Who is this choice relevant to?

If you’re serving generous toppings

For toast topped with egg mayonnaise, fish, cheese or vegetables, the shape matters. Check that the size suits your topping; a name such as ‘crunchy’ doesn’t, by itself, tell you how much it can hold.

If you’re making lots of small bites

Thin Melba toast can work well on a platter of light, mild bites. If you’re hosting several guests, also check how many pieces are in the pack and how they’re portioned.

If you’re catering for guests

If someone has a food allergy, intolerance or specific dietary requirement, check the current label for the exact product variant. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses the importance of checking allergen information on the label.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether your toppings call for a larger piece of toast or whether small, light bites will do. Then compare the packaging and labels of the variants that suit your serving plan.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
A base for generous toppings Check the size and shape of the toast; check the thickness of the variant you’ve chosen if that’s a deciding factor. If I want to serve a generously topped bite, the shape of the toast needs to suit the topping. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers.
Small, mild bites Check whether plain Melba toast suits the topping and how many pieces are in the pack. For a platter of lots of light bites, I mainly want a small base that won’t overpower the topping; around 29% of consumers give this top priority.
Allergens and dietary requirements Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact variant, including warnings about possible traces. If I’m buying for a guest with an allergy or dietary requirement, I need to know what’s in this particular toast. This matters most to around 21% of consumers.
Pack contents, salt and storage Compare the number of pieces, the nutritional information per 100 g and the storage advice once opened. If I’m buying for several guests, I want to know how many pieces I can serve and how to store the rest; for around 14% of consumers, this information on the label and packaging is the deciding factor.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming a product name tells you how much it can hold

    ‘Melba’, ‘crunchy’ and ‘baguette toast’ describe a type, shape or texture. They don’t guarantee that a piece is thick enough for a heavy or moist topping.

    If a sturdy base is essential, check the size and thickness of the variant you’ve chosen before planning your toppings.

  • Confusing one dietary claim with a complete allergen list

    Albert Heijn describes its plain Melba toast as vegan and lactose-free, but also lists wheat, barley and soya. Those claims therefore don’t answer every question about allergens.

    For each guest, read the full ingredients and allergen information on the pack of the variant you’re buying.

  • Looking only at the pack size

    A larger pack doesn’t necessarily contain the same number of individual portions. Nutritional information can also vary between variants.

    Compare the number of pieces, how they’re portioned and, for example, the salt content per 100 g on the current labels.

  • Assuming all toast contains iodised baker’s salt

    Information about the use of baker’s salt doesn’t tell you which ingredients are in an individual pack of toast.

    If the type of salt used matters to your choice, check the ingredients of the specific product.

Brands and shops to explore

Van der Meulen

The plain and wholemeal Melba toast variants are worth considering for small, thin pieces at Easter lunch.

  • Albert Heijn describes the plain variant as thin, toasted slices; Van der Meulen also calls its wholemeal variant thin and crunchy.
  • Neither description confirms that the variant is thick-cut toast. Check the ingredients and allergens on each pack.

Haust

Haust offers baguette toast and crunchy toast, among other options, as alternatives to thin Melba toast.

  • Albert Heijn describes Haust Baguette Toast as baguette toast. Jumbo says Haust Krokant Toast is baked twice in the oven.
  • According to Haust’s product description on Jumbo, topped Krokant Toast stays crunchy for longer; this isn’t an independent test of how much it can hold. Check the variant you choose and the shop’s latest product information.

Albert Heijn

Its own-brand plain Melba toast is an option if you want to serve lots of small pieces.

  • Albert Heijn lists this variant as a 240 g multipack containing twelve packs of six pieces of toast.
  • The product page lists wheat, barley and soya. Check the label if you’re buying for guests with an allergy.

Jumbo

Its own-brand range includes plain and flavoured toast variants to compare with your planned toppings.

  • The range includes several types of crunchy toast.
  • A flavoured variant is a different base from plain toast. Check the flavour description, ingredients and allergens for each variant.

ALDI, Van Vlegelaar en Sun Snacks

ALDI lists rectangular wheat toast, Melba toast and toast cups among the different shapes you can compare.

  • Van Vlegelaar Krokante Tarwe Toast is described as rectangular toast baked in the oven.
  • Check the dimensions, ingredients and allergens of the variant you want to buy in store.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Can thick-cut toast automatically hold heavy toppings?

No, the label alone doesn’t guarantee that it can. Use the shape of baguette toast or crunchy toast as a starting point when choosing, and check the dimensions of the specific product if you’re serving generous or moist toppings.

Does all toast contain iodised baker’s salt?

You can’t assume that it does. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority describes rules on the use of baker’s salt containing iodine compounds in bakery products, but this doesn’t establish which type of salt is used in any individual toast product. Check the ingredients on the pack you choose.

Which allergens should I check if I’m serving guests?

Read the allergen information for the exact toast variant. The products described vary: as well as wheat and other cereals containing gluten, some contain egg and soya, while some packs warn that they may contain milk or sesame. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses the importance of checking the label for allergen information.

How should I store toast after opening it for Easter lunch?

Follow the storage advice on the pack and protect opened toast from moisture. Albert Heijn advises storing its plain Melba toast in a sealed tin after opening; for other variants, check the individual label.