Don’t use ‘medium sliced’ as your only selection criterion. First decide whether you’re looking for a particular size or pre-sliced rolls, then check the product description. Next, choose between white part-baked rolls, clearly labelled wholemeal multigrain rolls, frozen rolls or an explicitly gluten-free option, depending on your guests and your plans. The number of rolls, preparation method, ingredients and storage instructions vary by product.
You want to bake the rolls just before serving without them getting in the way of other dishes. As well as checking the number of rolls, look at the instructions on each pack: PLUS recommends baking its white rolls for 8–10 minutes at 220 °C, while its gluten-free white rolls need 10 minutes at 180 °C.
You’re looking for an alternative to white rolls that is clearly labelled as wholemeal. PLUS describes its multigrain rolls as part-baked wholemeal multigrain rolls and states that they contain 7 g of fibre per 100 g. The word ‘multigrain’ in the name alone isn’t enough to confirm that a roll is wholemeal.
You have guests for whom gluten or other ingredients are a key consideration. Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose. PLUS’s standard white and multigrain rolls contain gluten-containing cereals, while PLUS also sells a roll specifically labelled gluten-free.
First, decide when you want the rolls on the table. Then choose the type of bread and check your guests’ requirements and the storage instructions. If ‘medium sliced’ means a particular size or cut to you, check for that separately in the product description.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and serving time | Check the number of rolls, and the temperature and timing for the appliance you’ll be using. Don’t use the baking time for a different variety. | If the oven is also needed for other brunch dishes, I want to know when the rolls can go in. Around 40% of consumers say serving time is their top priority. |
| Wholemeal content and fibre | Read the legal product description and compare fibre per 100 g on the same basis. PLUS states that its wholemeal multigrain rolls contain 7 g of fibre per 100 g. | I want to offer a clearly labelled wholemeal roll alongside white rolls, not just a variety with ‘multigrain’ in the name. For around 30% of consumers, this is their main consideration when choosing bread. |
| Ingredients and stock | Check the ingredients and allergens on each pack, the number of rolls and, for frozen products, the thawing and storage instructions. | If a guest needs a gluten-free product or I want to buy rolls in advance, I need to make sure the variety I choose suits that requirement or plan. This is the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
The name alone doesn’t tell you whether a roll is wholemeal. PLUS also includes ‘wholemeal’ in the product description for its multigrain rolls, which contain 7 g of fibre per 100 g.
Check the product description and ingredients on the pack. If fibre is important to your choice, compare the nutritional information per 100 g.
Different varieties may need different oven temperatures. PLUS recommends baking its white and wholemeal multigrain rolls for 8–10 minutes at 220 °C, but its gluten-free white rolls need 10 minutes at 180 °C.
Plan your oven space using the instructions on each pack, and bake varieties with different instructions separately.
You may need an extra oven batch while getting brunch ready.
You can’t tell whether iodised salt has been used from the name ‘bread roll’ alone. Albert Heijn lists it as an ingredient in its white rolls.
Check the current ingredients list for ‘iodised salt’ or ‘baker’s salt’. If it matters to your choice, ask which salt has been used in unwrapped bread.
According to the product information for Jumbo’s frozen white rolls, they must not be refrozen after thawing and should be prepared and eaten within 24 hours.
Only thaw as many of these rolls as you plan to serve within that time. For other frozen varieties, follow the instructions on their own packaging.
If you thaw too many at once, you may not be able to store the rolls as instructed.
These brands offer examples of different types of bread rolls. Compare the information for the specific variety you’re considering: a feature of one roll won’t necessarily apply to the whole range.
Albert Heijn describes its white part-baked rolls as a pack of four, weighing 300 g in total.
Jumbo offers white rolls and frozen varieties, including white and brown rolls.
PLUS describes separate varieties of white, wholemeal multigrain and gluten-free white rolls.
Dirk describes its white part-baked rolls as a pack of four, weighing 300 g in total.
Choose the type of bread you want to serve. If you’re choosing wholemeal, check the product description rather than relying on the word ‘multigrain’ in the name. PLUS describes its wholemeal multigrain rolls as part-baked wholemeal multigrain rolls and states that they contain 7 g of fibre per 100 g. For other varieties, check their own nutritional information.
Plan the thawing and baking according to the instructions on the pack you choose. Jumbo states that its frozen white rolls must not be refrozen after thawing and should be prepared and eaten within 24 hours. Don’t assume the same time limit applies to other rolls.
If a guest needs to avoid gluten, choose a roll explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the current ingredients and allergen information. The standard white and multigrain rolls described by PLUS contain gluten-containing cereals. When preparing and serving the gluten-free roll, make sure it doesn’t come into contact with those products.
Check the ingredients list on the specific pack for ‘iodised salt’ or ‘baker’s salt’. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in its white rolls, but that doesn’t tell you anything about a different product. If the bread is unwrapped, you can ask which salt has been used.
