I tested best breads for making toasties from Asda to Waitrose – winner was 65p less than brand leader & tasted great
WHETHER you enjoy it light, dark or a little bit burnt, toast is making a comeback.
A recent report found the number of us choosing to start our mornings with a humble buttered slice rose last year.
It can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner, depending what you put on top – and from jam and marmalade to cheese and tomatoes, the choice of toppings is endless.
But whatever you add to the bread, it should be perfectly crisp and golden on the outside yet still fluffy in the middle.
This Thursday is National Toast Day, an event which always takes place on the last Thursday of February and has been celebrated in Britain since 2014.
To mark it, Lynsey Hope shares her verdict on supermarket own-brand “toastie” bread, giving each a score out of five so you know which loaf crisps up the best.
WAITROSE SOFT WHITE TOASTIE EXTRA THICK SLICED, (800g), £1
★★★☆☆
THIS makes a lovely slice of toast, which was nice and crisp on the outside but fluffy in the middle.
It was the priciest out of the super- market own brands in the test, costing an extra 25p per loaf and around 3p more than the others per 100g.
It was also the highest for salt and calories.
THE BAKERY AT ASDA SOFT WHITE TOASTIE THICK SLICED, (800g), 75p
★★★★☆
I LOVED this bread, which was very soft and doughy.
Not only did it toast well, but it made for a good sandwich, which should save you buying a separate loaf.
It crisped up nice and golden and the butter melted in perfectly.
WARBURTONS TOASTIE, (800g), £1.40
★★☆☆☆
VERY expensive compared to the others – nearly double the price of most of them and taste-wise it wasn’t worth the extra.
It came up a nice colour when toasted but I found the slices a bit thin, the texture a bit chewy and not as light and spongy as you would expect.
It claims to be “low sugar” but it was on a par with the rest.
In fact, it had more than most of them.
TESCO WHITE TOASTIE BREAD THICK, (800g), 75p
★★★★★
LIGHT, thick and crisp, this tasty offering from Tesco ticked all my toast needs.
It had the perfect bite to it and absorbed butter really well.
It was a little higher in sugar than most of the other loaves, which was a concern.
But going on taste, definitely my pick of the bunch.
MORRISONS TOASTIE WHITE BREAD, (800g), 75p
★★★☆☆
THE slices here were thinner and smaller than most but healthier as a result – with fewer calories, less fat, sugar and salt than all the other loaves.
It was soft and it buttered up well, with a nice crunch as you took a bite.
It was a tad crumbly and made a bit of a mess, but otherwise a good option.
LIDL ROWAN HILL BAKERY THICK WHITE, (800g), 75p
★☆☆☆☆
LIGHT and with a good bite to it, but this wasn’t as fluffy as some of the others.
I also thought this loaf lacked flavour and was a little dry.
I wouldn’t go back for this and it wasn’t cheaper than other brands either, as you might expect from Lidl.
My least favourite of the bunch.
SAINSBURY’S EXTRA THICK SOFT WHITE TOASTIE, (800g), 75p
★★★☆☆
I DON’T agree it is “extra thick” – as the packaging claims – but the bread was soft and tasty.
It seemed to take a little longer to crisp up than others.
I had to pop it back in the toaster, but it developed a good colour once it had been in long enough.
The butter soaked in well.
ALDI VILLAGE BAKERY TOASTIE BREAD, (800g), 75p
★★★★☆
ALDI’S offering had an appetising aroma and turned a nice golden colour when toasted.
The slices were thicker than most, which made it delicious when toasted, and this loaf absorbed butter well too.
Overall, a good all-rounder.