If you serve a few at a time
If you only put a few crackers out, you can keep unopened inner bags for another coffee break. Bear in mind that a bag often contains several crackers.
Who are small portions useful for?
If you want to serve snacks straight away
Mini crackers and melba toast are small-format snacks you can serve on their own or with a topping. Check the size and portion format of the pack you choose.
If you’re buying for guests with allergies
The flavour or product name won’t tell you which allergens a variety contains. Before serving, read the information on the packaging of the exact product you bought.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by deciding how much you’ll open for each coffee break. Then choose how you want to serve the crackers. If allergies are a concern, always check the label on the exact variety.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | Read a quantity such as 8 x 5 as eight bags, each containing five crackers. Check whether you want one bag per portion or a separate wrapper for every cracker. | If I’m only putting out a small dish, I want to be able to leave the rest sealed. Portion format is the most important factor for around 42% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label for the flavour and variety you’ve chosen, including relevant information about possible allergens. | When I’m serving crackers to someone with an allergy, I need to be able to rely on the current packaging. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this check. |
| Serving style and flavour | Choose between mini crackers, larger crackers and melba toast. Then check the flavour and the portion size per pack. | For a small snack with coffee, I want something that suits the way I’m serving it. This is the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a portion bag contains just one cracker
Jumbo’s listed 8 x 5 pack contains five mini crackers in each bag. It won’t suit you if you want to hand out each cracker in its own sealed wrapper.
Read the pack size as the number of bags multiplied by the number of crackers per bag, and check the description of the exact variety.
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Relying on the product name to check for allergens
Words such as ‘mini’, ‘plain’ and ‘wholegrain’ don’t tell you which allergens a cracker or toast snack contains.
Check the current label for the guests you’re serving, even if you’ve bought that variety before.
Brands compared
Compare the pack format for each product range and variety. The same brand name won’t tell you how many crackers are in an inner bag.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists its Mini Crackers Naturel in a pack of 8 x 5 pieces.
- The portion format makes the number of crackers per bag clear.
- Five crackers share one bag; they aren’t individually wrapped.
LU
LU offers mini crackers in several flavours. For selected varieties, Jumbo and Joybuy list small multipacks.
- For LU Mini Crackers Olive & Oregano, Joybuy lists eight packs, each containing five duo crackers.
- For another flavour or pack format, check the portion format, ingredients and allergens again.
Bolletje
Jumbo lists Bolletje Ontbijtcrackers in specific packs of 4 x 3 pieces. Bolletje also offers Lichte Crackers Volkoren.
- A 4 x 3 pack may suit you if you serve only a few crackers at a time.
- Don’t assume that the pack format for Ontbijtcrackers also applies to Lichte Crackers Volkoren.
Van der Meulen
Melba Toast is a toast product from Van der Meulen for anyone looking for an alternative to crackers.
- The plain variety offers small pieces of toast for snacks.
- Check the pack for any inner bags and read the label for allergen information.
Albert Heijn
AH Luchtige crackers naturel is a standard 250 g pack of crackers.
- This product is an alternative if small inner bags aren’t essential.
- Albert Heijn notes that product information can change, so check the physical packaging.
ALDI
ALDI lists Sun Snacks crackers, among other products, in a 3-pack.
- The pack contains three 75 g bags.
- A 3-pack doesn’t tell you how many crackers are individually wrapped in a bag or inner pack.
Mini crackers for serving in small batches
These LU varieties are mini crackers you can serve in small batches with coffee. Compare the flavour and pack format. If you need one sealed cracker per guest, check carefully whether a product meets that requirement.
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LU Mini Crackers Tomato Basil – 3 x 250 g
A tomato and basil variety for anyone who wants to serve savoury mini crackers in small batches. The multipack doesn’t mean each cracker is individually sealed, so check the portion format and allergens on the label.
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LU Mini Cracker Olive & Oregano – 3 x 250 g
For a savoury snack spread featuring the olive and oregano variety. Check how many crackers are in each inner bag, and read the current label if allergens are a concern.
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LU Mini Cracker Salt – 250 g
A salted variety for serving mini crackers on their own or with a topping. The listed nutritional information states 2,8 g of salt per 100 g. Check the current packaging for portion format and allergens.
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LU Mini Cracker Natural – 250 g
A plain variety for serving mini crackers on their own or with a topping. Check the inner packaging if you want to keep small portions sealed, and read the label for allergen information.
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LU Mini Cracker Olive & Oregano – 250 g
For anyone who wants to open small portions of a savoury mini variety to serve with coffee. Joybuy lists this pack as eight bags, each containing five duo crackers, so it isn’t one sealed pack per cracker. Check the current label too.
Frequently asked questions
Are crackers in portion bags individually wrapped?
No, a portion bag doesn’t have to contain just one cracker. For example, Jumbo lists Mini Crackers Naturel as 8 x 5 pieces: eight bags, each with five crackers. Check the packaging if you need each cracker to be individually sealed.
What should I do with crackers after opening?
Keep unopened inner bags sealed until you’re ready to serve them. For AH Luchtige crackers naturel, Albert Heijn recommends storing the crackers in a sealed tin after opening. For another product, follow the instructions on its own packaging.
How do I check for allergens when buying crackers for guests?
Before serving, read the allergen information on the current packaging of the exact variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority states that pre-packed products must show allergen information on the label. The relevant allergens vary from product to product.
Is Melba a separate cracker brand?
Jumbo’s product listing describes Melba Toast as a product from Van der Meulen. So here, treat Melba as the name of a toast product and compare its packaging separately from that of mini crackers.