From texture to nutrition, chefs say this grocery-store English muffin beats the competition.
Reviewed by Dietitian Katey Davidson, M.Sc.FN, RD, CPT
Key Points
- Five chefs named Dave’s Killer Bread their top grocery-store English muffin.
- Whole grains and seeds give these muffins a hearty texture and added nutrition.
- Thomas’ and Bays are also chef-approved options for classic flavor and texture.
An English muffin is an important component of a versatile breakfast. It tastes great with just butter, but it’s also a fantastic vehicle for jam. You can make a pretty perfect breakfast sandwich on an English muffin by adding a fried egg and some cheese, a meat if you like and any sauces or seasonings. In fact, you can use an English muffin for any kind of sandwich. However, there are so many options at the grocery store that it can be hard to pick one, so we asked five chefs for their favorite grocery-store English muffins, and they all named the same one.
Chefs’ Pick for Favorite English Muffin
Dave’s Killer Bread English muffins were the most often-cited pick among our chef experts because of their taste, texture and inclusion of whole grains. Price point also came up, as chefs were pleased with the product’s value. Dave’s has two varieties of English muffins: Killer Classic and Rockin’ Grains. Most of our chefs specified that they liked the classic flavor.
Dave’s recently revamped its organic English muffins and brought them back on the market after a brief hiatus. Unlike some English muffins, which are basically white bread, Dave’s Rockin’ Grains have flax seeds, sunflower seeds, millet and quinoa and no bleached flour or high-fructose corn syrup. All in, they have 20 grams of whole grains, 3 grams of fiber, 6 grams of protein and 6 percent of the daily value (DV) for iron. Their Killer Classic muffins have slightly fewer grains, but still offer whole-grain wheat, spelt, rye, millet and barley along with 2 grams of fiber per serving.
They also advertise “butter catching flavor craters,” which is a variation on another leading brand’s “nooks and crannies.”
Why Chefs Love Dave’s Killer Bread English Muffins
Our chefs prefer these whole-grain muffins to plain English muffins. Many cite texture as a key difference. Nikki Schaeffer, head chef and culinary director of Lofty Coffee says, “For something off a supermarket shelf, this is my go-to recommendation. The texture is hearty and holds up well to toppings.” Rena Awadahead chef of Healthy Fitness Meals also commented on the ingredients and texture. She says Dave’s muffins “are a bit more wholesome and hearty, with whole grains and seeds that add texture and flavor.”
Chefs value the mouthfeel and taste of Dave’s muffins but are mostly impressed with the ingredients, which add a lot of nutrition. Ann Ziatachef at the Institute of Culinary Education says Dave’s English muffins are among her favorites. “I love the hearty, whole-grain flavor; plus, it crisps up wonderfully. Made from wheat, rye, spelt, millet, and quinoa flours, these muffins are as nutritious as they are tasty.” Erin FletcherCEO of Sticky Fingers Cooking, says Dave’s are a good choice “especially if you want more fiber and protein from organic whole grains without losing that classic English muffin texture.” The balance of health and flavor is key here.
Private chef Chuck Hayworth of Real Medical Meals says Dave’s has a higher sugar content than some others on the market, but his clients prefer Dave’s because they want to get their kids to eat more grains and fiber. If your child will deign to eat a non-white English muffin, Dave’s is the one to choose.
Other Top English Muffin Picks
For a more classic sourdough flavor, Ziata prefers Thomas’ English Muffins. “First, it passes the taste test: fresh with a pleasantly yeasty aroma, balanced with a bit of nuttiness from the cornmeal. Second, Thomas’ has the ideal nooks and crannies texture that crisps up the way I prefer and is strong enough to stand up to hearty breakfast sandwich fillings,” she says.
Schaeffer says, “Thomas does one thing very well: structure. Those nooks genuinely hold butter and olive oil very well, compared to others. If you’re using a muffin as a vehicle for good ingredients, like an egg, cheese or fresh herbs, you can do a lot worse than a Thomas.” Other English muffins don’t all have the cornmeal, which adds texture and structure and may elicit childhood memories of warm English muffins for breakfast.
While the classic English muffin from Thomas’ is a basic sourdough, Thomas’ offers more varieties than Dave’s and other brands including whole wheat, whole grain and light options, plus flavors such as cinnamon raisin, blueberry and pumpkin spice. Thomas’ classic English muffins have less protein and sugar but more iron than Dave’s.
The other brand chefs mentioned frequently was Bays, which has five varieties including sourdough, cinnamon raisin and brioche. Fletter says, “What I like about these is that they have a moist, slightly chewy texture that can hold up beautifully for both sweet and savory toppings.” Bays are stocked in the refrigerated section.
The Bottom Line
Chefs picked Dave’s Killer Bread English Muffins as their favorite grocery-store English muffins because of the whole-grain ingredients, texture and classic tangy taste. A second choice is Thomas’ English Muffins, which are famous for their nooks and crannies and have several more varieties than other brands.
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