If you want to choose how thick the slices are for a generously topped late-night snack, go for an unsliced loaf. Pre-sliced bread saves you the preparation; bake-at-home bread is a good option if you fancy a warm snack and have time to prepare it. For wholegrain, ingredients and allergens, check the information for the specific product rather than relying on its colour or the term ‘thick cut’.
With an unsliced loaf, you can choose the thickness of your slices. Albert Heijn lists both sliced and unsliced OerDesem varieties; the type of loaf alone doesn’t tell you how well a slice will hold your toppings.
Pre-sliced bread is ready to top. If you’d rather have something warm, bake-at-home bread is another option, as long as you have time to prepare it according to the packaging.
When choosing wholegrain bread, check the product name and nutritional information, and refer to the details for the specific product when checking allergens. If you only eat bread now and then, Voedingscentrum recommends freezing portions as soon as you get home from the shops.
Choose this if: you want to decide how thick your slices are.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to slice the loaf yourself, and the slices won’t automatically be even.
Choose this if: you want to make a sandwich without having to slice the bread.
Bear in mind: the pre-cut thickness needs to suit what you want to do with your sandwich.
Choose this if: you’d prefer warm bread for your late-night snack.
Bear in mind: it takes time to prepare, so follow the instructions on the packaging.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness | Check whether the bread is sliced or unsliced. If a particular thickness matters, look at the slices themselves. | If I’m adding lots of toppings, I want to choose the thickness myself. Around 40% of consumers put that control first. |
| Preparation | Check whether the bread is ready to use or needs baking first. | Late in the evening, I don’t want to wait long before I can make something to eat. Speed is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | For a wholegrain option, check the product name and ingredients; check the specific product for allergen information. | I want to know what sort of bread I’m using and whether the ingredients suit my needs. This is the most important consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Quantity and storage | Choose a whole or half loaf to suit how much you’ll eat, and check the storage advice. | If I only have a late-night snack now and then, I don’t want to be left with lots of bread. Around 10% of consumers put managing their supplies first. |
On its own, this label doesn’t tell you how thick the slices of a particular loaf are or how well they’ll hold plenty of toppings.
Choose unsliced bread if you want to decide on the thickness yourself. If you choose sliced bread, check the actual slices or the product images.
According to Nederlands Bakkerij Centrum, the colour of bread doesn’t always tell you anything about its ingredients or nutritional value.
If you’re looking for wholegrain bread, check the product name and ingredients; for allergen information, read the details for the specific product.
If you rarely eat bread, some of it may be left over before you get round to using it.
Consider buying half a loaf, or freeze portions as soon as you get home from the shops, as recommended by Voedingscentrum. Take out what you need.
Bread left for too long can dry out or go mouldy and end up being wasted.
A place to compare sliced and unsliced bread varieties side by side.
A shop to explore if you’re looking at loaves as well as bake-at-home bread and rolls.
Worth considering if you want to compare bake-off, packaged and fresh bread.
A useful option if you’re choosing between a whole or half loaf and bread to bake at home.
An option for browsing whole loaves, hearth-baked bread and sourdough, among other varieties.
A shop to explore for both everyday loaves and other types of bread for a snack.
These products offer a few different ways to enjoy a late-night bread snack: two types of bread to bake at home, flatbread and white rolls. None of these products is a confirmed thick slice of ordinary bread, so choose the type and preparation that suit you.
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For a snack that calls for ciabatta you can defrost and bake. Follow the instructions on the packaging, then decide whether the shape of the bread works with your toppings.
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For anyone who’d like to bake a baguette to enjoy as a late-night snack. Allow time to defrost it and check the packaging for preparation instructions; its shape doesn’t tell you the exact thickness of pre-cut slices.
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Flatbread for anyone looking for a different base for their snack instead of a slice of bread. It’s not a substitute for a thick slice; check the current packaging for ingredients and allergen information.
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White rolls for anyone who’d rather have a roll than a thick slice of bread. Check the packaging to see whether they need preparing, and read the latest allergen information there too.
Freeze bread in portions as soon as you get home from the shops, and take out what you need. Voedingscentrum recommends keeping wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months; also follow the storage advice on the packaging.
No. Check the product name and ingredients when choosing wholegrain bread. According to Nederlands Bakkerij Centrum, colour doesn’t always indicate the ingredients or nutritional value.
Check the information for the specific bread you’re buying, preferably on the latest packaging. Lidl publishes an ingredients and allergen overview for its oven-fresh range; Albert Heijn points out that product information can change.
