What's the best gluten-free sandwich bread?
This post is here to answer that question once and for all.
I'm sharing some of the biggest gluten-free bread brands on the market today, and how they compare in taste, texture, and price.
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When I was first diagnosed with celiac disease, the food I missed the most was bread.
Warm, soft, crumbly, bread. Bread for a classic PB&J. Bread to have as avocado toast with breakfast. Bread to make a nice grilled cheese sandwich.
But back in 2009, my options were very slim. With only a few brands that tasted remotely good, and combined with my damaged gut, it was a while before I was able to eat gluten-free bread that I liked - without issue.
Thankfully, over the last decade, gluten-free sandwich bread has improved dramatically. But with a growing number of brands on the shelf brings a big question:
Which brands of gluten-free bread are the best? And how do they compare?
It's important before I begin this list to remind you that my taste buds are not your tastebuds. I'm going to share my honest opinions here about each brand. And if you disagree, that's okay! I'm sharing this list to help you make the most informed decisions in your weekly food shopping. I want to save you from buying products you end up hating and ensure you can replicate all of your favorite sandwiches, breads, and toasts to be gluten-free, and lead you towards brands that are safe.
Here are some of the most popular gluten-free sandwich bread on the market today and how they compare: their ingredients, their gluten-free status (if they are certified GF or not), and their overall taste/texture. I've tried most of the gluten-free breads listed here on multiple occasions. Please remember, this list doesn't include all of the gluten-free bread out there, so if you don't see your favorite, let me know in the comments which one you like best!
*Note: I've also included 2 surveys of gluten-free community members about their favorite bread as well, plus a few other brands I haven't tried that might be of interest - so you know what other people in the gluten-free community say about these brands!
Let's take a look at the best gluten-free bread and where you can find them on a budget!
Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Comparisons
Disclaimer
I am not a doctor, dietitian, or medical professional. Always read labels and double-check your products before consuming. While many people can digest gluten-free certified products, some cannot. Everyone's celiac disease is different, so only do what is best for your health!
Clarification: Certified Gluten-Free
The "certified gluten-free" label is part of the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO), a program of the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America. They provide an independent, third-party certification program for gluten-free products. While the FDA requires a product to have less than 20 ppm (parts per million) of gluten to be labeled gluten-free, the GFCO tests to 10 ppm.
More information about the GFCO can be found here for your reference.
Gluten-Free Bread: What's It Made Of?
If there's no wheat flour to make bread, what do they use?
Many different gluten-free grains, flours, gums, and starches are used to make gluten-free bread, including:
White Rice Flour
Brown Rice Flour
Potato Starch
Tapioca Starch
Oat Flour* (using gluten-free oats)
Quinoa Flour
Almond Flour
Buckwheat Flour
Millet Flour
Cornstarch
Psyllium Husk
Xanthan Gum
Gluten-free breads may also contain eggs, dairy, or gluten-free oats, so please check your labels if you cannot digest those ingredients.
Gluten-Free Bread Types
Gluten-Free Bread typically comes in three varieties: white bread, closest to the white bread you may have eaten as a kid, multigrain or whole grain, which combines many gluten-free grains for a more hearty style, and cinnamon raisin bread, which has the additions of cinnamon and raisins. Some gluten-free brands have multiple kinds of their breads, while others only have a few.
Of course you can also find rolls, hamburger buns, hot dog buns, English muffins, and bagels that are gluten-free. But that's not what we are focusing on in this post!
Where To Buy Gluten-Free Bread
Supermarkets
In supermarkets and supermarket chains, there are three possible locations for gluten-free bread, so before giving up, make sure you have checked all three places!
1st location: in the frozen section
Many gluten-free breads are kept frozen to maintain freshness. Check to see if there is a specific gluten-free section. If there isn't, you will most likely find the bread by the breakfast items, like the frozen egg sandwiches, sausages, and pancakes. Grocery stores tend to group like items together.
2nd location: in the gluten-free aisle
If the supermarket where you are shopping has an aisle dedicated to organic, healthy, or gluten-free food, be sure to check there next! Many times I've found Schar, and Glutino bread on the shelf, while Canyon Bakehouse, Udi's, and Three Bakers will be in the freezer section.
3rd location: with the regular bread (BE CAREFUL!)
This is the riskiest place to put gluten-free bread, in my opinion. Not only is there the chance of cross-contamination if a bag of bread accidentally opens, but the possibility of selecting a loaf of bread that isn't gluten-free due to similar packaging is concerning. Please triple check that what you are placing in your cart is labeled gluten-free!
I'm thankful that my local Market Basket here in Massachusetts, they keep the gluten-free bread in the bread aisle on the very top shelves!
*Fun Fact: My first job was as a cashier/bagger at Publix in high school. One of my favorite responsibilities (besides working the cash register) was to return the items customers would decide not to buy at the last minute. It's why I know grocery stores so well.
Online
You can buy most gluten-free bread brands online through Amazon, which also owns Whole Foods. Because of this business relationship, there are many of options on Amazon. But one of the most beloved gluten-free bread (Schar) + hundreds of other gluten-free products are available for less on my other favorite online retailer: Thrive Market!
Thrive ships your favorite gluten-free brands and products right to your door for less than your local supermarket, and even beats Amazon in price! Thrive Market takes 25-50% off retail prices on 6,000+ organic, non-GMO, and sustainable products ranging from food, freezer meals, pantry staples, supplements, and beauty supplies. It's saved me over $60 in groceries so far this year alone.
Thrive Market memberships are half the cost of an Amazon prime membership. Thrive also ships using sustainable and recycled materials, and they gift a subscription to a first-responder or family in need for every membership purchased.
Sign up for a 1-month membership for just $5 and watch the savings pile up!
Choose a FREE gift, up to $24 value, when you purchase a Thrive Market membership! (1 year and 1 month memberships available))
Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Polls
Poll From The Nomadic Fitzpatricks Readers
Here are the results from the poll I sent to my newsletter subscribers. Overall, they voted Canyon Bakehouse as their favorite.
Poll From Gluten-Free Facebook Group
Here are the results from the poll I shared in a gluten-free Facebook group I'm a member of. Overall, they voted Canyon Bakehouse as their favorite.
#1 Winner Overall: Canyon Bakehouse
Canyon Bakehouse is a beloved favorite for not only all of you, but it's my favorite as well!
Canyon's bread tastes the most like the whole wheat bread I grew up on. It's got wonderful flavor, taste, and texture. It toasts well, freezes well, doesn't fall apart, and can handle being baked in a casserole, fried for grilled cheese, or toasted for a tasty sandwich.
Canyon Bakehouse makes quite a few gluten-free bread products, including more than seven types of sandwich bread, plus varieties of bagels, English muffins, rolls, and even brownie bites!
I've never had something from Canyon Bakehouse that was disappointing. Plus, their customer service is top-notch. If you ever have an issue or problem, let them know. They usually send coupons for a free loaf of bread. And while their bread is priced a little higher than others (over $6 on Amazon/Whole Foods), the pieces of bread are sized like a normal piece of bread, and not miniature, like other brands!
All Canyon Bakehouse gluten-free bread is certified gluten-free and produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility. All Canyon products are also free from gluten, dairy, nuts (tree nuts & peanuts), and soy and are made using non-GMO ingredients. Some of their bread may contain oats - so please take care if you are sensitive to gluten-free oats. You can reader Canyon's full disclaimer about their use of gluten-free oats here.
I find Canyon Bakehouse bread in the frozen section of all of my local grocery stores, including Stop & Shop, Big Y/Hannaford, Market Basket, and Whole Foods.
Buy Canyon Bakehouse on Amazon.
Second Place Favorite: Schar
My second place favorite is Schar Gluten-Free Bread and many of my fellow gluten-free community members agree!
Schar is one of the few gluten-free bread brands that doesn't harden up over time. It's soft, pillowy, and has a mild taste and texture. It also toasts well, freezes well, doesn't fall apart, and can handle being baked in a casserole, fried for grilled cheese, or toasted for a tasty sandwich.
I think Schar is one of the best brands for gluten-free travel, on the go sandwiches for hiking, camping, or backpacking. Schar began in Europe and has expanded to become one of the largest international gluten-free brands on the market today.
Schar has a few types of gluten-free bread, including deli-style sourdough, artisan multigrain, artisan 10 grains and seeds, and artisan white bread. They also make ciabatta, baguettes, crispbread, and more.
Here is the official statement from Schar about their ingredients:
"We are an exclusively gluten-free company, so none of our items will have gluten in them. Some of our products may contain dairy, tree nuts, and soy. Please check each of the individual product pages for allergen information. You can also use our allergen-specific search function to see what products work best for you."
I find Schar bread in the frozen section of all of my local grocery stores, including Stop & Shop, Big Y/Hannaford, Market Basket, and Whole Foods.
While you can buy Schar on Amazon for $7.99, you can find it for just $4.99 over on Thrive Market. Score! Learn more about Thrive Market here.
Third Place Favorite: Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's has some of the best gluten-free products, and their bread is no different!
Trader Joe's is an excellent choice for gluten-free bread, and it can also be stored at room temperature. It toasts nicely, makes a great sandwich, and works well in baked casseroles, like this stuffed French toast.
Trader Joe's has gluten-free white bread, cinnamon raisin bread, and now a new product - gluten-free brioche bread! With these choices, and the multitude of other tasty options at Trader Joe's, plus the reasonable price (about $5), it's earned its spot here at number three.
Trader Joe's has a list of their gluten-free labeled products which have less than 20 ppm of gluten. You can find that list right here. Please note that Trader Joe's gluten-free sandwich bread label says it contains eggs. If you cannot digest eggs, please be mindful that this product may not work for you.
Unfortunately, Trader Joe's does not ship or offer online shopping, so you have to look for their gluten-free sandwich bread in stores. If you don't see any on the shelf, be sure to ask a store clerk to check in the back just in case!
For more gluten-free products, check out this great list from my friend Margaret at MI Gluten-Free Gal.
Best Gluten-Free Bread on a Budget
Gluten-free products are already more expensive than their normal counterparts, which can be extremely frustrating to families or individuals who follow the gluten-free diet. Here are four brands to consider.
Aldi
Aldi's line of gluten-free products is beloved by many - just like Trader Joe's. And one of the best thing's about Aldi's is their lower prices - which are usually non-brand names. By avoiding the big brand names and sticking to private labels, they are able to keep their prices so cheap. Aldi's gluten-free products are also, pretty dang tasty!
Aldi's gluten-free products are called "Live G Free". Their Live G Free wide pan gluten-free bread is certified gluten-free, and costs between $3-$4 a loaf.
Aldi's white bread does contain eggs.
Udi's
Okay, before you get too angry about Udi's (I know it's not the best), the price and their improved recipe have drawn me to Udi's once more.
A few years ago, I grew frustrated with Udi's bread. It was too small, the loaves sometimes had holes in them, and the bread would often fall apart when I made a sandwich. However, in the last two years, they've made improvements to their bread. Their white bread has a softer and more pillowy texture, and I've been less likely to find holes in a loaf of bread - it hasn't happened in a long time. Plus, at my local Market Basket, Udis' is usually the cheapest gluten-free bread for $4.99, but often on sale for $3.99.
Udi's bread is normally found in the frozen section of most supermarkets. They have both white bread and whole-grain bread, both of which I recommend for sandwiches, toasts, and bread recipes.
Three Bakers
Three Bakers is another excellent choice at the supermarket, costing less than $5 per loaf. Like Canyon Bakehouse, they make a huge variety of sandwich bread, even a rye-style bread, and also, a brioche bread, plus frozen pizzas, wraps, stuffing mix, and more!
Three Bakers bread products tend to be a little smaller than other gluten-free bread, but they have one of my favorite textures. Their bread is typically in the freezer section and is recommended to be kept frozen for the longest shelf life.
I find Three Bakers at my local Stop & Shop, Big Y/Hannaford, Market Basket, and even at Whole Foods. You can also request to have your supermarket carry Three Bakers using their online request form.
Walmart Bread
Walmart recently debuted new gluten-free products, and the consensus is very positive!
Sam's Choice gluten-free classic white bread is just over $5 for a loaf, and it's of decent size. Many people in the Facebook poll left comments sharing how wonderful this bread is! It's also certified gluten-free. The only allergen it contains is eggs.
I have yet to try Walmart's bread - this is the only product here I personally haven't eaten! But based on how many great reviews it's getting online and through my gluten-free connections, I'm going to look for it the next time I'm in Walmart.
Since this is specifically a Walmart brand product, you need to buy it online or at your local Walmart store.
Other Great Gluten-Free Bread Brands
This list is not a comprehensive list of all the great gluten-free breads out there!
Based on my research, polling of fellow gluten-free eaters, and my own experience, these other brands are worth looking into for gluten-free sandwich bread:
Little Northern Bakehouse: A plant-based company that makes delicious gluten-free bread free from all allergens. Their bread is certified gluten-free and made in a dedicated facility.
Promise Bread: This Irish bakery brand is newer to the market, but has excellent texture and taste. It reminds me of Canyon bread but is lower in sugar. Their bread is certified gluten-free and available at Shaw's, Albertson's, and ShopRite.
BFree: International company making gluten-free products (Similar to Schar - their products are also available in the UK, Australia, & other countries). They sell rolls and sandwich bread typically in the frozen section, which are certified gluten-free as well as free from all top allergens. BFree also makes wraps, sourdough bread, and pita bread!
Kinnikinnick: Kinnikinnick thrives on being free from allergens, and their products are also top-notch. This company is based in Canada and started way back in 1991. They make four types of sandwich bread as well as buns, bagels, cookies, pie crusts, and more. You can find Kinnikinnick products at most supermarkets or also purchase online, in both the freezer section and on the shelf with gluten-free items.
O'Dough's: Another Canadian based company that makes gluten-free bread, bagels, and flatbreads - all certified gluten-free. Their products can be found at Shaw's, Star Market, and Wegman's in the New England area.
365 Brand Whole Foods: Whole Foods makes its own line of products, including gluten-free ones. Their gluten-free bread costs $4.99 and contains eggs. It is also certified gluten-free. Whole Foods also makes other gluten-free products in their 365 store brand name. You can find their entire list of gluten-free products here.
Not Recommended
Personally, I've never been a fan of Ener-G bread or Glutino bread. They fall apart easily, don't have a great texture, and to me, were not worth the money. If you've found it to be different, that's okay! These are just my least two favorite brands, and I think there are much better options out there. If you like them, that's OKAY! We all have our own opinions.
Storage Tips & Suggestions
My #1 tip for gluten-free bread is to soften it in the microwave for 5-10 seconds! Most breads are kept frozen anyway, but they all tend to harden over time. Do yourself a favor and pop it in the microwave for a few seconds, as it makes a big difference. Also, I usually keep gluten-free bread in the freezer or refrigerator to maintain freshness as long as possible.
Struggling with Gluten-Free Grocery Shopping?
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