The Budget-Friendly Store-Brand French Bread That Isn't Worth Picking Up

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Sliced breads and sourdough loaves are great, but there's something so fulfilling about picking up a fresh, crunchy baguette. A staple in European culture, French bread can be enjoyed at any time of the day. Smother with jam for a simple Parisian breakfast, stuff with cheese when a midday craving hits, or use a crusty piece to soak up sauces and broths during dinner. We don't exactly have a boulangerie on every corner here in the U.S., but there are some decent French breads available at certain grocery stores. Unfortunately, we learned that Walmart is not one of them, at least when it comes to the chain's budget-friendly, in-house brand.

An expert from Tasting Table recently sampled eight grocery store bakery French breads and while some options were perfectly flavorful and firm, Walmart's Freshness Guaranteed French Bread left much to be desired. The crust was spongy and soft, rather than golden and crunchy, and it had an unusually shorter and wider appearance. Things weren't any better on the inside. Homemade French bread should have a tender, chewy interior and a slightly nutty flavor. In contrast, Walmart's Freshness Guaranteed version was crumbly and spongy, with an overly sweet and off-putting flavor that seemed to have been impacted by the plastic covering. Overall, the taste was just off, leading our tester to determine that even with the $1.50 price tag, the loaf is not worth it.

Some seem to enjoy Walmart's Freshness Guaranteed French Bread, but there are a lot of people online who have voiced similar opinions as our tester. One customer who left a review on the Walmart website said, "The bread itself is dense. Like, impressively dense. I needed a bigger mouth, a commitment to the bit, and possibly a jaw stretching warmup routine just to take a bite. It's not light, it's not fluffy, it's not giving sub shop. It's giving 'I dare you'." Another Walmart reviewer said the bread "tasted like chemicals."

A lot of reviewers have reportedly had issues with mold appearing on their loaves within just a few days of purchase, which isn't typical with store-bought breads. Others instead seem unhappy with a price increase that occurred in 2025. In today's climate, $1.50 for a loaf of bakery bread isn't the worst, but you can get a much better loaf from Kroger's bakery for just a little more.

The Kroger Bakery Fresh Crisp & Soft French Bread was our tester's favorite on the list. The $2.49 loaf was fragrant, crunchy, and beautifully golden, with a toothsome, airy texture and enjoyably yeasty flavor. The Kirkland Signature Baguette from Costco was another top contender. If you want some more recommendations to try, here is our ranking of 10 store-bought baguettes. You'll feel like a real Parisian in no time.