Who is this for?

Student baking at home

You have an oven and want to spread the croissants in a pack over several meals. Before buying, check how many there are and read the cooking and storage instructions.

Student looking for sourdough on the label

You want to see it listed in the ingredients rather than relying on a rustic appearance. According to Jumbo’s product information, two butter croissant varieties contain sourdough; it isn’t listed in the ingredients for AH Croissants 4 pieces.

Student comparing ingredients

You check the allergens and nutritional information for the specific croissant. Compare values per portion, taking portion size into account, and check the defrosting instructions for frozen varieties.

What should you look for?

When choosing croissants for a student dinner, first decide what matters most to you: portions and preparation, a clearly stated sourdough ingredient, or the ingredients and nutritional information.

What to consider What to check before buying Most relevant for
Portions and preparation Check how many there are, whether you need an oven and how to store the croissants. If I’m eating alone or with a small group, I want to use the pack without being left with croissants I can’t store properly. Portion planning matters most to around 40% of consumers.
Sourdough on the label Look for sourdough in the ingredients on the label of the exact variety; its presence alone says nothing about the fermentation time. If I’m specifically looking for a sourdough croissant, I want to see that ingredient listed rather than judging by appearance. For around 40% of consumers, being able to check this on the label is the deciding factor.
Ingredients and nutritional information Read the allergen information and compare nutritional values per portion, taking the portion size into account. If I have an allergy or want to compare nutritional values, I need to know exactly which variety I’m looking at. Around 20% of consumers put these label checks first.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a traditional appearance for sourdough on the label

    According to Jumbo’s product information, sourdough is listed in the ingredients of two specific butter croissants. That doesn’t make every croissant in a similar category a sourdough croissant, nor does it tell you whether traditional methods were used.

    Check the ingredients list for the variety you’re buying. If you want to know about the production method or fermentation time, look for separate information about that product.

  • Assuming every croissant contains iodine

    The Voedingscentrum states that bakers in the Netherlands aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether a particular croissant contains iodised salt just from its product category.

    Check the label on the exact pack for a mention of iodised salt or baker’s salt.

  • Leaving the storage instructions until after defrosting

    According to Jumbo, Jumbo Frozen Luxury Butter Croissants shouldn’t be refrozen after defrosting and must be prepared and eaten within 24 hours. You can’t automatically apply this guidance to other frozen croissants.

    Before defrosting, check the instructions on your pack and only take as many out of the freezer as you can use according to those instructions.

  • Using general nutritional values for every product

    The Voedingscentrum gives nutritional values for a croissant as a general reference. The values and portion size for the croissant you buy may differ.

    When comparing products, use the nutritional information and portion size on the pack of the specific variety.

Brands compared

Jumbo

Worth considering if you want to look at bake-at-home and frozen croissants with sourdough explicitly listed.

  • According to Jumbo, sourdough is listed in the ingredients for Butter Croissant 4 Pieces and Frozen Luxury Butter Croissants 4 Pieces.
  • An ingredient listing doesn’t confirm traditional methods or a long fermentation time. The frozen variety also has its own defrosting instructions.

Albert Heijn

Stocks fresh, bake-at-home and frozen croissants as separate product types.

  • The ingredients list for AH Croissants 4 pieces gives you a specific label to compare with one that lists sourdough.
  • Sourdough isn’t listed in those ingredients. This doesn’t tell you anything about other Albert Heijn croissants.

PLUS

Lists butter croissants and separate sourdough products in its online bake-at-home range.

  • You can browse different types of product within the same category.
  • The presence of sourdough bread in that category doesn’t confirm that PLUS butter croissants contain sourdough.

Lidl

Worth considering if you’re looking for rolls from the in-store bakery.

  • Lidl says that rolls are baked in its stores.
  • According to Lidl, the fresh range can vary between stores. For a sourdough croissant, check the information for the specific product.

ALDI

Includes croissants in its range of rolls to bake at home.

  • Baking them at home is an option if you have an oven and can follow the cooking instructions.
  • The category description doesn’t confirm that a specific ALDI croissant contains sourdough; check the product label for details.

Croissants on Joybuy

This selection is a pack of butter croissants for anyone planning a student dinner and wanting to check the number of pieces and whether sourdough is listed on the label.

g'woon butter croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g

g'woon butter croissants, 4 pieces, 180 g

If you’re looking for croissants with sourdough listed for a student dinner, check the current pack to see whether it’s included.

The pack contains four butter croissants weighing 180 g in total. Also check the cooking instructions and up-to-date allergen information, including any mention of lupin, sesame and soya.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Do all Dutch croissants have to contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers in the Netherlands aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list on the croissant you’re buying to see whether it mentions iodised salt or baker’s salt.

Is a croissant made with sourdough automatically made using traditional methods?

No. Sourdough in the ingredients list confirms that the ingredient is present, but not the production method or fermentation time. Look for information about the specific croissant if you want to know more about these aspects.

Which allergens are listed for the two Jumbo varieties?

According to Jumbo, Butter Croissant 4 Pieces contains gluten, milk, spelt and wheat; Frozen Luxury Butter Croissants 4 Pieces contains egg, gluten, milk and wheat. Always check the current pack when buying, including for any additional allergen information.

What should I do after defrosting Jumbo Frozen Luxury Butter Croissants?

According to the product information, prepare and eat this Jumbo variety within 24 hours of defrosting, and don’t refreeze it. For other frozen croissants, follow the instructions on their own packaging.