If you’re serving the buns that same evening
You’ll want to know in advance how many individual buns you can put out. Jumbo, PLUS, ALDI and Lidl each show a pack of six.
Who are these choices relevant to?
If you’re buying ahead
You’ll want to save any leftover buns for later. The Albert Heijn and PLUS varieties reviewed include instructions for freezing on the day of purchase.
If you compare labels
You may be checking fibre per 100 g, or need to take account of the ingredients and allergens in the buns you actually serve.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide how many whole buns you need and whether you want to keep any for later. Then check the pack of your chosen variety for nutritional information, freezing instructions and allergens. If you want to serve slices, don’t rely on the term ‘medium sliced’ alone.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Number of buns | Count the buns in each pack and check whether you’re buying whole or pre-sliced buns. | If I’m serving buns that same evening, I want the number to match the number of people eating. Around 40% of consumers put this first. |
| Storage | Check whether the exact variety can be frozen on the day of purchase and how soon it should be used afterwards. | If the number of people eating varies, I want to be able to save any leftovers for later. This is the main consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Fibre and flour type | Compare fibre per 100 g and check whether the chosen variety is labelled wholemeal. | If I’m also checking nutritional information, I want to know which variety I’m putting on the table. This comparison matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the ingredients and check the information about allergens present and possible cross-contact on the pack you buy. | If I’m buying buns for guests with a food allergy, I need to check the information for the exact product. Around 10% of consumers give this check top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming every currant bun contains iodised salt
The product name doesn’t tell you which salt was used in the bun you’ve chosen.
Read the ingredients list if this matters to your choice. Ask the retailer for clarification if the information on the pack doesn’t make it clear.
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Assuming a standard currant bun is allergen-free
The Jumbo and PLUS currant buns reviewed list wheat or gluten and milk. Information about possible cross-contact can vary between products.
Check the label on the pack you buy. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for pre-packed foods is given on the label. For unpackaged buns, ask for this information before you buy.
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Buying a bigger pack without a plan for leftovers
The packs reviewed contain four, six or eight buns, but freezing instructions for one variety don’t automatically apply to another.
First choose the number you need. If you want to keep some buns, follow the freezing and use-by instructions for the exact product.
Leftover buns need to be used in good time or stored according to the product instructions.
Brands compared
Compare the features listed for each variety, rather than assuming they apply to the whole brand. The packs described differ in particular in their number of buns, nutritional information and storage instructions.
Albert Heijn
Alongside standard currant buns, a wholemeal raisin and currant bun variety is described in a pack of four.
- The wholemeal variety described weighs 75 g per bun and contains 6.1 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Check the current ingredients, allergens and storage instructions on the pack you choose.
Jumbo
The Raisin Currant Buns described are sold in a pack of six white wheat buns.
- The product information lists 65 g per bun and 2.8 g of fibre per 100 g.
- This variety contains wheat or gluten and milk; don’t assume the same specifications apply to other Jumbo buns.
PLUS
The currant buns described include a pack of six and an eight-pack ‘stays delicious for longer’ variety.
- PLUS says both varieties described can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and should then be used within one month.
- Both varieties list wheat or gluten, rye and milk, among other ingredients; check the label on the pack you buy.
ALDI
The Raisin and Currant Buns described are sold in packs of six.
- A pack of six makes it easy to work out how many buns you’ll need for the evening.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the pack in store.
Lidl
The currant buns described are sold in store in packs of six.
- The number of buns in each pack is clear in advance.
- Compare the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the pack.
Related products on Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are currant buns labelled ‘medium sliced’ pre-sliced?
Don’t assume they are: the packs described from Albert Heijn, Jumbo, PLUS, ALDI and Lidl contain whole buns. Check whether the exact product is labelled as pre-sliced. If you want to serve slices, you can cut whole buns yourself.
Can I buy currant buns in advance and freeze them?
According to their product instructions, the Albert Heijn and PLUS varieties described can be frozen on the day of purchase. The instructions say to use them within one month of freezing. Also check the defrosting instructions on the pack you buy.
How can I check for allergens when buying currant buns for guests?
Read the allergen information on the pack of the buns you’re serving, including any details about possible cross-contact. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information is shown on the label of pre-packed foods. For unpackaged buns, ask about allergen information before you buy.
How can I find out what kind of salt is in currant buns?
Check the ingredients list on the exact pack rather than assuming which salt has been used based on the product category. If you want to know whether the salt listed is iodised and the pack doesn’t make this clear, ask the retailer for more information.