Lunch shoppers looking to avoid waste
You’re buying one or a few croissants for lunch and want to choose a pack whose contents you’ll actually use.
Who are these options for?
Home workers with an oven or air fryer
You can prepare lunch in advance and are considering bake-at-home croissants if you need several.
Shoppers who check ingredients
You look out for ingredients such as wheat, milk, egg or iodised salt, so you check the label of the product you choose.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to eat your croissant straight away or bake it at home. Then consider how many you’ll use and check the label of the product you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Number of croissants | Compare the pack size with the number of croissants you’ll actually use. | If I’m only having one croissant, I don’t want to be left with an unused pack. For around 36% of shoppers, the number of items they’ll actually use comes first. |
| Ready to eat | Check whether the product is ready to eat or needs to be baked first. | During a short lunch break, I want to be able to eat straight away, without an oven or air fryer. For around 29% of shoppers, being able to eat it immediately matters most. |
| Baking and storage | Read the preparation and storage instructions, and check what equipment you’ll need. | If I’m planning several lunches, I want to be able to store the croissants and prepare them in time. Around 21% of shoppers give this their highest priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label of the specific product, even if it’s described as plant-based. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the label determines which croissant I can choose. For around 14% of shoppers, checking this is the first priority. |
Common mistakes
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Choosing a larger pack without planning what to do with the rest
A pack of several croissants isn’t necessarily right for a lunch when you only need one.
Before buying, think about how many you’ll use and how to store the remaining croissants according to the pack instructions.
Leftover croissants may go unused or lose their quality.
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Assuming a bake-at-home croissant is ready to eat
A bake-at-home product needs preparation, which may not suit every lunch break.
Check the instructions, and if you want to take one with you and eat it straight away, choose a product that doesn’t need to go in the oven.
Preheating and baking take time and energy.
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Confusing plant-based with allergen-free
According to Jumbo, its plant-based croissant contains wheat and gluten and may contain milk.
If you have allergies, always check the allergen information on the specific pack; don’t rely on the product name.
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Assuming every croissant contains iodised salt
The fact that PLUS and Jumbo list iodised salt in specific products doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients in another croissant.
Look for iodised salt in the ingredients list of the product you’ve chosen.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers individual croissants as well as packaged options.
- An individual croissant may suit you if you only want to take one with you.
- For products sold in store, check whether your chosen option is available at your local branch.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers croissants in packs, including a plant-based option.
- A choice of pack sizes makes it easier to match the number of croissants to your lunch plans.
- According to Jumbo, its plant-based option contains wheat and gluten and may contain milk.
Lidl
Lidl describes croissants that you can bake at home.
- A bake-at-home option is worth considering if you have time to bake before lunch.
- Check the pack for preparation instructions and ingredients.
ALDI
ALDI lists an individual butter croissant as an in-store product.
- Buying individually suits a lunch when you only need one croissant.
- Check the label in store if ingredients or allergens are important to your choice.
PLUS
PLUS offers bake-at-home croissants with preparation and ingredient information.
- PLUS provides oven and air fryer instructions for its butter croissants.
- Follow the instructions on the pack you buy; preparation methods and ingredients can vary between products.
Dirk
Dirk lists both an individual butter croissant and a pack of four butter croissants.
- You can choose a product to suit one lunch or several eating occasions.
- If you have dietary requirements, read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you choose.
Croissants on Joybuy
This selection includes a ready-to-eat option and packs containing several croissants. Check whether each product needs to be prepared and whether the pack size suits your lunch plans.
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Bakery Village Danish Croissant, 85 g
For a croissant you can take with you without baking: this product is described as ready to eat and individually wrapped.
Net quantity: 85 g. If you have allergies, check the label on the pack.
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SCHOOF Croissants, 4 stuks
For a lunch at home with several croissants: this pack is designed for baking before serving.
Four croissants. Read the preparation instructions on the pack before lunch.
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G'woon Mini Butter Croissants, 200 g
These mini croissants are a packaged option if you want to have more than one small croissant.
Contents: 200 g. Check the pack for preparation instructions and allergen information.
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g'woon Butter Croissants, 4 stuks, 180 g
This pack is suited to lunch with several people or to multiple planned eating occasions.
Four croissants, 180 g in total. Check the pack for preparation instructions and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Can I prepare bake-at-home croissants quickly for lunch?
Yes, if the preparation time for the product you’ve chosen fits into your lunch break. PLUS says its butter croissants take 4 to 6 minutes in an oven at 200 °C or 4 minutes in a preheated air fryer at 180 °C. For another product, follow the instructions on its pack.
Is a croissant the same as a wholemeal lunch roll?
No, a croissant and wholemeal bread are different products. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible. Check the nutritional information for the specific products if their composition matters to your lunch choice.
Does every croissant contain iodised salt?
You can’t tell from the type of product alone. PLUS lists iodised salt in its butter croissants, and Jumbo does so for its plant-based croissants. Check the ingredients list of the product you’re buying.
What should I look for in a plant-based croissant or if I have an allergy?
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack. According to Jumbo, its plant-based croissant contains wheat and gluten and may contain milk, so the plant-based label doesn’t mean the product is free from these allergens.