Wondering how to order a baguette properly? Look no further.
In France, bread is a daily staple. Everyday, mothers send their kids to the local boulangerie (bakery) to pick up a baguette. (Sometimes one for breakfast, one for snack/dinner!)
But let’s start this baguette guide off with a pop quiz.
Table of Contents
Which baguette is better?
If you guessed the one on the right, you were correct. If you guessed the other one, it’s okay, we still love you.
How do you know if it’s a good baguette or not?
A good baguette is never uniform. See how the baguette on the left is perfectly tapered, and has no awkward lumps? That’s a bad sign.
Now flip the baguette over. Does the baguette have little dots on the bottom? Bad sign. That means it was mass-produced in an industrial oven.
Start eating the baguette. Can you gut the baguette easily and pull out the white fluff, leaving only the crust? Bad sign. Good bread should be densely packed.
If it’s a good baguette, it will smell yeasty and soul-warming. If it’s a bad baguette, there won’t be much aroma and the baguette will get stuck to the top of your mouth like Wonderbread.
How much does a baguette cost?
An inexpensive baguette is about 80 or 90 cents, and a pricey one is 1.30 plus.
See David Lebovitz’s guide on how to find a good baguette in Paris here.
How long does a baguette last?
A baguette lasts for about 24 hours. We usually buy one baguette for breakfast, one for the kids’ after-school snack and one to accompany dinner.
French bread is required by law to avoid preservatives, and as a result most breads go stale in under 24 hours. Neighboring bakeries coordinate their days off so that the neighborhood will never be without bread.
How do you order a baguette?
There are basically two ways to order your baguette:
“Je voudrais une baguette…”
a. Cuite (well-done)
b. Pas trop cuite (not as baked)
It seems these days that softer, “pas trop cuite” baguettes are more in style, and that mostly the older generation orders the bread “cuite”.
What is the quignon?
The quignon is the end piece of the baguette.
It’s practically a tradition to tear off the quignon right after leaving the bakery, when the fresh from the oven baguette smells so heavenly and feels so warm against your body that you can’t resist taking a bite (are we still talking about bread?)
Other breads at the bakery
There’s a lot more to the boulangerie than baguettes (or so I’ve been told).
Boule – A round-loaf of bread that can be made with any flour.
Brioche – A rich, yellow bread that is always eaten for breakfast (we usually toast and butter it). The addition of butter and eggs account for its yellow color and crumbly texture, it’s a lot like hallah.
Pain au levain – a bread similar to sourdough.
Pain de mie – a rectangular-shaped that is a little sweet, and is usually for toasting or making sandwiches (Croque monsieur being the most notable).
Baguette de tradition – a more traditional baguette that is crunchier and lasts longer due to the added levain, a natural sourdough starter.
Pain aux céréales – a small, earthy piece of bread made with whole wheat flour and lots of seeds.
What do you like to order at the bakery in France? Did you already know all of my tips on how to order a baguette, or were they new to you?
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Nice post! When I was in France, my favourite thing about baguettes (besides actually eating them) was seeing people cycle around small villages with fresh baguettes in their bike baskets – it was such a wonderful cliche come to life.
Haha it is, right! You never see berets in France but thankfully the tradition of eating baguettes is alive and well.
Ok, I know this is an old post, but I just had to comment on it because I am just a little obsessed with bread, as you may have noticed…
I loved your strategies for picking out the good and the bad breads. Lumpy loaves are always better! After reading this, I’m going to have to go get myself some bread.
Haha me too! The bread in the states is so mediocre compared to France… but there’s gotta be some good bread somewhere.
Don’t know about Michigan, but if you’re ever in St. Paul, Breadsmith is pretty awesome.
This makes me wanna go get a baguette and tear off the quignon.. It’s interesting how the perceptions on bread changes over the years with the whole gluten-free, refined carb conceptions. Who doesn’t love some delicious warm bread! I enjoyed the article. I noticed that you live in Denver – you gotta try the bread served at Rioja restaurant (the lavender bread is divine)..
Agreed! I secretly kind of hate how widespread this whole gluten-free fad has become. Everything in moderation! And thanks for the recommendation :)
How do you pronounce “Cuite”?
“Kweet”, rhyming with “tweet”.
I know it’s a very old post but I just read your article and it made me laugh because I’m French and most of what you said is right
Of course I do know how to order bread at the bakery as I’ve been doing it since I was about 10!
Your tips on bread are good, and my favorite baguette still remains baguette tradition
If you come to France again, you should visit Fontainebleau, this is where I live and it has a big castle and forest that are both very old and full of history
Hi Marianne, that’s great to hear that my tips are right! :) Totally agree about baguette tradition, I love them too.
I’m going to France on Tuesday and along with your article on French wine, I feel prepared to not embarrass myself. Merci!
That’s awesome! Have a wonderful time :)