Choose a white sourdough baguette or ciabatta if you mainly want bread to share as a side; compare a multigrain option if the grains and stated fibre content matter more to you. If someone at the table needs gluten-free bread, choose a separate product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the packaging. If you want to serve the bread warm, follow the preparation instructions for your chosen loaf rather than relying on a ‘premium’ label.
You’re looking for bread to put on the table alongside dips or other dishes and divide into portions. Baguettes and ciabatta are formats worth comparing; check separately whether your chosen product can be baked at home.
Compare the ingredients and fibre content per 100 g rather than relying on the name ‘multigrain’. That way, you can compare a white option with bread that lists wholemeal flour.
You’re looking for a separate product that is explicitly labelled gluten-free for someone at the table. Ordinary sourdough or multigrain bread isn’t a substitute; check the current packaging too.
First decide whether the bread needs to be easy to share and served warm, or whether the grain content or a gluten-free label will determine your choice. Then check the format, packaging and, if necessary, preparation instructions for each product.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Warm and easy to share | Check the number of pieces or the weight, whether the bread can be baked at home, and what preparation instructions apply. | If I want to serve bread alongside the other dishes, it needs to be easy to share and, if necessary, prepare just before eating. Around 33% of consumers prioritise a side that’s easy to share. |
| Grains and fibre | Compare the stated proportion of wholemeal flour and the fibre content per 100 g; ‘multigrain’ and ‘wholemeal’ don’t mean the same thing. | If the ingredients matter more to me than a white bread format, I want to be able to compare the ingredients. Around 25% of consumers prioritise grains and fibre. |
| Gluten and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, and look for an explicit gluten-free label if needed. | If someone at the table needs to eat gluten-free, I can’t rely on the words ‘sourdough’ or ‘multigrain’. This separate bread choice is a priority for around 17% of consumers. |
| Practical planning | Check availability at your chosen shop and whether the bread is ready to serve or needs to be baked at home. | If I want to buy the bread on the day of the meal, the preparation method needs to fit my plans. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
The PLUS sourdough baguettes reviewed contain gluten-containing grains. The proving method doesn’t make an ordinary wheat or multigrain loaf suitable for someone who needs to eat gluten-free.
If needed, choose bread with an explicit gluten-free label and read the allergen information on the current packaging.
According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain means that different types of grain are used. The name doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour or fibre the bread contains.
Compare the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g for the products you’re considering.
Bread listed in an online range won’t necessarily be available at every shop you choose. This can matter if you’re shopping for a specific meal.
Check availability at your shop and, when it arrives, make sure the bread and packaging match what you chose.
The Voedingscentrum describes bread made with iodised baker’s salt as a source of iodine, but notes that baker’s salt is usually not used in organic bread. So the type of bread alone doesn’t tell you exactly what’s in an individual product.
Read the ingredients list if the presence of iodised salt matters to your choice.
These supermarket ranges offer different types of bread to compare. Check the product information and availability for the bread you actually want to buy.
A range that includes sourdough baguettes, regular baguettes and ciabatta to compare.
A range with different baguettes and ciabatta, including products specifically labelled gluten-free.
A way to compare bread baked in store with loaves you bake at home.
A range for anyone considering ciabatta, baguettes or other bread to bake at home.
A range for comparing white and multigrain sourdough baguettes by ingredients and preparation method.
A range for comparing ciabatta with other types of bread to bake at home.
These ciabatta and baguettes are suited to serving as a bread side. Compare the size and check whether the preparation method and allergen information for each product suit your meal.
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Four individual ciabatta rolls are a good option if you want to serve the bread in portions alongside your meal.
Check the current packaging for preparation instructions and allergen information, especially if you want to serve the bread warm.
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This pack of four baguettes is ideal for a meal where you want to serve several portions of bread.
Compare the grain content on the packaging if it matters to your choice. If you need gluten-free bread, don’t rely on the name ‘Multigrain’.
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This 250 g ciabatta is a good size to share as a side.
If you want to serve warm bread, check the preparation instructions before buying. If you have allergies, read the current packaging.
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Two baguettes are a good option if you want to serve the bread in separate portions with your meal.
If grains or fibre are the deciding factors, compare the listed ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g. Check separately how to serve the bread.
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This 250 g white baguette is a good choice if you want bread to slice and serve as a side.
If baking at home or serving it warm is part of your plan, check the packaging. Read the allergen information for anyone at the table with dietary restrictions.
No. The white and multigrain sourdough baguettes from PLUS that were reviewed contain gluten-containing grains. If you need gluten-free bread, choose a product with an explicit gluten-free label and check the current packaging.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread is made with at least three types of grain; the name doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains. Check the ingredients and, if you wish, compare the fibre content per 100 g.
Only if you choose a product that needs to be baked at home. Follow the instructions on the product’s own packaging: the preparation method for one baguette or ciabatta won’t necessarily suit another product.
No, you can’t assume that all bread does. The Voedingscentrum describes bread made with iodised baker’s salt as a source of iodine, but also says that organic bread usually doesn’t contain baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for the bread you choose.
Check the type of bread, its weight, the preparation method and availability at your chosen shop. Also read the packaging for ingredients and allergens when it arrives: PLUS, for example, notes that product information can change.
