Wildgrain Review
Everything You Need to Know About This Bake-at-Home Bread Subscription
Is there anything better than freshly baked bread right out of the oven? Sure, you might get lucky at your local bakery and snag a few loaves when they're piping hot, but if you want warm artisan sourdough right out of the oven, your best best is to bake it yourself at home. If you've ever tried to make sourdough yourself, you probably know the process can be challenging. There's the starter to feed, you'll need a great recipe, and then there's the kneading. If you're looking for a way to bake your own sourdough without all the labor, listen up.
Wildgrain helps ensure boulangerie-level perfection every single time by sending frozen, par-baked loves you bake yourself at home. They also sell cookies, pasta, and more! In this Wildgrain review, we'll use our years of reviewing experience to explore the ins and outs of this bakery-in-a-box subscription. We'll look at the cost and product range, explore how easy it is to bake professional-quality breads at home, and even look at how the competition stacks up. Is Wildgrain the right subscription for you? Find out in this Wildgrain review!
ACTIVE DEAL: $10 off your first box!
CODE: SUBSCRIPTIONADDICTION
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
Wildgrain Pros & Cons
Wildgrain Pros
- When you sign up for a subscription to Wildgrain, you'll receive frozen, par-baked breads you can bake yourself at home.
- All subscribers receive free brioche rolls in every box.
- Wildgrain specializes in sourdough, but pastries and pasta are also available.
- Loaves are stored frozen, and there's no need to thaw before baking.
- Love sourdough? Wildgrain allows you to get freshly-baked-at-home sourdough without all the hard work.
- All Wildgrain products are vegetarian, non-GMO, made without artificial colors, and a great source of fiber.
- Wildgrain products all bake or cook in 25 minutes or less.
- Shipping is free.
- It's easy to pause or cancel your subscription online.
Wildgrain Cons
- Since loaves are delivered and held frozen, you'll need to clear out plenty of space in the freezer.
- Wildgrain delivers high-quality baked goods at artisan bakery prices. If you're looking for low-cost breads, this might not be the subscription for you.
- Boxes are not customizable; however, there are two different subscription options that offer a different selection of items.
All About Wildgrain
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How does Wildgrain work?
In this Wildgrain review, we'll go over all the things you need to know about this sourdough and pastry delivery service, but let's start with a quick overview of how Wildgrain works. The first thing to know is that Wildgrain is a recurring subscription. When you sign up, you're agreeing to receive regular shipments on an ongoing basis. You'll enter your credit card information when you join, and you'll continue to be charged until you decide to cancel. Here are the steps you can expect to follow when you sign up for Wildgrain:
- Choose the subscription that's right for you: Wildgrain offers two different subscription options, the Mixed Box or the Bakery Box.
- Confirm your order each month or skip: Every month, you'll receive a notification before Wildgrain ships out your order. You can skip the month or proceed with delivery.
- Receive and store your items: Breads, pastries, and pastas are all shipped frozen and should be stored in the freezer until you're ready to use them.
- Enjoy: All Wildgrain items bake or cook in 25 minutes or less.
How much does Wildgrain cost?
Wildgrain subscriptions cost $89 per box with free shipping. Whether you opt for the Bakery Box or the Mixed Box, every shipment is billed at the same rate. You can always skip a delivery, adjust your delivery frequency, and cancel your subscription online.
ACTIVE DEAL: $10 off your first box!
CODE: SUBSCRIPTIONADDICTION
Does Wildgrain have different subscriptions to choose from?
Yes! When you sign up for a Wildgrain subscription, you'll choose between The Mixed Box and The Bakery Box. Both options include a selection of sourdough bread and artisan pastries. The Mixed Box also contains pasta.
Where and how does Wildgrain ship?
Wildgrain ships to the continental United States. They are currently unable to ship to Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
How is a Wildgrain delivery packaged?
Wildgrain shipments are securely packed in an eco-friendly insulated brown cardboard box. All of Wildgrain's products are shipped frozen and held at temperature with dry ice. (The amount of dry ice needed to keep your items frozen is calculated based on your location.) When you items arrive, you should unload them into the freezer and take care not to touch the dry ice.
What products does Wildgrain offer?
Wildgrain specializes in sourdough breads, artisan pastries, and fresh pasta. If you'd like to receive a selection of all three, you can subscribe to The Mixed Box. The Bakery Box only contains sourdough breads and pastries. Specific items in each Wildgrain box will vary, but here's an example of what you might receive:
- 1 sourdough country bread (1.5 lbs.)
- 1 sourdough wheat bread (1.5 lbs.)
- 1 sourdough harvest bread (1.5 lbs.)
- 1 pack of fresh, hand-cut linguine (12 oz.)
- 1 pack of fresh, hand-cut pappardelle (12 oz.)
- 4 sourdough croissants
How do I bake Wildgrain's breads?
All of Wildgrain's breads are par-baked, flash frozen, and vacuum sealed. They're shipped frozen and should be stored in the freezer until you're ready to bake them. All breads bake from frozen, and baking instructions are included with each item. Baking times will vary, but everything from Wildgrain bakes in 25 minutes or less.
Are Wildgrain's products tasty?
We've been consistently impressed with the quality of Wildgrain's products. Despite being shipped and held frozen, the breads bake up just like they came out of a professional bakery kitchen. The sourdough flavor is on point, and the different loaf varieties are each uniquely delicious. The pasta is great, too, and the cookies we tried were great.
Is Wildgrain convenient?
Without a doubt, we can say that Wildgrain is convenient. It's easy to bake off loaves when you need them, and having everything shipped to your front door is great. The only potential downside is that there's a lot included in each box, so you'll need to make sure you have ample freezer space unless you're planning to bake off your loaves as soon as they arrive. But the quality of the products sent by Wildgrain absolutely rivals what you'd find at your local bakery.
My Wildgrain Review
In preparation for this Wildgrain review, I received a mixed shipment of goods from Wildgrain to sample. I'll start by sharing a little bit about my review expertise and preferences, and then I'll run through my thoughts on what I received in my Wildgrain box.
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- Review expertise: I've been writing food and wine reviews for My Subscription Addiction since 2014, so I know my way around a subscription box. I'm also a professional baker, so I understand the ins and outs of baking. This is my first time reviewing a subscription that specializes in frozen, par-baked loaves, and to say that I was excited to try out this box is a huge understatement.
- Carb profile: If I had to give up every single food but one, I'd choose to eat bread forever. It's hard for me to pick a favorite loaf, but sourdough is definitely in the top two.
- Thoughts on Wildgrain's products: My box contained three sourdough loaves, some chocolate chunk cookies, brioche rolls, and pasta. I was really amazed at how quickly the loaves cooked and how well they came out. The Slow-Fermented Cranberry Pecan Bread was an excellent breakfast loaf. It was moist and very flavorful, and it made the best toast ever. I also received a loaf of Sourdough as well as a loaf of Rustic Sourdough. Both had that classic sourdough tang, but I slightly preferred the rustic loaf. It was darker in color, and I found the crunchier crust more satisfying. (Me + Rustic Sourdough + butter = big smiles.) The Brioche Rolls were chewy and sweet. Nice, but perhaps a bit sweeter than is my preference. As for the Chocolate Chunk Cookies and pastas? Great. They didn't feel quite as special as the loaves to me, but the cookies were very tasty, and I liked the convenience of having fresh pasta in the freezer.
- Verdict: I've never tried a subscription quite like this one before, but I greatly enjoyed it. For me, it all comes down to the quality of the loaves. If I can pop a frozen loaf in the oven and have bakery-quality bread in under 25 minutes? That's pretty special. I enjoyed Wildgrain so much that I've considered subscribing on my own dime. (Even though I'm a pro baker, I don't always have the time to make my own baked goods from scratch at home.) The thing is, it's just a little too pricey for me to pull the trigger without hesitation. Do I think the items are worth the cost? Yeah, I do, but I'm just not sure I can budget for this box on a regular basis. That said, I've decided that I'm going to splurge on this subscription over the holiday season. When I'm entertaining company over Thanksgiving and Christmas, it will be so convenient to have par-baked, artisan-quality loaves in my freezer ready to go. I can't wait.
Are there alternatives to Wildgrain?
If you like the idea of a bread subscription, but you're not sure Wildgrain is the right subscription for you, there are a couple of competitors that might be a better fit.
Wildgrain vs. The Challah Box
The Challah Box ships out the pre-measured ingredients you need to make challah at home in your own kitchen (you can check out a spotlight on them from our There's a Subscription for That series). Step-by-step instructions ensure your loaves come out perfect every single time. Let's outline some of the key differences between Wildgrain and The Challah Box:
- Bread variety: It's probably obvious from the name, but The Challah Box is all about challah bread. If you'd rather have a variety of sourdough loaves, Wildgrain might be a better bet. (Keep in mind that Wildgrain will also deliver pastries and pasta.)
- Preparation: With Wildgrain, loaves are made for you, par-baked, and shipped frozen. All you have to do is pop them in the oven to bake. If you'd rather do the mixing and kneading yourself, The Challah Box will guide you through the entire bread-making process.
- Cost: Each shipment from The Challah Box costs $45 and includes everything you need (except for the eggs) to make eight loaves of bread.
Wildgrain vs. Breadista
If you're a fan of German baked goods, check out Breadista, a subscription that specializes in bread-making kits that yield authentic German bread treats. Ingredients come pre-measured, and recipes are provided. Let's take a look at how Breadista compares to Wildgrain.
- Bread variety: Breadista specializes in German breads (think pretzels, 9 Grain Bürli, and kantonbrot). If your tastebuds crave the tang of sourdough, Wildgrain might be a better fit.
- Preparation: Like The Challah Box, Breadista sends all the ingredients and info you'll need to make bread yourself at home. If you want to skip the prep, Wildgrain might be the way to go.
- Cost: Breadista subscriptions cost $44.90 per month. Each month, you'll receive a baking kit, a spread to put on your bread, and a new tool for the kitchen.
Is Wildgrain worth it?
We've covered a lot of info in this Wildgrain review, but one big question remains: is Wildgrain worth it?
Wildgrain promises to deliver frozen, par-baked loaves that are easy to bake and rival the quality of professionally-baked artisan loaves. First things first, do they deliver? Yes, they really do. The frozen breads are easy to bake off at home, and they really are foolproof. The instructions are easy to follow, and-- best of all-- are ready to eat in 25 minutes or less. The different bread varieties are all interesting and distinct, and the standard sourdough is tangy and delicious. The pasta's great, too, and the cookies are solid.
Before you sign up, it's important to note that boxes are not customizable (though you can choose whether or not you'd like to receive pasta as part of your order). The price point is also quite high; you're receiving artisan-quality baked goods at a premium price.
If you're ready to sign up, just make sure you understand that you're signing up for a subscription; you'll be charged every month (unless you skip) until you decide to cancel.
Ready to subscribe? Make sure to sign up using our coupon below to ensure you get the best deal.
You can try Wildgrain for yourself here:
ACTIVE DEAL: $10 off your first box!
CODE: SUBSCRIPTIONADDICTION
Have you tried Wildgrain? Head to the comments section and let us know!
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