Parents who want to keep an eye on fibre
You’re looking for a roll for after school and want to compare the wholemeal flour content and fibre per 100 g, without the filling affecting the comparison.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Families who like to keep rolls in stock
You want to bake the rolls just before snack time and take your available oven or air fryer, storage instructions and any defrosting guidance into account when choosing.
Parents who need to consider school food policies
Before packing a roll, check the allergens on the current packaging and the school or childcare setting’s rules on food and sharing.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether a shape that’s easy to fill, fibre content, allergen checks or convenient storage and baking matters most to you. Then compare the details of the specific roll: white, brown and multigrain don’t, on their own, tell you how large or sturdy it is.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Easy to fill | Look at the shape and, if listed, the weight of each roll. Judge the size for yourself rather than relying on ‘thick cut’. | If I want to fill a roll generously, its shape needs to suit my snack. For around 25% of consumers, ease of filling may be the top priority. |
| Fibre and ingredients | Compare fibre per 100 g and check how much wholemeal flour is listed in the ingredients; ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean wholemeal. | I want to be able to compare the fibre content of different rolls. For around 31% of consumers, this comparison may come first. |
| Allergens and school | Check the current ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements, and ask about the school or childcare setting’s policy if needed. | If the roll is going to school, I want to know which allergens are listed and what rules apply there. For around 25% of consumers, this may be the most important requirement. |
| Preparation and storage | Check whether you can prepare the rolls in an oven or air fryer, and what instructions to follow after defrosting. | After school, I want to be able to prepare a roll from my stock without overlooking the storage instructions. Around 19% of consumers may make their choice mainly on this basis. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘100% wholemeal’
A multigrain roll may contain ordinary flour as well as wholemeal flour. For example, PLUS lists 34% wholemeal wheat flour and 21% wheat flour in its multigrain sourdough rolls.
Read the ingredients list and compare fibre per 100 g if that matters to your choice.
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Assuming a white or small roll is gluten-free
The white and brown rolls reviewed contain wheat or other gluten-containing cereals. The colour and size of a roll don’t change its allergen information.
Check both ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ on the packaging, and follow the school or childcare setting’s policy when packing food.
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Defrosting frozen rolls without a plan
According to Jumbo’s product information, its white frozen rolls must be prepared and eaten within 24 hours of defrosting; this variety must not be refrozen.
Defrost only the portion you need and follow the instructions on the packaging you’ve chosen.
If you defrost more rolls than you can use within the stated time, you may have to throw them away.
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Treating ‘thick cut’ as a standard roll size
Rolls aren’t pre-sliced loaves. So, without a stated measurement, the term doesn’t tell you how much space or sturdiness you’ll have for the filling.
Look at the shape and size of the roll itself; use the ingredients, nutritional information and preparation instructions to compare details that are actually shown on the packaging.
Brands with relevant roll examples
Albert Heijn
The brown multigrain sourdough roll reviewed is an example for anyone who wants to compare a roll individually, with its ingredients listed.
- Albert Heijn lists 27% wholemeal wheat flour and 5.4 g of fibre per 100 g for this roll.
- This product contains gluten-containing cereals and is listed as ‘no longer available’ on the product page. Check the current range and the label on the specific roll before making your choice.
Jumbo
The white and brown frozen rolls reviewed are worth considering if you want to store rolls and prepare them later.
- Jumbo lists 5.1 g of fibre per 100 g for the brown variety reviewed and 2.5 g per 100 g for the white variety.
- Both varieties reviewed contain gluten-containing cereals. The white frozen variety must also be prepared and eaten within 24 hours of defrosting, and must not be refrozen.
PLUS
The bake-at-home rolls reviewed include white and multigrain varieties. Check the preparation instructions on each pack to see what suits your oven or air fryer.
- PLUS lists 56% wholemeal wheat flour and 7 g of fibre per 100 g for the multigrain rolls reviewed; the white rolls reviewed contain 2.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Ingredients and product information can change, so check the current packaging of the variety you buy.
White roll for an after-school snack
This white roll is an option if you’re looking for a base for an after-school snack. Compare its shape, nutritional information and allergens on the packaging if ease of filling or taking it with you is important.
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g'woon White Rustic Pistolet – 4 rolls
A white roll to use as the base for an after-school snack, supplied in a pack of 4.
If you want to compare fibre, check the current packaging to see whether the nutritional information is given per 100 g or per portion. If the roll is going to school, also check how gluten-containing cereals and other allergens are listed on the label.
Frequently asked questions
When should I choose a brown or multigrain roll instead of a white one?
If you mainly want to compare fibre content, the brown and multigrain varieties reviewed are worth a look: Jumbo, PLUS and Albert Heijn list 5.1 to 7 g of fibre per 100 g for these, compared with 2.5 to 2.7 g for the white examples reviewed. Check the label on the specific roll, as ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean wholemeal.
Is a standard roll gluten-free?
Don’t assume it is: the regular rolls reviewed contain wheat or other gluten-containing cereals. If you’re looking for a gluten-free product, check that the packaging explicitly describes your chosen product as gluten-free, and read the rest of the allergen information too.
What should I check for bake-at-home and frozen rolls?
Follow the preparation and storage instructions for the exact variety. PLUS recommends preparing the bake-at-home rolls reviewed in an oven or air fryer; according to Jumbo, the white frozen rolls reviewed must be prepared and eaten within 24 hours of defrosting and must not be refrozen.