Families who eat lots of sandwiches
If several people eat bread on Saturday and Sunday, a whole loaf may be a good fit. Check the weight too, and think about whether you’ll use the leftover slices later or freeze them.
Which loaf size works best for you?
Smaller households looking to avoid waste
If you’ll only be having bread at a few breakfasts, a half loaf may be more practical. Freezing a whole loaf in portions is another option if you have space in the freezer.
Weekend brunch fans who fancy warm rolls
Part-baked rolls are a good fit for a breakfast when you’re happy to use the oven. Check how many rolls are in the pack and how much preparation they need. Lidl says its range of fresh-from-the-oven bread may vary by store.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how much bread you’re actually likely to eat. Then compare pack sizes, how you want to prepare it and the nutritional information that matters to you.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Enough for several breakfasts | Check the loaf’s weight and decide whether you’ll eat the whole loaf or freeze some of it. | If several people are having breakfast, I want enough slices without ending up with bread left over. For an estimated 36% of consumers, having enough for several people is the top priority. |
| Cutting down on waste | Choose a whole or half loaf to suit the number of times you’ll eat it; freeze any portions you won’t use straight away. | When I only need a few slices, I don’t want the rest to go to waste. Around 29% of consumers say avoiding waste is their top priority. |
| Wholemeal and ingredients | Read the product name, fibre per 100 g and the ingredients list; check whether it contains baker’s salt or iodised salt too. | If wholemeal bread and its ingredients are important to me, I want to be able to check them on the label. An estimated 21% of consumers prioritise this label information. |
| Warm rolls | Check how many rolls are in the pack, the preparation instructions and, for fresh-from-the-oven bread from a shop, the local range. | For a brunch, I want to serve warm rolls and can make time to prepare them. For around 14% of consumers, that fresh breakfast moment matters most. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread does not have to be baked with baker’s salt. The type of bread or the shop’s name won’t tell you which salt has been used.
Read the ingredients list if baker’s salt or iodised salt is important to your choice.
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Choosing a whole loaf for just a few breakfasts
A large pack may not be the best fit if a lot of it will go uneaten. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions straight after buying it.
Choose a half loaf, or freeze the portions you want to eat later straight away.
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Treating part-baked rolls like ready-to-eat bread
Part-baked rolls need preparing. For example, PLUS’s instructions for its wholemeal schnitt rolls call for a preheated oven and a baking time of 6–8 minutes.
Check the preparation instructions and the number of rolls in the pack before you choose.
Remember to factor in the time and oven use on the morning itself.
Brands and shops to explore
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists a range of everyday and freshly baked loaves, including a whole tiger wholemeal loaf.
- The online range makes it easy to browse bread types and pack sizes in advance.
- When choosing a temporary offer, check that the pack size suits how much you’ll eat.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists several wholemeal loaves, including whole and half-size options.
- Having the choice of a whole or half loaf is useful if you want to match the quantity to your household.
- Check the weight of the specific loaf before comparing pack sizes.
Lidl
Lidl is an option for browsing fresh-from-the-oven bread and rolls in store.
- Its fresh-from-the-oven range is worth considering if you want to pick up rolls on the morning of your breakfast.
- Lidl says the range may vary by store, so check which rolls are available locally.
ALDI
ALDI lists products including Fijn volkoren heel and Boeren tijger volkoren heel.
- These named wholemeal loaves give you specific options to compare by pack size and weight.
- Check the details of the loaf you actually buy, including its ingredients and weight.
PLUS
PLUS provides product information for both loaves and part-baked rolls.
- For PLUS Boeren volkoren heel, you can check the ingredients and nutritional information; that loaf lists 6.7 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Use the information for the specific loaf you’ve chosen and check the pack label.
Dirk
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker loaves, including a whole round wholemeal loaf and a half farmhouse wholemeal loaf.
- The whole and half options give you a useful starting point for choosing the right amount.
- Check the weight and details of the pack you’ve chosen before you decide.
Bread options on Joybuy
These loaves and part-baked baguettes suit a range of weekend breakfasts. Choose according to how much you’ll use and how much time you want to spend preparing it; a multigrain loaf isn’t automatically wholemeal.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal country loaf, 2 × 550 g
The pack of two loaves is a good fit if you need bread for several breakfasts. According to the product name, each loaf weighs 550 g. Check the preparation instructions on the pack and decide whether you’ll use the full amount.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal country loaf, 550 g
This single loaf is a good option if two loaves would be too much for your breakfast plans. The product name specifies 550 g and wholemeal. Check the instructions on the pack before planning to serve it as part of a bake-at-home breakfast.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round multigrain country loaf, 2 × 550 g
Two loaves may suit you if you’re planning ahead for several occasions when you’ll eat bread. The product name specifies two loaves of 550 g. If you specifically want wholemeal bread, check the product name and ingredients: ‘multigrain’ on its own doesn’t mean a loaf is wholemeal.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round multigrain country loaf, 550 g
One loaf may be a better fit than a pack of two if you only have a few breakfasts planned. The product name specifies 550 g. Check the preparation instructions and read the label if the exact grains or wholemeal status matter to you.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij multigrain baguettes, 4 × 135 g
The four baguettes are a good option if you want to bake individual portions for breakfast. According to the product name, each one weighs 135 g. Allow time to defrost and bake them, and check the instructions on the pack; ‘multigrain’ doesn’t confirm that they’re wholemeal.
Frequently asked questions
Is bread in the Netherlands always made with iodised baker’s salt?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread doesn’t have to be baked with baker’s salt. If you want to know whether baker’s salt or iodised salt has been used, read the ingredients list.
What should I do with a whole loaf if I won’t eat it all this weekend?
Freeze the bread in portions straight after buying it, then take out what you need for each breakfast. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage guide, bread will generally keep in the freezer for 1–3 months; it may dry out if you store it for longer.
When are part-baked rolls a good choice for a weekend brunch?
Part-baked rolls are a good choice if you want warm rolls and the pack size suits the number of people eating. Read the oven instructions in advance: PLUS says its wholemeal schnitt rolls take 6–8 minutes to bake in a preheated oven.
Can I expect the same fresh-from-the-oven rolls at every Lidl store?
Not necessarily. Lidl says its fresh bread range may vary by store. Check in store to see which rolls are available for your breakfast.