Families looking for bread to serve several people
If bread is a side dish with your Sunday roast, choose a whole or half loaf to suit the number of people eating and what you’ll do with any leftovers.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Home cooks who want to serve warm bread
If you want to bake the bread just before the meal, baguettes, ciabatta or rolls are an option. Bear in mind the cooking instructions and the space in your oven or air fryer.
Shoppers buying bread for later meals too
If you’ll use the bread for breakfast or lunch after your roast, consider the type of bread, the quantity and how to store any leftovers. Look for the wholemeal label to identify this type of bread.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide how much bread to serve with your roast and whether you’ll use any leftovers. Then choose between bread that’s ready to serve and bread that needs preparing.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it important to? |
|---|---|---|
| How much you need | Check the weight, the number of pieces and whether a whole or half loaf suits the number of people eating and your plans for any leftovers. | If I’m serving bread with this meal only, I don’t want to be left with lots of unused portions. Around 42% of consumers prioritise the quantity they need. |
| When you’ll serve it | If you’re choosing bake-at-home bread, check the cooking method and whether you’ll have an oven or air fryer available. | I want to serve the bread warm, so I need to fit baking it in around the roast. For around 25% of consumers, how the bread is served is their first concern. |
| Using it after Sunday | Look for the wholemeal label if that’s the type of bread you want, and choose an amount you can use or freeze. | If I’m saving leftovers for breakfast or lunch, it matters whether the bread works for those meals too. Around 25% of consumers prioritise how they’ll use it later. |
| Labelling and allergens | If you have a relevant allergy, check the latest allergen information. Check the label or ask whether iodised baker’s salt has been used if that matters to your choice. | I need to know which allergens are present before buying, so I can’t rely on a product page I looked at earlier. For around 8% of consumers, this check is their top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Buying a whole loaf for one meal
A larger quantity is only useful if you’ll use the rest too. According to the Voedingscentrum’s storage guide, opened wholemeal bread can generally be kept in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days.
For a small group, choose an amount that suits you, or freeze portions of a whole loaf to eat later.
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Assuming all bread contains baker’s salt
Baker’s salt is iodised salt, but the Voedingscentrum says bakers aren’t required to use it. So the type of bread alone won’t tell you which salt has been used.
Check the ingredients on the packaging or ask your baker if this matters to your choice.
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Relying on out-of-date allergen information
Ingredients can change. That’s why Albert Heijn advises customers to check the information on the packaging when they buy.
For packaged bread, read the current label. For unwrapped bread, ask the retailer for allergen information. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, sellers must inform customers about allergens present.
Brands and shops to consider
Albert Heijn
Its range includes standard loaves, artisan loaves, sourdough breads and some gluten-free options.
- You can check product information before choosing a type of bread.
- Albert Heijn notes that ingredient, nutritional and allergen information can change. Check the packaging when you buy.
Jumbo
Its range includes standard bread, tiger bread, rolls, baguettes and bake-at-home products.
- The range includes both whole loaves and smaller serving options.
- Check the weight and number of pieces for each product when deciding how much you need.
Lidl
It has a fresh-from-the-oven range of bread and rolls for anyone shopping shortly before a meal.
- Fresh-from-the-oven bread is an alternative if you don’t want to bake bread at home.
- Lidl says its fresh range can vary between stores, so check in advance whether your preferred type of bread is available.
ALDI
It has fresh bread and bake-at-home products, including baguettes, ciabatta, Turkish bread and petit pains.
- The range of bake-at-home options lets you choose between a loaf to share and individual portions.
- Check the weight, number of pieces and cooking instructions on the packaging you choose.
PLUS
Its range includes round brown bread, fine wholemeal bread and Korenlanders varieties.
- Whole and half loaves give you a choice of quantity.
- Check which varieties are available at your chosen shop.
Dirk
Its range includes standard loaves, artisan loaves, baguettes, rolls and bake-at-home products.
- You can weigh up different types of bread for a side dish or for later.
- Check the portion size for each product and whether it needs baking before serving.
Bread options on Joybuy
This selection includes whole loaves, a tear-and-share loaf, flatbreads and baguettes. Choose based on the quantity you need and how you’d like to serve the bread. If you want to serve it warm, check the cooking instructions on the packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 2 × 550 g
Two loaves could suit a larger group or be handy if you’re using the bread for several meals.
Check the cooking instructions on the packaging before deciding when to serve the bread.
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Dr. Oetker La Mia Familia 4-Cheese Pizza Tear Bread, 480 g
This tear-and-share bread is an option if you’d like to serve something cheesy alongside your roast instead of ordinary table bread.
Plan the cooking according to the packaging and check the latest allergen information if it’s relevant to anyone eating.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g
This whole loaf is a good fit if you’ll also be using bread after your roast.
This is one 550 g loaf. Follow the instructions on the current packaging when preparing it.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 pieces
Six individual flatbreads offer a different way to serve bread from a whole loaf that you slice yourself.
Check the packaging for information on how to store or serve the flatbreads.
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g'woon Baguettes White, 2 pieces, 300 g
Two white baguettes are a good option if you want to serve bread in pieces alongside your roast.
The total weight is 300 g. Check the packaging to see whether they need preparing before you plan when to serve them.
Frequently asked questions
Should I get a whole loaf, half a loaf or individual rolls with my roast?
Choose half a loaf or individual portions if you only need bread for this meal and are feeding a small group. A whole loaf makes sense if you’ll use the rest too. For opened wholemeal bread, the Voedingscentrum’s storage guide recommends keeping it in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months. Check the storage information for the bread you buy.
When should I choose bake-at-home bread instead of a regular loaf?
Choose bake-at-home bread if you want warm bread just before serving and have enough time and oven space to prepare it. Check the number of pieces and the instructions on the packaging so you can serve the bread at the same time as your roast.
Is bread in the Netherlands always made with baker’s salt?
No. Baker’s salt is iodised salt, but the Voedingscentrum says bakers aren’t required to use it. Check the label or ask your baker if you want to know which salt has been used in a particular loaf.
How can I check allergens in unwrapped bread?
Ask the retailer for allergen information about the bread you want to buy. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, sellers must inform customers about allergens present. Let them know which allergens are relevant to you.
How can I find out whether fresh bread is available on a Sunday?
Check the opening hours and product range at the shop you’re planning to visit. Lidl says its fresh-from-the-oven range can vary between stores, so don’t assume that a particular type of bread will be available everywhere.