Buying several loaves of sliced wholemeal bread to stock up makes sense if you can freeze them in portions you’ll use soon after purchase. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping wholemeal bread in the freezer for 1 to 3 months; it may dry out if frozen for longer. Before buying, check the slice thickness and loaf size, and compare the ingredients, allergens, fibre and salt on the packaging of the exact variety.
You buy several loaves at once and only want to defrost what you need for each meal or day. Portioning helps you match freezer storage time to how quickly you use the bread; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions straight after purchase.
You eat wholemeal bread regularly and choose between whole and half loaves based on how many slices you can use and how much freezer space you have. Remember to check the slice thickness of the variety you choose.
You want to compare the ingredients, allergens, fibre and salt content of the bread you choose. Check the information for the exact variety: average nutritional values don’t tell you what’s in every loaf.
Work out how many slices you’ll use within the recommended storage period and how much freezer space you have. Then choose a suitable loaf size and check the slice thickness and label for the exact variety.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Freezing and waste | Check whether you can divide the loaf into portions you’ll use and whether you have enough freezer space. | I buy several loaves at once and only want to defrost the slices I need each day. For around 50% of consumers, limiting loss of quality and reducing waste would be the main priority. |
| Loaf size and slice thickness | Compare whole and half loaves, and check the packaging to see how the loaf you’re considering is sliced. | If I have limited freezer space or don’t use many slices, I want a loaf size that suits how much I eat. For around 30% of consumers, loaf size and choice of shop would come first. |
| Label | For the exact variety, read the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information. Compare fibre and salt per 100 g and, if stated, per slice. | I want to know which ingredients and allergens are in my bread and what the label says about fibre and salt. For around 20% of consumers, this information would be the main consideration. |
For opened wholemeal bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard, compared with 1 to 3 months in the freezer. So buying a large quantity won’t necessarily suit how quickly you use it.
Freeze bread in portions straight after purchase, and make sure the amount you buy is right for what you can use and store.
An average nutritional value doesn’t apply to every individual loaf. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary between varieties, and information on one pack won’t automatically apply to other loaves.
Check the ingredients, allergens, fibre and salt content on the packaging of the variety you’re buying.
These ranges give you a starting point for comparing wholemeal bread. A brand name alone won’t tell you whether a particular loaf has the slice thickness or size you want.
Albert Heijn offers several wholemeal breads, including whole and half loaves in different styles.
Jumbo’s wholemeal range includes Fine Wholemeal and a half-loaf option.
Lidl describes packaged bread with a fibre meter on the packaging.
Aldi lists Fine Wholemeal as both a whole and a half loaf; the whole-loaf variety is described as sliced.
Plus lists products including PLUS Round Fine Wholemeal, a whole loaf with ingredient information available for that variety.
Dirk offers wholemeal bread in whole and half loaves, including varieties from Bakker van der Akker.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping wholemeal bread in the freezer for 1 to 3 months. Freeze it in portions straight after purchase, and bear in mind that it may dry out the longer it stays frozen.
Don’t assume they’re the same when you’re buying bread. Check the product name and packaging to see how the loaf you choose is sliced and whether the slices suit the way you’ll use it.
No. Compare the nutritional information for the exact variety. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives average figures of 2,3 g of fibre and 0,33 g of salt per 35 g slice of fine wholemeal bread; these aren’t fixed values for every product.
Read the allergen information on the packaging of the bread you’re buying. For example, the ingredient information for PLUS Round Fine Wholemeal, whole loaf, lists wholemeal wheat flour and wheat gluten; another loaf may have a different recipe.
