BBQ hosts serving moist toppings
You want to serve crispbread with toppings such as a spread, grilled vegetables or egg mayonnaise. The type of cracker matters, but so does when you add the toppings.
Who might find this choice useful?
Shoppers comparing wholegrain options and fibre
You’re looking for a savoury snack base and comparing wholegrain claims, ingredients and fibre per 100 g, rather than choosing on taste alone.
Shoppers who check labels carefully
You need to check which grains and allergens a variety contains, or, if you’re eating less bread, find out whether the salt used is iodised. In either case, the packaging of the exact product is what matters.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’re making a savoury bite or something sweet. For savoury BBQ bites, compare the crispbread as a base, its ingredients and how much you’ll need.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| A crunchy base | For savoury toppings, choose crispbread rather than a digestive biscuit. For bite-sized snacks, consider the shape and portion size too. | With moist toppings, I want a bite that’s easy to pick up; around 33% of consumers prioritise a crunchy base. |
| Wholegrain and fibre | Read the ingredients and compare the fibre per 100 g in the varieties you’re considering. | When I’m looking for a savoury grain-based option, I want to know what’s actually in it. Wholegrain and fibre are priorities for around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the allergen information for the exact variety, including any statements about possible traces. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the label determines which variety I can choose. This check is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Quantity for a group | Compare the pack size and the stated number of pieces or portions. Also check the price per kilo. | When I’m serving several guests, I want to work out in advance how many bites I can make. Around 17% of consumers prioritise this quantity for a group. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a digestive biscuit as a savoury cracker
A digestive is a sweet biscuit, not an equivalent base for savoury toppings. For the products surveyed, Albert Heijn lists 16 g of sugars and 3.2 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Digestive, compared with 1.5 g of sugars and 20 g of fibre per 100 g for Wasa Wholegrain.
Save digestive biscuits for when you specifically want something sweet. For savoury toppings, choose a crispbread variety with a flavour and size that suit your bites.
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Confusing wholegrain with gluten-free
The wholegrain varieties discussed may contain gluten-containing grains such as rye, wheat or barley. Other allergens and statements about possible traces vary by product.
Read the label on the exact variety you’re serving. If you need a gluten-free option, choose only a product that is explicitly labelled as such.
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Comparing only pack sizes when catering for a group
The weight and number of pieces or portions determine how many bites you can make from a pack. Ingredients and nutritional values can also vary between varieties.
Plan how many bites you want to serve, then compare pack size, portions, price per kilo and nutritional information per 100 g.
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Topping crispbread too far in advance
A moist spread or topping can make the crispbread less crunchy.
Store the crispbread according to the instructions on the pack, keep toppings separate and add them as close to serving time as possible.
Brands to consider
Ingredients, allergens and nutritional values can vary between products from the same brand. So compare the packaging of the product you plan to serve.
Wasa
Worth considering if you want to compare wholegrain rye with a rye sourdough variety.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, Wasa Wholegrain contains three ingredients and 20 g of fibre per 100 g; Wasa Sourdough Rye contains 19 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Both varieties discussed contain gluten-containing grains. Check the other allergens for each variety.
Bolletje
An option to consider if you’re looking for wholegrain crispbread made with wheat and rye.
- Bolletje says the wholegrain variety discussed is made with 100% wholegrain cereals; the variety listed by Albert Heijn contains 14 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The variety discussed contains wheat, rye, barley and sesame, among other ingredients, and is not gluten-free.
Jumbo
A supermarket own-label option to compare when you need crispbread for several guests.
- For the wholegrain variety discussed, Jumbo lists a 375 g pack with 25 portions.
- According to the product information, this variety contains wholemeal wheat, wholemeal rye and palm fat, among other ingredients. Check that the ingredients suit your preferences.
Goud Gebakken
An ALDI own-label brand to compare if you’re also looking for a wholegrain option.
- ALDI describes the Wholegrain Crispbread discussed as wholegrain and high in fibre.
- Check the current label for the exact ingredients, allergens and nutritional values.
Leksands
A brand to consider if you want to compare different grain and flavour varieties.
- Albert Heijn’s range includes oat, multigrain and sourdough varieties, among others.
- Compare the nutritional values and allergens on the packaging of the specific variety.
Crispbread for savoury BBQ bites
These Joybuy products are crispbread varieties to consider as a base for savoury toppings. Compare the rye or wholegrain variety, pack size and label in particular; these products are not digestive biscuits.
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Wasa Sourdough Rye Crackers, 235 g
Worth considering if you’re looking for rye sourdough crispbread for savoury bites.
The product information for this Wasa variety lists wholegrain rye and 19 g of fibre per 100 g. Check the label for allergens, and add moist toppings just before serving.
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Wasa Wholegrain Crispbread, 260 g
Worth considering if you want a wholegrain rye base for savoury toppings.
The product information for Wasa Wholegrain lists wholegrain rye flour, yeast and salt, with 20 g of fibre per 100 g. Rye contains gluten, so check the label for other allergens too.
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g'woon Wholemeal Crispbread, 375 g
Worth comparing if you want to stock up on crispbread for a group.
The pack contains 375 g. If you’re planning bite-sized snacks, check the number of pieces too, and read the ingredients and allergen information for this variety.
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Bolletje Whole Grain Crispbread, 265 g
Worth considering if you want to compare Bolletje crispbread as a savoury base with the rye varieties.
This pack contains 265 g. Check the label of this variety for the exact grain ingredients and allergens.
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Wasa Rustic Crispbread, 215 g
Worth considering if you want to try a different Wasa variety for savoury bites.
The pack contains 215 g. To make the right choice for you, compare the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for this Rustic variety with those of the other crispbreads.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use digestive biscuits for savoury BBQ bites?
For savoury toppings, crispbread is generally the more suitable choice: a digestive biscuit is sweet. Albert Heijn lists sugar and syrup among the ingredients in AH Digestive. A digestive can be a good choice for something deliberately sweet, such as a dessert base.
When should I add toppings to crispbread for a BBQ?
Add moist toppings to crispbread as close to serving time as possible. Until then, store the crackers according to the instructions on the pack and keep the toppings separate.
Is wholegrain crispbread gluten-free?
No. Wholegrain does not mean gluten-free. The Wasa varieties discussed contain rye, while the Bolletje and Jumbo varieties discussed contain gluten-containing grains, among other ingredients. Check the current allergen information for every variety you choose.
Does crispbread automatically contain iodine because it uses baker’s salt?
No. Don’t assume that the salt used in crispbread is iodised baker’s salt. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread is not compulsory. If this matters to your choice, check the ingredients of the specific crispbread.