If you’re serving a whole loaf at a special family meal, a rustic sourdough or hearth-baked loaf could suit the flavour and presentation you’re after. If you also need bread for everyday meals, check separately whether a particular loaf is wholemeal. When you’re catering for several people, consider the quantity, allergens, availability and storage instructions too; a premium name won’t tell you anything about these.
If you’re sharing bread at the table with soup, drinks or a leisurely brunch, a whole sourdough or hearth-baked loaf could be just the thing. Decide in advance whether you want to slice it yourself, and check that your preferred option is available at your shop.
If you’re looking for everyday bread as well as a loaf to share at the table, check that ‘wholemeal’ is clearly stated in the product name and on the label. A dark colour, seeds or a rustic-sounding name don’t prove that it’s wholemeal.
If you’re buying more bread than you’ll eat in one meal, decide in advance what you’ll serve straight away and what you’ll store. Check whether and when each product can be frozen.
Start with the meal: are you mainly looking for a whole loaf to share, or do you need some bread to last for the days that follow? Then check the quantity and the label for the specific product.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and presentation | Consider whether you want to serve a whole or unsliced loaf, and whether your preferred option is available at your shop. | For a special meal, I want to put a loaf on the table that I can slice and share myself. Around 31% of consumers give flavour and presentation their highest priority. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare the weight or number of loaves with how much you want to serve, and read the storage instructions on the packaging. | When I’m buying for several people, I want to be able to keep leftovers for another meal. For around 31% of consumers, planning ahead comes first. |
| Wholemeal, salt and allergens | Check whether it’s labelled wholemeal, along with the ingredients and allergen information. To find out about iodine or bakers’ salt, look for a mention of bakers’ salt or iodised salt. | The bread also needs to meet any label-checking requirements for my family, whatever its colour or how rustic it looks. This is the main concern for around 38% of consumers. |
Sourdough describes how the bread is made, not whether it’s wholemeal. A dark colour or seeds don’t tell you that either.
If wholemeal is one of your selection criteria, check the product name and ingredients list on the loaf you’re buying.
The Voedingscentrum (Netherlands Nutrition Centre) says that bread does not have to be made with bakers’ salt. The legal definition describes bakers’ salt as iodised table salt used for bread and other baked goods, but that doesn’t tell you which salt is used in a specific loaf.
For packaged bread, check the ingredients list for bakers’ salt or iodised salt. For unpackaged bread, ask which ingredients have been used.
There may be bread left over after a big meal. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread for 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard or 1 to 3 months in the freezer; after that, its quality may deteriorate.
Plan how much you’ll serve straight away, and follow the product-specific instructions if you want to freeze some.
Jumbo says its fresh sourdough loaves, baked in store, can’t be ordered online. Lidl notes that availability varies between branches, while ALDI sells its fresh-from-the-oven range in shops with a bakery section.
Check your chosen shop and its delivery or collection options before relying on a particular product being available.
These bread ranges offer different ways to find a loaf to share at the table or additional bread for the family. Always check the specific product and its availability at your shop.
The Liefde & Passie and OerDesem ranges are worth exploring if you’re looking for sourdough or a rustic loaf for your meal.
Jumbo offers rustic sourdough loaves if you’re looking to serve a whole loaf at a meal with family or friends.
The fresh-from-the-oven range is worth exploring in store for options such as rustic wholemeal sourdough.
ALDI’s Bakkersgoud Rustiek range includes options such as extra wholemeal, spelt and light multiseed.
Korenlanders sourdough loaves are worth considering if you want to browse your options before doing your shopping.
The bread range includes options such as wholemeal, multigrain, sourdough and spelt.
These loaves are well suited to planning a meal to share: three options are round or rustic, while the baguettes can be served individually. If wholemeal matters to you, check the label on the loaf marked Whole Wheat separately.
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These four individual baguettes are a good choice if you want to serve bread in portions alongside your meal. Check the packaging for preparation instructions, allergens and storage advice; multigrain doesn’t necessarily mean wholemeal.
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This 550 g round loaf is an option if you want to serve one whole loaf at the table. Before buying, check the allergen information, particularly if sesame is a concern for anyone you’re serving, and follow the preparation instructions on the packaging.
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This 550 g round loaf may suit you if you’re considering the type of wheat as well as looking for a whole loaf to serve at the table. The words Whole Wheat alone don’t confirm that it’s wholemeal, so check the label, allergens and preparation instructions.
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This 550 g round loaf gives you the option of serving one whole loaf at a meal with family or friends. Check the preparation and storage instructions on the packaging, and read the ingredients and allergen information if they’re relevant to your choice.
No. Sourdough and hearth-baked describe how bread is made, not whether it’s wholemeal. If wholemeal matters to you, check the product name and ingredients list; colour and seeds don’t confirm it either.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, using bakers’ salt is not compulsory. The legal definition describes bakers’ salt as iodised table salt for bread and other baked goods. For packaged bread, check the ingredients list; for unpackaged bread, ask which salt has been used.
Decide in advance how much bread you want to serve straight away, then check how to store the rest. For opened wholemeal bread, the Voedingscentrum recommends 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard or 1 to 3 months in the freezer. Follow the instructions for the specific product too.
Check the allergen information for the specific loaf rather than relying on the type of bread in its name. Ingredients and warnings about possible traces of allergens can vary between products; for unpackaged bread, ask for the relevant information.
