Choose a fresh croissant if you want to eat it straight away, a long-life bake-at-home option if you want a warm croissant without needing freezer space, or frozen croissants if you have the room and time to plan several breakfasts. Check the preparation method, serving size, ingredients, allergens and storage instructions for each product. Don’t assume it contains iodised salt without checking the label.
Want to eat during or soon after your first food shop, without preparing anything at home? A fresh, individually sold croissant is a good fit. Dirk and ALDI list croissants made with butter; check the details of the product you choose.
A long-life bake-at-home option is ideal if you want to keep a small stock and have an oven or suitable air fryer. PLUS’s bake-at-home croissants include instructions for both appliances; follow the directions on your own pack.
Frozen croissants are an option if you have freezer space and can plan when to prepare them. Also check what you can do with the product once it has defrosted: the product information reviewed for Jumbo and Délifrance at PLUS says not to refreeze defrosted croissants.
Start by thinking about when you want to eat your croissant. Then check that you have the right equipment and storage space for the type you choose, and read the label for the exact product.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to eat straight away | Check whether the croissant is ready to eat or needs baking first. | After my first food shop, I want breakfast straight away without using any equipment; around 40% of consumers prioritise being able to eat it immediately. |
| Baking at home | Check which appliance you need, and follow the temperature and baking time on the pack. | I want a warm breakfast at home and something I can bake without needing freezer space; around 30% of consumers prioritise being able to bake something quickly at home. |
| Stocking up and checking the label | Check the storage instructions and allergen statement for the exact product. | I want to keep croissants for several breakfasts and check that the ingredients suit my preferences; around 30% of consumers prioritise stocking up and checking the label. |
The term doesn’t help you distinguish between types of croissant. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre classifies croissants as small bread rolls; a description of bread slice thickness doesn’t tell you which croissant you’re getting.
Choose based on what matters for your breakfast: fresh and ready to eat, bake-at-home or frozen. Then check the size and ingredients of the specific product.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory. So the name ‘croissant’ doesn’t tell you whether a product contains iodised salt.
If it matters to your purchase, check the current ingredients label for the chosen product and look for iodised salt or baker’s salt.
Frozen croissants need space in your freezer and time to prepare. The product information for Jumbo and Délifrance at PLUS also says that defrosted croissants must not be refrozen.
Before buying, check how much space you have, how many croissants you want to prepare at once and what the pack instructions say.
The name doesn’t tell you everything about the recipe. The croissant varieties described list wheat or other gluten-containing cereals, as well as milk; other ingredients and possible traces vary by product.
Read the current allergen statement for the exact flavour and pack you’re buying, rather than relying on information for a different variety.
Albert Heijn’s croissant range includes fresh, bake-at-home and frozen options. This makes the way the croissants are sold a useful starting point when choosing.
At Jumbo, you can browse options including plant-based croissants and frozen-fresh croissants. The right type for you depends on how you’ll prepare and store them.
PLUS lists both butter bake-at-home croissants and a frozen variety from Délifrance. When comparing them, pay particular attention to the instructions for the product you choose.
Dirk lists a 65 g butter croissant sold individually, making it a suitable choice if you’re looking for a fresh croissant to eat straight away.
ALDI lists a fresh, individually sold butter croissant for anyone who wants to eat without preparing it at home.
Lidl lists a butter croissant as an in-store product. This is useful if you’re looking for a fresh croissant while doing your food shop.
These products suit two different plans for your first food shop: a croissant to eat straight away, and packaged croissants to store or bake at home. For the pack of four from g'woon, check first whether they need to be prepared.
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For anyone who wants to eat straight away: according to the product description, you can serve this croissant once opened. If you have allergies, check the current label for wheat, egg and milk. The product information for the listed colourings E102 and E110 includes a warning about possible effects on children’s activity and attention.
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For anyone who wants to bake croissants at home and has an oven. Check the pack for preparation instructions and, if you have allergies, read the current label; the product information lists possible traces of sesame, lupin, milk and soya.
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A pack for anyone who wants to keep several croissants in stock. Before buying, check the pack to see whether they’re ready to eat or need to be prepared first. If you have allergies, check the current label for gluten-containing cereals, milk, lupin, sesame and soya.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre classifies croissants as small bread rolls. If by ‘medium sliced’ you mean a particular size, check the croissant’s weight or dimensions; bread slice thickness doesn’t describe this type of product.
No, you shouldn’t assume that. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt to make bread isn’t compulsory. One PLUS bake-at-home variety lists iodised salt, but check the ingredients for the specific croissant you’re buying.
Read the full, current allergen statement for the variety you choose. The products described list wheat or other gluten-containing cereals and milk; some varieties also list egg or possible traces of other allergens.
Not if the product instructions say you mustn’t. The frozen croissants described from Jumbo and Délifrance at PLUS say not to refreeze them once defrosted. Check the storage and preparation instructions on your own pack.
