What You Should Never Order at Panera Bread - Mashed (2023)

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One of the best things to come out of modern inventions is the creation of the fast casual restaurant chain. Being able to quickly eat a quality meal without sitting in a crowded restaurant or spending a ton of money is like a dream come true for many diners. places likechipotleor Panera bread help make this dream come true. Panera bread particularly prides itself on being convenient and delicious, claiming it's packedhealthy and clean food.

But is it really healthy? Or clean? Or even fresh? It depends on. While Panera Bread is certainly a healthier option than a burger and fries, there are some menu items that are best left unorganized. Unfortunately, this applies to some of Panera's most popular menu items, which you might not expect. In fact, the things you definitely shouldn't ask forbread crumbsIt might surprise you, and there is more than you think.

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One of the largest menu sections at Panera Bread is soup. The chain restaurant offers everything from chicken noodle soup to vegetable soups and much more. But as delicious and warm and comforting as a bowl of soup sounds, at Panera they're not quite fresh.ohealthy.

A Reddit userexplained something rather sinister about the soup at Panera. "The soups come frozen bagged in boxes with the word 'Institution Food' written on the side," they wrote. "We would throw them into a kettle of hot water that would take them from frozen blocks to near-scalding hot bags." Delicious? But that is not all. A former Panera employee saidMy recipesthat their manager gave them ominous advice regarding the soup: "Never recommend soup to seniors. The sodium is too high." oops! If a manager tells him to avoid soup, then he probably should avoid soup.

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Panera Bread's menu has obviously undergone some changes over the years, but while the chain has seemingly always served mac and cheese, they've discontinued their other pasta offerings. Don't worry, because that might be for the best. Pasta not only got pretty bad reviewsGore, but the way the pasta is prepared at Panera makes it a real no-go.

Notably, none of the pasta at Panera is made fresh in the store. Instead, it arrives frozen and is then reheated to serve. Obviously, that doesn't sound appetizing, but despite this uncomfortable reality, Panera stands by its guarantee of quality. A Panera spokesperson saidHOYthat "Mac and Cheese is made externally to our own recipe, developed by our chefs and using our ingredients that meet our standards for our clean menu offerings." the pasta at Panera, including the beloved mac and cheese, is not as fresh or homemade.

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Listen, anytime a restaurant, especially one that needs to serve food relatively quickly like Panera, offers a ton of different dishes, things get messy in the kitchen. So really, it's not like Panera Bread or any of their employees.halfto mix some orders. are employees of Paneraunder a lot of pressure, from fast-paced prep lines to ever-changing menus. However, with this type of cheese, you have to keep your hands off it. In particular, the feta that is available for some menu items is not always safe to order, for a really serious reason.

A former Panera Bread employee took to Reddit to explain some dirty little secrets about the restaurant chain. They revealed a little fact that really stood out, and not for a good reason. "Anything with feta," the user wrote.noorder from Panera (viaSo delicious). "I accidentally served several customers moldy feta thinking a piece of gorgonzola cheese had just slipped in."

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There really is nothing like a good cup of coffee with a cake on the side, right? Whether you're craving something sweet with your caffeine or want to feel like you're in Paris, it's an absolutely classic combination. But at Panera Bread, not all baked goods are as delicious or hot and fresh.

A Panera Bread employee agreedRedditto clear up some misconceptions about the restaurant chain. One reveal is particularly shocking, especially since the menu item in question is in the Panera headline, so to speak.offense,So you would expect your baked goods to be special and delicious. Unfortunately they are not all. "The muffins and coffee cakes are definitely thawed only, but ALL OTHER baked goods are made fresh every day," the clerk explains. It's very unfortunate that muffins and coffee cake aren't as fresh as bagels or muffins, but at least now you know what to stay away from.

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Have you gone to Panera Bread if you haven't left with at least one serving of bread? Not precisely. After all, Panera's bread is pretty iconic to the chain's customers. Whether on a baguette, in a sandwich or inhigh-calorie shell shape, always goes to the point. On the right?

Unfortunately, like some of the baked goods at Panera Brotthey are not fresh, nor the famous bread itself. As delicious as bread can taste, not all stores make it fresh, at least not in the way you might imagine. The truth is, there isn't a master baker at every Panera Bread location who makes the perfect amount of bread dough by hand.Sal,Yeast, and tender care.

By contrast, a Panera Bread employee gained weightRedditexplaining exactly how bread is made in the shops and it was a bit daunting. "The dough is delivered fresh every night from a local farm," they explained, adding that the bread is usually "baked fresh every night for the next day." Although the bread can be baked in the store, it is not made fresh from scratch in the store. This downright sneaky loophole might not be worth it to you.

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Obviously, one of the main reasons people frequent Panera Bread is that the chain presents itself as a healthy alternative to most other fast food restaurants. However, not everything on the Panera menu is so healthy. In fact, there's one sandwich you should never order, at least if you're trying to take care of your health. The culprit in question is the chain.modern caprese sandwiches, made with mozzarella, Parmesan and white bean purée, all topped with a delicious confit of smoked tomatoes, basil and a balsamic glaze.

In fact, registered dietitian Natalie Rizzo saideat this not thatthat modern Caprese is deceptively unhealthy. "With 19 grams of saturated fat and more than half the amount of sodium you should be getting in a day, Modern Caprese is something to avoid," Rizzo said. Couldverhealthy without meat and some vegetables, but this sandwich is very high in fat and sodium, so it is something to eat with great caution.

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Soups, salads and sandwiches aren't the only items on the Panera Bread menu. As it turns out, the chain's drink menu is pretty impressive. Panera serves everything handmadeCaféto a variety of teas, sodas, and juices, but apparently it's the smoothies that should be avoided. They may look refreshing and healthy, but they really are.a lot of sugarand some kind of scam. Seriously, once you know what's really in a Panera bread shake, you'll likely never waste your time with one again.

According to a Panera Bread employeeReddit, the shakes at the establishment are something to seriously avoid. "STAY AWAY FROM THE SHAKES," they warned. "It's literally 2 tablespoons of vanilla yogurt, 'fruit puree,' that comes frozen and we thaw it in half-gallon milk jugs and ice cream." Yeah, that's not exactly the picture of perfect health, but the employee wasn't done. They added that the shakes are extremely expensive for something that does not contain fresh fruit.

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If you want something light and healthy for lunch or dinner, a nice big salad will suffice. And Panera Bread certainly has plenty of salads on the menu, including the always delicious Caesar salad (it's not italian, By the way). But before you order one for dinner, make sure you make the best choice on the menu, because there's a salad at Panera that the workers don't order. Could they be into something you don't know?

A former Panera Bread employee took to Reddit to answer questions about the chain, and when someone asked what not to order, the former employee was downright honest. While you may not think much of it, they said the Caesar salad was something everyone should leave behind the counter. “You pay the same as for the classic salad (tomato, onion, etc.), but they only give you croutons and a tablespoon of Parmesan.”they explained, adding that "there were no other vegetables except lettuce. Talk about a waste of money!" In all honesty, a Caesar salad is one of the easiest salads to make anyway, so don't waste your hard-earned money on a mediocre Panera.

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Chicken is one of the most commonly available forms of protein, especially at fast-casual chains like Panera Bread. But whether in a salad or on a sandwich, the chicken at Panera really is something not to mess with, as it tends to be pretty iffy. People have not only complained about its appearance and taste, but Panera Bread workers themselves have advised against ordering it due to how popular it is.

AsTripAdvisor reviewergave a particularly horrible review of the chicken at a Panera Bread location in Tampa, Florida, writing, "Looked like 'chainsaw chicken,' joints, knuckles, all those rejected parts of chicken that most people don't want to eat." Unfortunately, that makes sense given how the chicken is or isn't made at Panera. A former Panera Bread employee saidReddituser that "the chicken comes pre-cooked in bags," which means it's anything but fresh or gourmet. Apparently, there can also be less-than-desirable cuts. The chicken at Panera Bread should definitely be avoided, especially if you're already a picky meat eater.

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If you're going out for a late-night lunch or dinner, the mere thought of ice cold lemonade might be enough to make you order one. And honestly, no one could blame you. Whether you're more of a Dr. Pepper or a Sprite type, sometimes a lemonade is just what you need. Still, no matter how much you want one, the fountain sodas at Panera are a waste of money and not even what the chain is known for.

But EinsRedditThread, a former Panera Bread employee, explained that there is a shocking article that they would not advise anyone to spend money on. "It's crazy and the profit margin is substantial," the former employee wrote about what Panera typically charges customers. “Even the lemonades from the fountain! They are about 5 cents and they charge about $3 for a large one.” Of course you can't get a 5 cent soda anywhere, but there are plenty of places that only charge a dollar or so for a large bottle instead of what Panera charges customers. Really, you're better off staying in the open water.

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Whether you grew up ordering breakfast sandwiches on bagels or learned to appreciate them later in life, a fresh bagel isalwaysa good idea. Panera Bread is a bit famous for its bagels, but should the restaurant chain really be credited for these baked goods? While the bagels are freshly baked and perfectly tasty for most guests, that doesn't mean they're worth the price. Especially since there are times when the taste isoh reallyand you have no way of knowing if you will get exactly what you ordered.

AndReddit, a Panera Bread employee took the time to answer a few questions about the chain and its fresh baking practices. When another user asked why their Cinnamon Crunch bun always tasted like onions, the employee was honest. "The baker could have baked them on the same tray as the bagels, or they could have forgotten to change their gloves," he explained. Look, Panera bagels are obviously delicious, but who wants a cinnamon bagel with them?itor onion served along with your coffee? Nobody, that's who.