Cook and food writer Thomasina Miers, who bakes sourdough weekly at home, has taste-tested supermarket sourdough loaves to see how they compare to homemade. She was pleasantly surprised by several, noting good texture, flavour, and crumb, but found that none declared salt content—a key factor in taste.
Miers also observed that only Wildfarmed mentioned pesticide and herbicide use, which she considers important for higher-priced loaves. She praised supermarkets for engaging with better bread, and noted that Jason's and Wildfarmed are now widely available.
Top-rated was Jason's Sourdough at £2 for 450g (44p/100g), available at Ocado and Tesco. Miers called it 'delicious' with great taste, a delicate tang, and a crumb that stayed fresh for days. It earned five stars for its quality and value.
Other loaves varied: some had good tang and shape but dense crumb, while others lacked flavour or had unappealing textures. The San Francisco-style loaf from an unnamed brand had a nice open crumb but faint tang. A loaf with rye flour was described as flat and dense.
Miers concluded that while some supermarket sourdoughs are excellent, shoppers should look for provenance and avoid loaves with glossy finishes or dense crumb. She recommends Jason's Sourdough as the best buy.
