

You can"t bake it but you can mix it in the breadmaker (not on the sourdough programme!). Then you do a cold ferment, shape and bake. Check the Panasonic bread facebook group for the method.

Thank you.
i will look into this

Ok..thank you