Which is the Best Gluten Free Sandwich Bread?

Of all the GF breads on the shelf, which ones are the best?

Hi Friends,

Today I have a HIGHLY requested subject for you. People ask me ALL THE TIME what gluten free sandwich bread is the best, and I totally understand why. While I love baking and have a killer gluten free sandwich bread recipe (actually several) I also have a couple of kids, lots of commitments, and understand all too well the life of schepping sandwiches around and the need for a super easy option. Also, sometimes you have a recipe that calls for bread (french toast, stuffing, croutons, bread pudding etc) and its nice to be able to pull something off the shelf.

But what to choose? Will one bread work for different types of recipes? I needed to get some definitive answers for you friends. I purchased 7 different gluten free sandwich bread options (maybe another day we’ll do artisan style breads?) and tested them alone so I could get a really clear picture of their taste and texture, in a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and toasted. I purchased all of these breads (none were given to me or provided by the companies - thank you paid subscribers!) and they were all purchased at grocery stores local to me.

There were some surprising results. It had been quite a while since I’d bought a couple of these brands, and I’d never compared them to each other side by side so it was really interesting. As I’m sure you’re aware gluten free bread is not cheap so I know where I’ll spend my money in the future!! The breads I compared are shown both in packaging and on the sheet pan above as follows starting left to right top to bottom:

Canyon Bakehouse Gluten Free Country White (15oz $7.35 at the time of writing) This bread is sold vacuum packed and shelf stable. It had a fairly small slice with an open texture that was pretty firm. When eaten alone it had a sort of sweet taste.

Schar Artisan Baker White Bread (14.1oz $6.29 at the time of writing) This shelf stable loaf yields a very small slice was firm with a uniform texture. On vacations in Europe it has been a staple for us as it is widely available there. When eaten alone it has a velvety crust and a firm texture.

Sam’s Choice Gluten Free White Bread (18oz $6.74 at the time of writing) This shelf stable loaf has small slices but us longer than the other shelf stable options. It has a very open texture (lots of various sized holes) and is surprisingly springier than others. When eaten alone is is slightly sweet and the crust leaves a light crumb dusting on the fingers.

Canyon Bakehouse Mountain White Bread ( 18oz $9.49 at the time of writing) This frozen bread option has small quite firm slices. It is crumblier than it’s shelf stable companion of the same brand and has a bit more of an assertive “alternative grain” flavor.

Udi’s Delicious Soft White Bread (12oz $6.99 at the time of writing) This frozen bread almost exploded when I opened the bag. It was nearly impossible to extract a slice of any size, each piece seemed to instantly fall apart when I touched it. You can see a picture of the inside of the bag below. I did my best to piece together enough for small pieces of sandwiches but even they are merely gluing together crumbs. It had been a long time since I’d purchased an Udi loaf, and now I remember why. I’ll definitely use the rest of the bag as breadcrumbs in a recipe like Schnitzel or homemade chicken nuggets. Otherwise this one was really a bust.

Carbonaut Gluten Free White Bread (19oz $9.99 at the time of writing) This frozen low carb bread is a standout among the options. Soft and wonder bread like, this is the kind of bread that could get stuck to the roof of your mouth in the best way. Fresh out of the bag this larger slice was delightfully soft and springy with a mild taste reminiscent of whole wheat sandwich bread.

Rotella’s Italian Bakery Soft Italian White Bread (14oz $7.07 at the time of writing) This company (called Roma in some places and Rotella in others) makes the gluten free buns for several fast food restaurants and I love their buns. The frozen sandwich bread is a long loaf but small slices, that are very sturdy and uniform in texture with a classic “white bread” flavor.

Below are the taste tests and rankings of gluten free sandwich bread brands! I love saving you time and money, and helping you avoid disappointing gluten free products! I think we’ve all experienced that, right?

Next Level Gluten Free product tests are designed to save you time, money, and sadness. I find out which products stack up, and then I let you know! Not only that but I share a lot of recipes around here, Next Level Gluten Free recipes are tested over and over and work. Then I walk you through all the details. I’m like your friend in the kitchen, who’s a gluten free expert. Upgrade to a paid membership so we can hang out more and you get to eat more delicious gluten free food.

When I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the breads the flavor and texture differences definitely stood out.