Large families matching pack sizes to portions
If you need lots of rolls at once, compare the number in each pack with how many you usually get through at the table.
If you have a large family, choose a pack with enough rolls for your mealtimes. Part-baked or frozen options are worth considering if you only want to bake as many as you need. If you serve rolls regularly, compare their ingredients and nutritional information too, and check the allergens and type of salt used in each variety rather than relying on the product name.
If you need lots of rolls at once, compare the number in each pack with how many you usually get through at the table.
If the number of people eating varies, you can spread part-baked or frozen rolls across several mealtimes, as long as you follow the storage and preparation instructions.
If you're comparing white, wholemeal or multigrain rolls, or need to take allergens into account, check the ingredients and information for the variety you've chosen.
Work out how many rolls you need for each mealtime, then choose a storage format and variety that suits your family.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it's important for |
|---|---|---|
| Number of rolls | Compare the number of rolls in each pack with how many you usually serve. | If I'm putting rolls out for lots of people, I want to choose a pack that suits the meal; around 36% of consumers prioritise this number of portions. |
| Fibre and ingredients | Read the ingredients and compare the fibre per 100 g using the same nutritional information basis; the name ‘multigrain’ doesn't tell you how much wholemeal flour is used. | For lunches that come round regularly, I want to know what's in the rolls and how much fibre they contain; around 29% of consumers put this nutritional choice first. |
| Storage and preparation | Check how much freezer space you have and, for frozen rolls, follow the defrosting and preparation instructions. | When the same number of people aren't eating together every time, I want to prepare only what we'll use. For around 21% of consumers, planning their stock matters most. |
| Allergens and salt | Check the allergen information and look at the ingredients list to see what type of salt is used in your chosen variety. | If someone in the family needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to check the information for each roll; for around 14% of consumers, checking the product is most important. |
A pack with a different number of rolls may be less suited to a single family meal.
Check how many rolls you get and compare products you plan to use in the same way.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren't required to use baker's salt. So the type of bread alone won't tell you what salt is in a roll.
Read the ingredients list for your chosen variety, or ask which salt was used if you're buying loose rolls.
PLUS multigrain rolls list wholemeal wheat flour, but also cereals containing gluten and possible traces of soya, milk and sesame. Another multigrain variety may have a different recipe.
Check both the proportion of wholemeal flour and the allergen information for the product you choose.
For the white frozen rolls reviewed, Jumbo states that they must not be refrozen after defrosting and should be prepared and eaten within 24 hours.
Take only the amount you need out of the freezer and follow the instructions on the relevant pack.
Albert Heijn lists white and wholemeal rolls, as well as a white variety labelled gluten-free.
Jumbo lists white, multiseed and frozen rolls, among other options.
Lidl lists white rolls in its range in the Netherlands.
ALDI lists individual rolls for anyone who wants to buy them one at a time.
PLUS lists white and multigrain part-baked rolls in 300 g packs.
Dirk lists white and multigrain part-baked rolls in packs of four.
This pack of four rolls may suit you if you count rolls per family meal. Before choosing, check that the preparation method and ingredients work for how you'll use them.
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For a family meal, check whether four rolls are enough for the number of people eating.
The pack contains 4 rolls. Check the preparation method, ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the pack you choose.
Compare the number of rolls in each pack with how many you'll get through at a mealtime. A fresh roll bought loose, a part-baked pack and a frozen pack each need a different approach to storage or preparation.
No. The name ‘multigrain’ doesn't tell you how much wholemeal flour a roll contains. PLUS lists 56% wholemeal wheat flour in its multigrain rolls; for other varieties, check their individual ingredients lists.
No, don't assume that it does. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren't required to use baker's salt; check the ingredients list to see what salt is used, or ask when buying loose rolls.
Follow the instructions on the specific pack. Jumbo states that its white frozen rolls must not be refrozen after defrosting and should be prepared and eaten within 24 hours; the brown variety reviewed must not be put back in the freezer after defrosting either.
For packaged rolls, read the allergen information on the label; for loose rolls, ask in store. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be listed on the labels of prepacked products. Also check for any warnings about the possible presence of other allergens.