If you want everyone to be able to help themselves to a currant bun at your coffee table, a bag of six standard-sized buns is a practical choice. Mini or giant buns are better if you’d like to serve smaller or larger portions. If you won’t use them all at once, check the storage instructions on the pack you choose, and read the label for ingredients and allergens before buying.
If you’re putting a plate on the table, the number of currant buns in the pack and their size are the main things to consider. Jumbo and PLUS list bags of six standard-sized buns, while Lidl lists a pack of four larger buns.
If ingredients or allergens affect your choice, check the current packaging for each product. The Jumbo and PLUS varieties reviewed contain wheat and milk; warnings about other allergens may vary.
If you won’t use a whole pack at once, choose based on the storage and freezing instructions. PLUS says its eight-pack can be frozen on the day of purchase.
First decide how many buns you want to serve and what size you need. Then compare the ingredients, nutritional information and storage instructions on the packs that fit the bill.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Number and size | Check how many buns are in the pack and, if stated, the weight of each one. | If I’m putting the buns straight on the table, I want to know how many guests they’ll serve and what size I’ll be handing out. An estimated 33% of consumers put sharing straight away first. |
| Type of flour and nutritional information | Read the product description and compare fibre, sugars and salt on the same basis, for example per 100 g. | If you’re choosing a product for its type of flour or nutritional value, don’t assume that currants and raisins mean a bun is wholemeal. An estimated 25% of consumers consider this comparison their main priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients list and any warnings about the possible presence of other allergens on the current packaging. | If I need to account for an allergen, I need to know what’s in these particular currant buns. An estimated 25% of consumers put this check first. |
| Storage and freezing | Read the storage instructions and, if you want to freeze the buns, check the conditions and time limit on the pack you choose. | If I have buns left over for another coffee break, I want to know how to store them. An estimated 17% of consumers say this is their most important consideration. |
The standard Jumbo and PLUS products reviewed are white wheat buns with raisins and currants. Dried fruit doesn’t tell you what type of flour has been used.
If you’re specifically looking for a wholemeal variety, check the product description and ingredients. Compare the fibre per 100 g if that information matters to your choice.
The Jumbo and PLUS currant buns reviewed contain wheat and milk. The possible presence of other allergens varies by product.
Read the ingredients and allergen warnings on the current packaging, especially if you’re buying for someone with a food allergy.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell from the product category whether a bun contains iodised salt.
Check the ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt. If it matters to your choice, ask which salt has been used for unwrapped currant buns.
A pack with more buns is less practical if you can’t store the leftovers according to the product instructions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also points out that bread can dry out in the freezer.
Choose a pack size to suit your coffee break and read the instructions on the pack before freezing the buns.
Albert Heijn describes a pack of six currant buns that are frozen after baking for you to defrost at home.
Jumbo describes a bag of six white wheat buns with raisins and currants.
PLUS lists packs of six standard-sized buns, nine mini buns and eight buns with specific freezing instructions.
ALDI describes an in-store pack of six wheat buns with raisins and currants.
Lidl describes giant raisin and currant buns for anyone looking to serve larger portions.
No. The standard currant buns described by Jumbo and PLUS are white wheat buns with raisins and currants. To find a wholemeal variety, look for an explicit description on the current packaging and check the ingredients.
No, you can’t assume they do: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list of the product you choose, or ask which salt has been used for unwrapped buns.
Read the ingredients list and any allergen warnings on the current packaging. The Jumbo and PLUS products described contain wheat and milk; the possible presence of other allergens varies by variety.
Yes, but follow the storage instructions on the pack you choose. PLUS says its eight-pack can be frozen on the day of purchase and should be used within one month; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread can dry out in the freezer.
