The pros: Trader Joe's Artisan Parbake Ficelles are the freshest bread you can have short of making it yourself.
The cons: Short shelf life so use them quick otherwise you'll start growing mold. Visually not pretty, but it's not supposed to be, its only half cooked.
The verdict: For $1.99, Trader Joe's Half Baked Idea Breads are some of my favorites and very often well stocked. Odds are people eat with their eyes and these loaves won't win any beauty contests. If you bake them and follow directions they are as good as fresh from a bakery. Nothing makes some people happier than
The bag in the bread section:
The nutrition facts, ingredients, and how to prepare:
Going into a 425F oven:
What comes out of the oven:
These half baked ideas, are only literally half baked. If you love the taste of fresh bread and want to impress company, but lack the time or skill to make bread yourself, this is a great way to go. If you have leftovers you can always turn them into croutons by cutting the bread into small cubes and following this recipe: Penzey’s Super Tasty Homemade Croutons. Don't have that spice? It's ok, your favorite spice blend will work. Best of all you won't waste the bread, you'll eat more salad, have sometime thats both homemade and tasty. Store it in an air tight container.
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
I need to get a few of these for brunch.
You mention this half baked bread has a short shelf life. It freezes well. I bought the two pack, used one right away and froze the other one. It thawed fast and baked up beautifully.
Thanks for sharing Tom!