For sharing bread at the table
If you’re serving bread with dips, toppings or a saucy dish, its shape, crust and crumb can all play a part. Rustic sourdough or farmhouse bread is worth considering if you want to slice it at the table.
Who is this bread guide for?
For preparing dinner shortly before serving
If you want to bake bread just before serving, bake-at-home baguettes or rolls are an option. Just allow time for preparation and make sure you have room in the oven or air fryer alongside the other dishes.
For anyone checking ingredients or nutritional information
If you prefer wholemeal, need a gluten-free product or are checking for allergens and iodised salt, your choice should be guided by the current packaging. Don’t assume these qualities based on words such as ‘rustic’ or ‘sourdough’ alone.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want bread to share, want to bake it just before dinner or need to choose based on specific ingredients. These options can overlap: wholemeal bread can also be bake-at-home bread.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and presentation | Choose a loaf that’s easy to slice or share; if you have a particular type of bread in mind, check its description for details about the crust and crumb. | If I’m serving bread with dips, I want it to work with the meal even without lots of toppings. Around 36% of consumers put flavour and presentation first. |
| When you’ll serve it | Check whether the bread is ready to eat or needs baking, and whether the preparation fits into your dinner plans. | If I want to serve the bread warm just before eating, I need to fit its preparation in around the rest of dinner. For around 29% of consumers, this is the first thing they consider. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the current product description, ingredients, allergen information and nutritional values on the packaging. | If wholemeal or a particular ingredient is a deciding factor for me, I can’t judge by colour or a rustic name. This is a priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check whether your chosen bread is available in your shop or can be ordered; some freshly baked in-store breads aren’t available to order online. | If I want my shopping delivered or can only shop shortly before dinner, I need to make sure I can get the bread I want. Around 14% of consumers prioritise availability. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming every sourdough or organic loaf contains iodised baker’s salt
According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt, and organic bread usually contains non-iodised salt. So the name of the bread doesn’t tell you which salt has been used.
If this ingredient matters to your choice, read the ingredients list or ask about it when buying unpackaged bread.
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Choosing a freshly baked in-store loaf without checking how to buy it
Jumbo says its rustic sourdough loaves, baked in-store, aren’t available to order online. So a loaf from this range won’t necessarily fit in with a delivery plan.
Before dinner, check whether you’ll need to pick up the bread in store, or choose a bake-at-home option that you can order.
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Assuming bake-at-home bread is ready to serve
Bake-at-home bread still needs to be prepared at home. This could clash with your oven plans for the other dishes.
Read the cooking instructions and allow time and oven space. Otherwise, choose bread that you can serve without baking.
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Assuming dark or rustic bread is wholemeal
A dark colour or the name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t, by itself, confirm that a loaf is wholemeal.
Check the product description and ingredients if wholemeal or fibre is important to you.
Brands and shops to explore
Albert Heijn
A place to browse different types of bread online, including OerDesem and separately labelled gluten-free sourdough loaves.
- Albert Heijn describes OerDesem as having a 56-hour proving process.
- The retailer says product and allergen information can change, so check the current packaging.
Jumbo
Worth exploring if you’re weighing up rustic sourdough against baguettes and bread to bake at home.
- Jumbo describes its sourdough loaves as having a long proving time and also offers bake-at-home options.
- Jumbo says its rustic sourdough loaves, baked in-store, aren’t available to order online.
Lidl
An in-store option for oven-fresh bread; Lidl offers, among other things, rustic white bread and wholemeal sourdough.
- Lidl describes bread that is baked in store.
- Check which breads are available at your local shop when you go shopping.
ALDI
An option for comparing freshly baked rustic bread in store with rolls and other types to bake at home.
- ALDI describes rustic loaves under Bakkersgoud and Bakkersgoud Rustiek, and also offers bread to bake at home.
- Check the range at the shop where you plan to pick up your bread.
PLUS
Worth considering if you want to order bread online and are looking at options such as farmhouse bread or sourdough pumpkin rolls.
- PLUS has an online bread range that includes these types of bread.
- Check that the specific bread is available with your order.
Dirk
A shop where you can compare types of bread such as sourdough, spelt, baguettes and multigrain.
- Dirk lists these different types of bread in its range.
- Check the specific bread and how you can buy it before planning dinner.
Bread options at Joybuy
These breads come in shareable shapes for dinner, including baguettes and round loaves. For the bake-at-home options, defrosting, oven space and the instructions on the packaging will all affect whether they fit into your plans.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 4 × 135 g
Four multigrain baguettes to serve with a meal for sharing. Allow time for defrosting and make sure you have oven space. Follow the current packaging for baking times, and check it for allergen information if this is important to your choice.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g
A round wholemeal loaf to slice at the table if the wholemeal label is important to your choice. Allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling, and check the packaging for baking times.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Natural Rustic Baguette, 4 × 135 g
Four rustic baguettes to share at dinner. Allow time for defrosting and baking, and follow the instructions on the packaging for baking times.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Natural Rustic Round Bread, 550 g
A round rustic loaf to slice and share. When planning when to serve it, allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling, and check the packaging for baking times.
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G'woon White Rustic Baguette, 250 g
A white rustic baguette to share at dinner. Before deciding when to serve it, check the packaging to see whether it needs baking. If you have allergies, read the current allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Which bread is right for a date-night dinner?
Rustic sourdough or farmhouse bread is a good fit if you want to slice and share it, with flavour and presentation taking priority. A bake-at-home baguette is another option if you want to serve the bread warm just before eating and have the time and oven space to prepare it.
Can I order Jumbo rustic sourdough bread online?
According to Jumbo, its rustic sourdough loaves, freshly baked in store, aren’t available to order online. If you’re ordering online, check separately whether baguettes or bake-at-home bread are available to order.
Does bread always contain iodised baker’s salt?
No, you can’t assume that every loaf does. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt, and organic bread usually contains non-iodised salt. Check the ingredients list or ask about it when buying unpackaged bread.
What should I check when choosing gluten-free bread or checking for allergens?
If you need gluten-free bread, choose a product that is clearly labelled gluten-free and check the current packaging for ingredients and allergen information. Albert Heijn notes in its own product information that these details can change.