For a coffee break where you’re serving the buns straight away, a soft raisin and currant bun is an obvious choice. Compare the portion size and nutritional information on the label, and choose a pack size that suits what you’ll eat or can freeze. Don’t rely on the name ‘currant bun’ if the type of bread, allergens or whether it’s sliced matters to you.
A soft bun and a suitable portion size matter if you’re serving currant buns alongside coffee or cake without any further preparation. Check how many buns are in the pack and, where stated, the weight of each bun.
If the type of bread, fibre, sugars, salt or allergens influence your choice, the nutritional information per 100 g gives you a useful basis for comparison. The ingredients list also shows which type of salt the manufacturer specifies.
With a larger bag, consider how many buns you’ll eat before they go stale and what the pack says about storing or freezing them. Freezing them in portions can be useful if you plan to enjoy them over several days.
First, choose a portion size and pack that suit your coffee break. Then compare the type of bread, nutritional information and ingredients that matter to you.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size and serving | Check how many buns are in the pack and the weight of each bun. If you want sliced buns, check that the pack explicitly says they’re sliced. | If I’m serving the buns with coffee or cake straight away, I want one bun to be a suitable portion and ready to serve without preparation. For around 33% of consumers, being able to serve them straight away is the top priority. |
| Type of bread and nutritional information | Compare fibre, sugars and salt per 100 g, and check the type of bread stated on the label. The name ‘currant bun’ doesn’t confirm that a product is wholemeal. | If you eat currant buns regularly, you’ll want to see how their nutritional values and type of bread compare with other options. Around 25% of consumers give this nutritional comparison top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information. Check whether the salt is listed as baker’s salt or iodised salt if the type of salt matters to you. | If I’m buying for people at home who have specific ingredient preferences, I don’t want to rely on the product name. That’s why around 25% of consumers put the label first. |
| Pack size and storage | Choose a number of buns that suits how you’ll use them, and follow the storage and freezing instructions on the pack. | If I’m buying for several coffee breaks, I want to be able to store the buns without having too many left over. For around 17% of consumers, managing their stock is the main consideration. |
Product labels use different terms: Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in the raisin and currant buns we checked, while Jumbo and PLUS list baker’s salt. The product type alone won’t tell you what’s on the pack.
Check the current ingredients list for the bun you want to buy.
A bun containing raisins and currants isn’t necessarily wholemeal. Jumbo lists 2.8 g of fibre per 100 g for the white wheat variety we checked; that figure doesn’t change the stated type of bread.
Check the type of bread and the ingredients, and compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g.
The varieties we checked from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS contain wheat or wheat gluten; their labels also list other allergen information. Similar product names don’t mean the ingredients and warnings are the same.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the pack every time you buy.
More buns in one bag are only practical if you’ll eat them before their quality declines or can freeze them according to the instructions on the pack.
Divide the buns into portions if needed. For the longer-life variety we checked, PLUS says you can freeze them at home on the day of purchase and use them within one month.
Buns left in the freezer for too long can dry out.
The label for AH Raisin Currant Buns gives you information to compare per bun and per 100 g.
Jumbo lists a pack of six raisin and currant buns made with white wheat flour.
PLUS lists both a bag of six currant buns and a longer-life variety containing eight buns.
ALDI describes a pack of six soft wheat buns with raisins and currants.
Lidl lists currant buns in its range information.
You can’t tell from the product name. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt for the variety we checked, while Jumbo and PLUS list baker’s salt. Read the current ingredients list on the pack you’re buying.
No. Check the allergens for each product and pack. The varieties we checked from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS contain wheat or wheat gluten, but ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings can vary between varieties.
Yes, as long as you follow the storage instructions for the pack you choose. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it; for the longer-life currant buns we checked, PLUS says to freeze them on the day of purchase and use them within one month.
