First, choose a bag to suit the number of people sharing: 8 regular buns or 9 mini buns give you more individual portions, while 6 may be less likely to leave you with leftovers if you’re in a smaller group. Also compare the bun size, storage and freezing instructions, and the label on the bag you’re actually buying. A higher number of buns doesn’t tell you how many everyone will want to eat.
If you want to give everyone a bun without cutting them up, compare the number in each bag with the number of people eating. Check whether they’re mini or regular-sized, too: nine mini buns aren’t the same as nine regular portions.
If you’re shopping before the festival or expect to have buns left over, check the date and storage instructions on the packaging as well as the bag size. See whether the variety you’ve chosen has freezing instructions.
If anyone in your group needs to avoid certain allergens, check the label on the specific bag you’re buying. Before sharing, read the ingredients and highlighted allergens, as well as any warning about possible traces.
When choosing currant buns for a festival, your main concern determines what to check first. Bag size, storage convenience and ingredients may all point to different options.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Number and size | Count how many people will be eating and compare 6 or 8 regular buns with 9 mini buns. Check the size of the buns, too. | If I want to give everyone an individual bun, the number needs to suit the group. Portion planning is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Storage and leftovers | Check the date and storage instructions on the bag. PLUS says its 8-bun variety can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and used within 1 month. | If I’m buying ahead, I want to know what to do with any buns left over. Storage convenience is the main concern for around 25% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Check the ingredients, highlighted allergens and any warning about possible traces on the packaging you’re buying. | If I’m sharing with someone who needs to avoid allergens, I want to check that this particular bag is suitable first. For around 25% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority. |
| Variety and nutritional information | Check whether the buns are labelled wholemeal and, if fibre matters to you, compare the nutritional information per 100 g rather than relying on the product name alone. | If I’m looking for mini buns or a wholemeal variety in particular, the number of buns alone doesn’t tell me enough. For around 19% of consumers, the variety or nutritional information comes first. |
More buns are handy for a bigger group, but could leave you with leftovers if you’re sharing with fewer people. Jumbo’s pack of nine contains mini buns, too.
Count how many people will be eating first, then compare both the number of buns and their size. If you expect to have leftovers, check the storage or freezing instructions for that variety before you buy.
The name ‘currant bun’ doesn’t tell you which allergens are in a particular variety or what possible traces are listed on the label.
Before sharing the buns with your group, check the ingredients, allergens and any warning about possible traces on the bag you’re buying.
Albert Heijn has an online category for currant buns and muesli buns, including currant buns in different pack sizes.
Jumbo lists regular raisin and currant buns in packs of 6, and mini wholemeal raisin and currant buns in packs of 9.
PLUS lists currant buns in packs of 6, as well as an 8-bun variety with separate freezing instructions.
ALDI Netherlands lists freshly baked raisin and currant buns in a bag of 6.
Lidl Netherlands lists currant buns in packs of 6 as an in-store product.
Choose based on how many people will be eating and the portion size you want, rather than simply going for the highest number. PLUS lists bags of 6 and 8 regular currant buns; Jumbo also offers 9 mini wholemeal raisin and currant buns. Bear in mind what else you’ll be eating and whether you might have leftovers.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s guidance for an opened currant bun is 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1 to 3 months in the freezer. Freezing for longer may affect the quality. For an unopened bag, follow the date and storage instructions on the packaging. If the product has specific freezing instructions, stick to the time stated there.
Don’t assume they’re suitable without checking the label on the bag you’ve chosen. The PLUS varieties described list wheat, rye and milk, among other ingredients, and may contain traces of other allergens. Before sharing, check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging you’ve actually bought.
