For Easter lunch, choose a whole, pre-sliced multigrain sourdough loaf if you want to prepare sandwiches for several guests. Individual bake-at-home rolls or baguettes are a better fit if you want to bake the bread just before serving and have the time and equipment to do so. If wholemeal is important to you, check the labelling on the specific product: ‘multigrain’ and ‘sourdough’ alone don’t mean that a loaf is wholemeal.
With your guests nearly ready to sit down, you might want to serve warm rolls. Bake-at-home multigrain sourdough rolls or demi-baguettes suit that plan, provided you can follow the preparation instructions for the product you choose.
The grain composition matters more to you than the bread’s appearance alone. Look specifically for ‘wholemeal’ on the packaging; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour. Then compare the fibre values per 100 g.
A seeded loaf or one with a rustic shape could be a good choice for a lunch with sandwich fillings. Compare the ingredients, any information about the sourdough and the shape of each product: multigrain sourdough breads don’t all have the same ingredients or preparation method.
First decide how you want to serve the bread: sliced for sandwiches, as individual bake-at-home portions or as a loaf to share. Then check the product information and instructions for the option that suits your plan.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the ‘wholemeal’ label and compare fibre per 100 g using the same nutritional basis. | If I choose a loaf because of its grain composition, I want to see whether it’s wholemeal rather than relying on the word ‘multigrain’. This would be the main consideration for around 40% of consumers. |
| Baking and serving time | Check the preparation time, equipment needed and number of portions on the packaging. | I want to serve warm individual rolls, but need to fit the baking in around the rest of lunch. Serving warm bread would be the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Sourdough and presentation | Check the shape of the loaf and the grains, seeds and sourdough ingredients listed; also read the allergen information. | When choosing a loaf to slice and share, I focus on the shape and ingredients that will suit the table. This would be the main reason for choosing one for around 30% of consumers. |
If you want wholemeal bread, you can’t rely on the word ‘multigrain’ alone. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre defines wholemeal bread as bread made from 100% wholemeal flour.
Check the wholemeal labelling on the specific product and use the nutritional information per 100 g to compare fibre values.
A sourdough label doesn’t mean that the bread is free from wheat, other gluten-containing cereals or sesame. For example, Jumbo lists sesame in its multigrain sourdough rolls.
If any of your guests need to avoid allergens, check the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact loaf you’re buying.
Bake-at-home bread needs time and suitable equipment just before lunch. Instructions vary from one loaf to another, so the preparation time for a different product isn’t a useful guide.
Check the instructions on the packaging before planning lunch. If baking doesn’t fit your schedule, choose a loaf you can serve without that step.
A whole loaf and individual rolls provide different numbers of portions. Any bread left over after Easter lunch needs to be stored or used promptly.
Choose a bread format to suit the number of guests. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing opened wholemeal sourdough bread in a kitchen cupboard or freezing it; if you plan to freeze bread, it’s best to divide it into portions first.
These examples show the bread formats and product details you can compare from the brands listed. Check the current packaging for the bread you choose.
AH OerDesem dark multigrain is an 800 g whole, pre-sliced loaf for anyone who wants to prepare sandwiches.
Jumbo Multigrain Sourdough Rolls come as four separate part-baked rolls in a 300 g pack.
Lidl lists a 600 g organic rustic brown multigrain sourdough loaf with seeds and kernels.
ALDI offers different bread formats, including sliced Boeren wholemeal multigrain bread and a more rustic farmhouse loaf.
PLUS Korenlanders Multigrain Sourdough Demi-Baguettes are a bake-at-home option for individual portions.
Dirk offers, among other products, a fresh bake-at-home rustic multigrain baguette weighing 440 g.
This product selection suits an Easter lunch where you want to bake individual multigrain baguettes. If sourdough or wholemeal is essential for you, check the labelling and ingredients on the current packaging.
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The four individual baguettes are a good fit for a lunch where you can plan the baking around serving time.
Pack size: 4 × 135 g. Allow time to defrost and follow the current packaging for the baking time.
Before buying, check the wholemeal labelling and the ingredients and allergen information, especially if a guest needs to avoid certain cereals or sesame.
No, ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t confirm that a loaf is wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour, so look for the ‘wholemeal’ label on the specific product.
No, sourdough doesn’t mean that bread is gluten-free. The multigrain sourdough products from Jumbo and PLUS mentioned above list gluten-containing ingredients; Jumbo also lists sesame. If you have a relevant allergy or coeliac disease, always check the current ingredients and allergen information for the product you choose.
You can’t assume this is the case for every multigrain loaf. The Dutch Commodities Act Decree on the Addition of Micronutrients to Foods defines baker’s salt as iodised table salt used for bread and other bakery products. Check the ingredients list of the loaf you buy to see whether iodised salt is listed.
For opened wholemeal sourdough bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping it in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months. It’s best to freeze bread in portions if you plan to use it later, and to follow the storage instructions on the packaging too.
Not for every product: PLUS gives both oven and air fryer instructions for its Korenlanders Multigrain Sourdough Demi-Baguettes. These instructions apply to that PLUS variety; for other baguettes, follow the instructions on their own packaging.
