A fresh croissant bought individually is ideal for a breakfast you want to eat straight away; a pack of bake-at-home croissants is better for planning ahead when you have time to prepare them. Frozen croissants also need freezer space. Compare the number in each pack within the same product type, and check the preparation instructions, ingredients and allergens on the label.
You plan how many croissants you’ll need this week and don’t want to treat fresh, bake-at-home and frozen products as the same kind of purchase. Pack sizes and product types vary at retailers including Jumbo, PLUS and Albert Heijn.
You want to keep croissants for breakfasts later in the week and have time to prepare them. With frozen products, you’ll also need to consider freezer space and the instructions on the pack.
You want to know which ingredients and allergens a particular croissant contains before buying it. Check the packaging: a description such as ‘made with butter’ or ‘plant-based’ doesn’t replace the ingredients list.
First decide whether you want to eat the croissants straight away, bake them at home or keep them frozen. Then compare packs within the product type you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Check the number of croissants and the pack weight, and compare like with like. | If I’m planning several breakfasts, I want to know whether the pack is the right size without leaving unnecessary leftovers. For around 40% of consumers, getting the number of croissants right is the main consideration. |
| Storage and preparation | Read the storage instructions and check what equipment you’ll need and how long preparation takes. | I want to have croissants in the house for later, but I need to be able to store and prepare them. For around 30% of consumers, convenience is the biggest factor. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information for the specific product. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I don’t want to rely on the product name. Checking the label is the main concern for around 20% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information | Compare the nutritional values per 100 g and, where shown, per serving; check the serving size. | If croissants feature regularly in my breakfast plans, I want to be able to read the nutritional information for the pack I choose. This takes priority for around 10% of consumers. |
A fresh croissant bought individually, a bake-at-home croissant and a frozen croissant don’t all need the same preparation. The weight of each croissant can also vary.
First choose the product type that suits your plans for the week, then compare the number of croissants and the pack weight.
Preparing croissants at home takes time. Frozen packs also need suitable storage.
Read the baking and storage instructions before you buy, and choose a quantity that fits the space you have.
‘Made with butter’ and ‘plant-based’ don’t tell you everything about the ingredients or possible traces of allergens.
Check the current allergen information on the pack of each product you choose.
The name ‘croissant’ doesn’t tell you whether a particular product contains iodised salt.
Check the ingredients list if this is important to your choice.
These brands offer different types of croissants to compare for your weekly shop. Always check the pack of the product you choose.
Albert Heijn offers both packaged croissants and a frozen option.
Jumbo offers classic croissants and varieties described as made with butter or plant-based.
Lidl offers a croissant to bake at home and a butter croissant to buy in store.
ALDI offers a fresh butter croissant sold individually in store.
PLUS offers butter croissants to bake at home, with product information about preparation and ingredients.
Dirk offers both a fresh butter croissant sold individually and a pack of butter croissants to bake at home.
These four-packs are handy for planning several breakfasts. Check the packaging for each product to see whether and how the croissants need to be prepared.
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A pack for anyone planning croissants for several breakfasts. Check the preparation and storage instructions on the packaging.
Pack size: 4 croissants.
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A four-pack to spread across planned breakfasts. Check the packaging to see whether the croissants need to be prepared, and read the ingredients if you have dietary requirements or allergies.
Pack size: 4 croissants, 180 g.
Start with the product type that suits your plans: ready to eat, bake at home or frozen. Then compare the number of croissants and the weight per pack, and factor in the preparation and storage they require.
You can’t tell from the product name. PLUS’s product information lists iodised salt in its butter croissants to bake at home; for another variety, check its own ingredients list.
Follow the instructions on the specific pack. Délifrance’s product instructions at PLUS state that thawed croissants must not be refrozen.
Read the allergen information on the current packaging for the specific croissant. Ingredients and possible traces can vary between recipes and product types; a description such as ‘made with butter’ or ‘plant-based’ doesn’t give you the full picture.
