Choose fresh crusty rolls if you want to serve them straight away, or bake-at-home rolls if you’d rather decide when to serve them. If you’re keeping an eye on fibre, look for the explicit ‘wholemeal’ label and compare the nutritional information. ‘Sourdough’, ‘organic’ and ‘multigrain’ don’t answer that question.
You want crusty rolls to be a noticeable part of your drinks-party platter. Fresh sourdough varieties or rolls you bake just before serving fit the bill; if you’re baking them at home, allow for oven space and time.
You compare the name, ingredients and nutritional information rather than judging by the colour of a roll. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘wholemeal’.
You want enough rolls for your guests and the toppings you’re serving. The number of rolls in each pack and the preparation time can help you decide what’s practical.
First, decide whether you want to serve the rolls straight away or bake them at home. Then compare the product information that matters most for your drinks party.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation and serving time | Compare fresh and bake-at-home rolls, and check whether the variety you want is available in store. | I want the rolls to be a noticeable part of the drinks-party platter, so I decide in advance how to serve them. For around 29% of consumers, presentation comes first. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | If you’re choosing wholemeal, look for the explicit ‘wholemeal’ label; read the ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information for the product you’ve chosen. | If I’m keeping an eye on fibre or certain ingredients, I don’t want to judge by a dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’. Around 21% of consumers give this information top priority. |
| Preparation and storage | Check the baking time, oven temperature and any defrosting and storage instructions for those particular rolls. | I want the rolls ready around serving time without underestimating how I’ll need to plan the oven. For around 29% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
| Number of rolls | Count your guests and compare the number of rolls in each pack with what you want to serve alongside dips and toppings. | When hosting a larger drinks party, I want to know in advance whether I’m buying enough rolls. For around 21% of consumers, quantity comes first. |
These words don’t mean the same thing. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread labelled explicitly as ‘wholemeal’ is made from wholemeal flour.
If fibre is an important factor for you, check the product name and read the ingredients and nutritional information.
‘Sourdough’, ‘organic’ and ‘rustic’ don’t tell you which allergens a particular roll contains. Allergen information can vary between varieties.
Read the current information on the packaging. If the rolls aren’t packaged, ask for allergen information before serving them to anyone who needs it.
Preparation and storage vary by product. Jumbo says its frozen white crusty rolls shouldn’t be refrozen once defrosted, and should be prepared and eaten within 24 hours.
Read the instructions for the variety you’ve bought, and plan oven space, baking time and any defrosting before serving.
The Liefde & Passie range includes sourdough crusty rolls in white, wholemeal and multiseed varieties.
The crusty-roll category includes sourdough, organic, bake-at-home and frozen varieties.
PLUS lists white and multigrain bake-at-home rolls, with preparation information for each product.
Dirk lists white bake-at-home rolls and rustic multigrain varieties.
ALDI lists an individual white crusty roll that you can choose by the piece for your drinks-party platter.
Lidl lists brown wheat and rye rolls to bake at home.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean that bread is made from wholemeal flour. Look for the explicit ‘wholemeal’ label if that matters to your choice.
For packaged rolls, read the allergen information for the exact variety you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains how allergens are listed on labels; for unpackaged rolls, ask for the relevant information.
No. ‘Sourdough’, ‘organic’ and ‘multigrain’ don’t tell you whether baker’s salt has been used in that particular roll. Check the ingredients for the specific product if you want to know.
Plan the baking around the instructions on the packaging and when you want to serve the rolls. PLUS recommends baking its white and multigrain rolls for 8–10 minutes at 220 °C; other varieties and frozen products may have different preparation and storage instructions.
