Choose part-baked rolls if you want to bake them just before Christmas dinner, frozen rolls if you want to shop in advance, or fresh rolls from the shop if you want to serve them straight away. To choose between white and multigrain, compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g. Also check the size and whether the rolls are sliced on the packaging.
Want to buy your rolls ahead of time but serve them closer to the meal? Part-baked and frozen rolls let you plan when to serve them at home; just be sure to check the preparation and storage instructions.
If you’re comparing white and multigrain rolls, check the ingredients and fibre per 100 g. The colour or name alone won’t tell you how much wholemeal flour a roll contains.
For a small Christmas gathering, buying individual fresh rolls may be a better fit for the number you need than a multi-pack. Check what’s available at the shop you plan to visit.
First, decide when you want to serve the rolls. Then compare the grain type and number of rolls, so they suit your table and your plans.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| When to serve them | Check the preparation and storage instructions. For frozen rolls, also check what to do once they’ve been defrosted. | I want to buy the rolls before Christmas and bake them just before the meal. For around 40% of consumers, being able to plan ahead is the top priority. |
| Grain type and fibre | Read the ingredients, look for an explicit wholemeal claim and compare the fibre per 100 g. | When choosing between white and multigrain, I want to know which grains are used and how much fibre the roll contains. Around 40% of consumers put this consideration first. |
| Quantity and availability | Check the number of rolls per pack, their size and what’s available at your chosen shop. | For a small Christmas gathering, I don’t want to buy more rolls than I need, so I check whether they’re available individually. For around 20% of consumers, this is the main reason for their choice. |
The grains listed and warnings about the possible presence of other allergens vary between the white, multigrain and frozen versions from PLUS and Jumbo that were reviewed. This matters if a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of each variety; don’t rely on the colour or product photo.
The name multigrain doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour a roll contains. PLUS specifically states that its multigrain rolls contain 56% wholemeal wheat flour.
Look for a wholemeal claim in the ingredients and compare the fibre per 100 g if that matters to you.
For the white frozen rolls from Jumbo that were reviewed, the instructions state that they must be prepared and eaten within 24 hours of defrosting and must not be refrozen.
Only defrost as many as you plan to use within that time, and follow the instructions on the packaging.
Lidl says that its fresh bread range may vary from store to store. This makes fresh rolls a less predictable choice if you’ve already drawn up your Christmas shopping list.
Check what’s available at your chosen shop if you want to pick up rolls on the day.
PLUS lists white and multigrain part-baked rolls, both in 300 g packs, with instructions for the oven and air fryer.
Jumbo lists white, multiseed and frozen rolls, among other options, so you can compare different types of bread and storage methods.
Dirk lists pre-packed white part-baked rolls for anyone who wants to decide in advance how many to buy.
ALDI lists an individual white roll as an option for anyone who only wants to buy a few.
Lidl lists a white roll as a fresh white wheat roll that’s only available in store.
No. Check the ingredients rather than relying on the name alone. The PLUS multigrain rolls reviewed list 56% wholemeal wheat flour; that applies to this variety, not all multigrain rolls.
Yes, if the packaging includes air-fryer instructions. For the white and multigrain rolls reviewed, PLUS recommends preheating to 200 °C and baking for four minutes. Follow the instructions provided with other products.
Read the current ingredients and allergen warnings on each pack. The white PLUS rolls reviewed contain wheat and may also contain rye, barley, oats and sesame, among other allergens. The multigrain variety contains wheat, rye, barley and oats, and may also contain soya, milk and sesame.
You can’t tell from the product name alone whether every roll contains iodine. PLUS lists iodised salt in the white and multigrain varieties reviewed; for other rolls, check the ingredients on the packaging.
Choose a quantity that suits the number of people you’re serving, and compare individual rolls with multi-packs. If you choose frozen rolls, check how many you can use within the time stated on the packaging before defrosting them.
