For several coffee breaks with generous toppings, larger breakfast crackers in individually wrapped portions are a practical choice. For guests and a selection of small topped bites, melba toast is a better fit. As well as pack weight, check the number of crackers and individual packs, and compare the nutritional information and allergens for the products you’re considering.
If several people are eating from one pack, both the number of crackers and how the pack is divided matter. Individual packs mean you don’t have to open everything at once. Store opened crackers in a cool, dry, dark place in an airtight container, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
For a platter with a variety of toppings, small toasts are a different option from serving one larger cracker per person. Albert Heijn lists AH Melba toast naturel as a pack of 12 individual packs, each containing 6 toasts.
If you regularly serve crackers or need to consider allergens, the information on the pack you choose is more useful than the product name alone. Compare ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g, and always check the current label if you have allergies.
First decide whether you need several larger crackers for toppings or lots of small bites. Then check how the pack is divided and which nutritional information matters for your household.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is it important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and storage | Number of crackers and individual packs; storage advice after opening. | I use a pack over several coffee breaks and want to open only what I need each time. This packaging convenience is the top priority for around 42% of consumers. |
| Size for toppings | Whether the pack contains larger crackers or small melba toasts; number of pieces. | When I have guests, I want to serve a selection of small topped bites. This serving option comes first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information and allergens | Ingredients, allergens, fibre and salt per 100 g on the current label. | If someone eating needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to assess my choice carefully. For around 25% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority. |
The weight doesn’t tell you how many crackers or individual packs you can open for each coffee break. For example, Albert Heijn lists AH Melba toast naturel as 12 packs of 6 toasts.
Compare the number of crackers and individual packs with how often you plan to use the product. Seal opened crackers properly.
A large pack left open for too long can go soft before you finish it.
A small toast and a larger cracker don’t offer the same space for toppings. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses a 4 g piece when calculating the average nutritional value of melba toast; the Bolletje breakfast crackers listed by Albert Heijn come in a 250 g pack containing 12 pieces.
Choose a size to suit the bites you want to serve, and check the number of pieces on the pack.
The word ‘wholegrain’ doesn’t tell you which allergens a particular cracker contains or how much salt it has. Products in the same category can also differ in these respects.
Compare the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per 100 g for the products you’re actually considering.
Ingredients and allergen information can vary between products, and product information can change. This is especially important if someone needs to avoid certain ingredients.
Check the label on the current pack when you buy it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses the importance of allergen information on prepacked foods.
The breakfast crackers are worth considering if you’re looking for larger crackers to add toppings to. For the wholegrain multigrain variety reviewed, Albert Heijn lists 12 pieces in a 250 g pack; the spelt variety is listed in individual packs of 3.
According to Albert Heijn, AH Melba toast naturel contains 12 individual packs of 6 small toasts, in a 240 g pack.
Jumbo offers, among other things, light crackers in packs of 2 × 125 g. This pack size is worth considering if you want to spread a pack over several occasions.
Lidl lists Tastino Luxe wholegrain crackers as a 210 g product available in store.
ALDI lists Goud Gebakken thin rye crackers as containing 33 pieces per pack. The brand also offers other cracker varieties.
This selection includes larger packs and cracker varieties to consider for adding toppings or serving over several coffee breaks. If it matters for your plans, check how many crackers and individual packs each product contains.
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An option to consider if you’re looking for wholegrain crispbread to top for a coffee break.
Check the number of pieces and individual packs to work out how to spread the pack over several occasions.
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A larger pack of crispbread to consider if several people eat crackers at coffee time.
To plan portions, check how many pieces are in the pack and how the contents are packaged.
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A family pack with onion flavour to consider if you want to serve crackers to a group.
Check how many crackers and individual packs are included, and read the ingredients and nutritional information on the label.
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A rye variety to serve alongside other larger crackers for toppings.
Check the number of pieces and the packaging if you’re planning for several coffee breaks.
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An option to consider if you want to spread crackers over several coffee breaks.
The pack states 3 × 100 g; check how many crackers are in each portion if you’re planning small bites.
A large pack is most practical when the number of crackers and individual packs suit how often you serve them. Store opened crackers in a cool, dry, dark place in an airtight container, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.
Melba toast can work for small topped bites, but it isn’t the same size as a larger breakfast cracker. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre uses a 4 g piece when calculating the average nutritional value of melba toast. Choose the size and number of pieces to suit what you want to serve.
No. Seeds or a brown colour alone don’t tell you whether a cracker is wholegrain. Check the product description and ingredients. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that, for grain products, ‘wholegrain’ means the whole grain kernel is used.
Read the allergen information on the current pack of every variety you plan to serve. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of this information on prepacked foods, so don’t rely on a label you viewed online previously.
Store opened crackers in a cool, dry, dark place in an airtight container, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Also follow the storage advice on the pack you’ve bought.
