There is nothing quite like a crusty baguette slathered in butter with soup or salad, or enjoyed with fine cheese and charcuterie. And it is even better when warm. While standard supermarket baguettes can quickly dry out if bought the day before, bake-at-home versions offer a fresher experience. Straight from the oven, they deliver a contrast of textures: crisp crusts with soft, warm centres, far removed from the rock-hard baguette stereotype.
A taste test of supermarket bake-at-home baguettes has revealed a clear winner, with one option outperforming rivals from M&S, Lidl, and Tesco on flavour, texture, and value for money. Express writer Jennifer Pinto tried five popular oven-baked baguettes, scoring them for crispiness, softness, taste, freshness, appearance, and overall value. Each product was baked at home under the same conditions to ensure a fair comparison, before being given a final score out of 10.
The Taste Test Results
Sainsbury's - 6/10
Priced at £1.50, the Sainsbury's bake-at-home baguette delivered a mixed result. While it offered reasonable size and acceptable value, the texture and flavour were less impressive than others in the test, with a slightly floury taste noted. It was considered a dependable everyday option rather than a standout choice.
Lidl - 7/10
At just 85p, Lidl's offering was the cheapest of the group and proved to be a surprise performer. It produced a soft interior with a crisp outer crust when baked, though the flavour was described as relatively plain compared with higher-scoring options. Despite that, its size and low price made it a strong value-for-money contender.
M&S - 7.5/10
The M&S bake-at-home rustic sourdough baguettes, priced at £1.95, were the most expensive in the test. Smaller in size than the standard baguettes, they offered a more artisan-style bake with an open crumb structure and deeper flavour. The texture was denser and more complex, making them particularly well-suited to pairing with soups. Packaging also stood out for keeping the loaves separate for better freshness.
Tesco - 8/10
Tesco's £1.45 baguette secured second place. It produced a strong bake with good oven spring, a golden crust, and an attractive ridged top, alongside a soft interior that sliced cleanly. While it did not quite match the top scorer for taste or texture, it was praised for its appearance and overall balance of quality and affordability.
Waitrose - 9/10
Waitrose emerged as the overall winner with its £1.50 bake-at-home white baguettes. The loaf achieved an impressive rise, forming a crisp, thin crust with a bakery-style finish and a soft, moist interior. Its size made it suitable for sharing, and the overall quality stood out against competitors at a similar price point. Combining strong texture, flavour, and value, it topped the ranking.
The Verdict
Across the board, the taste test highlighted significant variation in quality among supermarket oven baguettes, with even budget options performing well. However, Waitrose ultimately led the ranking, edging ahead of Tesco and M&S thanks to its balance of crisp crust, soft interior, and strong value for money.
