Jun 27, 2010

Review: New Rudi's Gluten-Free Breads

Rudi's sent me free loaves of their new gluten-free breads.  In July or August, the frozen loaves will be available for purchase in many stores.  If you recognize the name Rudi's, that is because Rudi's has been baking organic gluten breads since 1976.

Rudi's gluten-free breads are certified gluten-free and made with all natural ingredients, including some organic ingredients. The breads thaw during shipping. They should be stored in the freezer for up to six months or kept at room temperature for up to four days.  The breads contain eggs and are free of dairy, soy, and tree nuts.  All three breads are made from a blend of rice, potato, and sorghum.

Multigrain Sandwich

The multigrain bread was very soft and the softness remained the same after three days on the counter in a Ziploc bag. I froze most of the loaf when it arrived. When I thawed some later, it was just as soft as when the bread arrived.  The multigrain tasted good, but sandwiches fell apart slightly while eating it.

The seeds create an occasional crunch, which may not appeal to everyone. If you look closely at the photo, you can see the little yellow pieces, which are millet. Unfortunately, they made a crunch that was a bit gritty. The other seeds are flaxseeds and sunflower seeds.


Cinnamon Raisin

When I opened my UPS package, this was the bread that I smelled. It had a wonderful aroma.  It was great toasted and had lots of plump raisins with a hint of cinnamon.  You can also eat it without toasting, but isn't all cinnamon raisin bread best enjoyed warm?



Original Sandwich

The original sandwich bread is very dry and the taste is a bit off. I think it needs a touch of sweetness to improve the taste and definitely moisture.  It was difficult to finish a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on it. However, it did toast well, and I enjoyed it with butter and cinnamon sugar.




Udi's vs. Rudi's

Both Udi's and Rudi's are located in Colorado. Udi's gluten-free breads are slightly cheaper than Rudi's (MSRP $5.99).  You can order individual loaves of Udi's bread, but Rudi's only sells their gluten-free breads online in a case of 8 loaves.

A slice of Rudi's bread is a little larger than Udi's and is a bit denser and thicker.  Rudi's slices are larger than other gluten-free breads, but still smaller than gluten bread.  Rudi's multigrain is as soft as Udi's, but the other two Rudi's varieties aren't as soft. Udi's does stay fresh for a longer period at room temperature - five to seven days.  Of course, that is to be expected given that Rudi's is made from all natural ingredients.

So, what is the verdict?  My daughter and I prefer Udi's over Rudi's for sandwich bread. Rudi's multigrain is a close second for me, but not my daughter. Rudi's original sandwich bread needs improvement.  Udi's white is much better. We will definitely be purchasing Rudi's cinnamon raisin bread regularly!

3 comments:

RedFreckles said...

Great review! Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the comparison! a little research turned up the hidden preservative in UDI's breads (cultured dextrose) which you alluded to, by saying Rudi's was all natural with a shorter shelf life. Guess we'll be looking for Rudi's Multigrain.

Dayna Davis said...

Dayna here on behalf of Rudi's. Thanks for trying out our new gluten-free breads. We’re thrilled you and your daughter enjoyed our Cinnamon Raisin Bread…we think it’s tasty toasted, too! Our bakers are continuing to perfect all our recipes with the help of various gluten-free experts, so your feedback on the other varieties is really appreciated, too. Thanks again!