Families with different bread preferences
If one person wants a white roll and another would rather have a wholemeal or multigrain option, you can serve both without choosing the same bread for everyone.
Who is this combination suitable for?
Anyone looking for a wholemeal roll
If you specifically want wholemeal, look beyond the colour, seeds or the word ‘multigrain’. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour.
Home cooks who want to serve warm rolls
For a fakeaway meal with burgers, kebab or a vegetarian filling, for example, it’s useful to check in advance whether the rolls you choose can be prepared in your oven or air fryer.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide which types of bread your guests want to eat, then compare the labels on the individual rolls. ‘Multigrain’ and ‘wholemeal’ are not interchangeable: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain means that at least three types of grain are used.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check for the word ‘wholemeal’, the ingredients and the fibre per 100 g. A brown colour or the word ‘multigrain’ alone isn’t enough to call a roll wholemeal. | If I mainly want a clearly labelled wholemeal option, I don’t want to judge a roll by its colour. For around 44% of consumers, this is said to be the most important factor when choosing. |
| Different preferences | Choose clearly identifiable white and wholemeal or multigrain rolls, and check how many rolls are in each pack. | If not everyone likes the same type of bread, I want to let guests choose between white and another option. For around 33% of consumers, having that choice is said to come first. |
| Preparation and packaging | Check the number of rolls and the instructions for the appliance you plan to use; don’t assume every variety has the same baking time. | I want to serve the rolls warm without holding up the rest of the meal. For around 23% of consumers, practical preparation is said to matter most. |
Common mistakes when choosing
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Assuming brown, multigrain and wholemeal mean the same thing
A dark crust or layer of seeds doesn’t tell you whether all the flour used is wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ refers to the number of types of grain, while wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour.
For a wholemeal roll, look for the specific word ‘wholemeal’, then check the ingredients and fibre per 100 g.
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Assuming every roll contains iodised salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So the information on one product doesn’t tell you anything about another roll.
Check the packaging of the variety you choose to see whether ‘iodised salt’ or ‘baker’s salt’, for example, is listed in the ingredients.
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Judging allergens by the name or colour
The product information for the PLUS and Jumbo rolls mentioned here lists wheat. The ingredients of another variety may differ, even if the roll looks similar.
If you have a relevant allergy, read the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack you’re buying.
Brands to compare
These brands offer examples of products whose labels you can compare, including white, brown and multigrain rolls. The characteristics mentioned apply to the specific varieties, not to a brand’s entire range.
Albert Heijn
The AH brown multigrain sourdough roll is an example of a brown roll whose wholemeal percentage is listed in the ingredients.
- For this variety, Albert Heijn lists 27% wholemeal wheat flour and 5.4 g of fibre per 100 g.
- For this variety, ‘brown multigrain’ doesn’t mean that all the flour is wholemeal; check the latest packaging.
Jumbo
Jumbo’s brown frozen rolls are an example to compare if you’re looking for a part-baked option.
- For these brown rolls, Jumbo lists 5.1 g of fibre and 1.04 g of salt per 100 g.
- Check the preparation instructions and ingredients on the pack you choose; the information for this variety doesn’t automatically apply to other Jumbo rolls.
PLUS
PLUS’s white and multigrain rolls show why it’s useful to compare products per 100 g.
- PLUS lists 56% wholemeal wheat flour and 7 g of fibre per 100 g for its multigrain rolls, compared with 2.7 g of fibre per 100 g for the white rolls mentioned.
- Another PLUS multigrain sourdough variety lists 34% wholemeal wheat flour and 5.8 g of fibre per 100 g. So choose based on the label for the specific variety.
Dirk
Dirk’s range of rolls includes both white and brown options.
- The fresh white and brown rolls shown are each described as weighing 80 g.
- Check the ingredients and nutritional information for each roll you choose before drawing conclusions about wholemeal flour or fibre.
Lidl
Lidl lists a white roll in its fresh-from-the-oven range.
- Lidl describes this as a white wheat roll that’s only available in store.
- According to Lidl, the fresh range may vary between branches; check the label in store on the variety you’re buying.
White rolls as part of the combination
This white roll is a good fit for anyone who wants a familiar white bread roll on fakeaway night. If you also want to serve a wholemeal or multigrain option, choose it separately and compare its label.
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g'woon White Rustic Bread Roll, 4 pack
A white option for a table where people have different bread preferences. Check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and preparation instructions if these matter to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is a multigrain roll also wholemeal?
No, not necessarily. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that bread contains at least three types of grain; wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour. So check the product name and ingredients list for the roll you choose.
Does every Dutch roll contain iodised salt?
You can’t assume that. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the label on the roll you choose to see whether iodised salt or baker’s salt is listed in the ingredients.
Can I cook part-baked rolls in the air fryer for fakeaway night?
Yes, if the instructions for the rolls you’ve chosen say they can be cooked in an air fryer. Check the specified temperature and cooking time too; don’t automatically use the instructions for another variety.
What should I check if someone needs to avoid wheat or gluten?
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the specific roll before serving it. The PLUS and Jumbo products mentioned list wheat; the colour or name of another roll won’t tell you exactly what it contains.