Choose half a loaf if you want to serve bread with dinner; choose croissants if you’ve planned a separate roll or snack. For a small group, match the number of items to the number of diners. With croissants, also check the preparation method, storage instructions and allergens: half a loaf and a pack of croissants are not interchangeable portions.
If you’re shopping for a small number of diners, it makes a difference whether you choose half a loaf, a single croissant or a multipack. Think about what you’ll do with any portions left over, too. The Voedingscentrum provides storage guidance for croissants in a kitchen cupboard and in the freezer; for an unopened pack, follow the instructions on the product.
If you want to serve something warm without shaping the dough yourself, check the preparation instructions on the pack. PLUS gives a shorter oven time for its part-baked butter croissants than the times listed by Délifrance and Danerolles for the frozen and dough products reviewed.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information for every guest. A gluten-free croissant isn’t automatically free from other allergens: according to PLUS, the Consenza croissants reviewed contain egg and soya.
First decide whether you want bread to serve with dinner or croissants as a separate snack. Then compare the quantity, preparation and ingredients with what your group needs.
| Point to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and leftovers | Compare the number of items with the number of diners, and check how to store any portions left over. | When I’m eating with just a few people, I don’t want to open more bread or croissants than we can use. Around 36% of consumers prioritise reducing food waste. |
| Preparation time | Check the baking time and equipment needed; part-baked products, frozen croissants and dough all require different preparation. | When several dishes need to be ready at the same time, I want to know how long the bread will take. For around 29% of consumers, being able to serve quickly is the top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information, even if the product has a dietary label. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to check exactly what’s in the product I choose. This check comes first for around 21% of consumers. |
| How it fits into the menu | Decide whether you’re looking for bread to serve with dinner or croissants to serve as a separate snack. | I want what I buy to suit the course I’ve planned, not just the size of the pack. Around 14% of consumers put this menu choice first. |
Jumbo lists half loaves and croissants in separate product categories. So a smaller amount of bread for the table meets a different need from croissants you want to serve as individual rolls.
First decide how the item fits into your menu, then compare pack sizes within the relevant product category.
Choosing the right quantity won’t help much if you don’t know what to do with any portions you don’t use. Storage instructions also vary between product types.
Before buying, read the label for instructions on storing the product after opening, freezing it and handling it after defrosting.
The name ‘butter’ or ‘gluten-free’ croissant doesn’t tell you which other allergens may be present. For example, PLUS lists egg and soya in the Consenza gluten-free croissants reviewed.
If you’re catering for guests with allergies, check the full allergen information on the current pack.
According to NBC / Brood.net, iodised baker’s salt isn’t used in all bakery products. So the general term ‘croissant’ doesn’t tell you which type of salt is in a particular product.
Check the ingredients list on the pack if the type of salt used matters to your choice.
Jumbo lists both half loaves and croissants, but in separate product categories.
The PLUS product reviewed is a 180 g pack of part-baked butter croissants.
Danerolles Large is dough that you shape and bake into six extra-large croissants.
The Délifrance product reviewed consists of frozen butter croissants.
The Consenza pack reviewed contains three gluten-free and wheat-free croissants.
These products are croissants for anyone who wants to serve a separate roll or snack alongside an Italian meal. If you’re looking for bread to serve with dinner, half a loaf is a different choice.
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An option if you’re looking for a single croissant to serve as a separate snack rather than bread with dinner. Check that this Danish Croissant suits your menu and your guests’ dietary requirements.
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Four croissants may be a good fit if you’re planning a separate roll for several diners. Before deciding when to serve them, read the preparation instructions on the pack and check the allergen information.
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These mini croissants are worth considering if you want to serve smaller croissants as a separate snack. The pack weighs 200 g; check the number of items, preparation method and storage advice before planning the portions.
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A pack of four croissants with a total weight of 180 g, for anyone looking for a separate roll for several diners. Check the preparation method and how to store any leftovers on the pack.
No. Jumbo lists half loaves as a bread product and croissants in a separate category. Choose half a loaf if you want bread for the table; choose croissants if you’ve planned a separate roll or snack.
For an unopened pack, follow the label. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping croissants in a kitchen cupboard for two days or in the freezer for one to three months; check your product’s instructions for storage after opening, too.
Not if the label says you can’t. For the Délifrance butter croissants reviewed, the product information states that defrosted products must not be refrozen.
Don’t assume so. NBC / Brood.net explains that iodised baker’s salt isn’t used in all bakery products. If the type of salt used matters to your choice, read the ingredients list on the croissants you’re considering.
