To stock up on biscuits, choose a pack size that suits how much your household gets through. A large pack of individually wrapped biscuits will need an airtight tin once opened; smaller inner packs let you open a portion at a time. Also check the best-before date, ingredients and allergens on the pack.
If the biscuit tin gets emptied quickly in a busy household, you’ll want to keep enough biscuits in the cupboard without buying more than you can get through. So check the net weight and think about how you’ll store them once opened.
If you eat biscuits over several weeks or sometimes take them with you, consider how much you’ll need to open at once. Loose biscuits need an airtight tin; smaller inner packs offer another way to portion your stock.
If the ingredients determine which pack you can choose, check the ingredients list and allergen information for the specific variety. Do this even when buying it again, as product information can change.
First, work out how many biscuits your household gets through and how often you open a pack. Then compare the packaging and read the label on the variety you want to buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and how much you use | Compare the net weight with how much your household is likely to get through. Also check the best-before date. | If we top up the biscuit tin regularly, I want a pack that suits how much we eat, without leaving a large amount once it’s opened. For around 42% of consumers with this stocking-up priority, getting the right amount comes first. |
| Packaging and storage | Check whether the biscuits are loose in one pack or split into smaller packs. Once opened, make sure you have an airtight container to store them in. | When we eat biscuits over several occasions or take them with us, I don’t want to open the whole supply at once. That’s why around 33% of consumers prioritise the type of packaging. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients list, allergen information and any warning about possible traces of allergens on the specific pack. | A familiar product name isn’t enough for me if the ingredients or allergens affect my choice. For around 25% of consumers, the ingredients are their main concern. |
A large pack isn’t much help if the biscuits are left open for a long time and lose their quality.
Choose an amount that suits your household, and think about how you’ll store the opened pack before you buy it.
A best-before date relates to quality. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you can look at, smell and taste food after this date if the packaging is unopened and intact, though its quality may have declined.
Check the packaging and follow the storage and safety information on the specific pack.
Ingredients vary between biscuit varieties. For example, Jumbo lists wheat and gluten in its Biscuits Volkoren 300 g, despite the familiar wholemeal description.
Check the ingredients and allergens on the label every time you choose a variety, even if you’ve bought the brand before.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, biscuits can become soft, stale or dried out as their quality declines.
Store opened biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place in an airtight container, or consider smaller inner packs if you use them slowly.
For each of these brands, compare the specific biscuit variety: pack size, inner packaging and ingredients can vary.
An option if you’re looking for caramelised speculoos biscuits and want to choose between a standard pack and smaller individual portions.
A supermarket own-label range with a variety of biscuits for the biscuit tin, including digestive biscuits and traditional spiced biscuits.
ALDI’s own-label range, which includes several types of biscuits in larger packs.
An own-label option if you’re looking for a particular type of biscuit, such as AH Kokosbiscuits.
A Lidl brand offering a range of biscuits and other cookies.
These products show different ways to stock up: two multipacks to enjoy on several occasions and one pack of digestive biscuits for the biscuit tin. The right option depends on how much you get through and how much you want to open at once.
Image unavailable
For anyone who wants to spread their supply over several occasions. The multipack contains three 260 g packs; check the best-before date and allergens on the packaging.
Image unavailable
For anyone who wants to enjoy biscuits on several occasions. The 10 x 66 g label tells you the multipack size; check the pack itself if the arrangement of the inner packs is important to your choice.
Image unavailable
For anyone looking for a single pack of digestive biscuits for the biscuit tin. The pack contains 400 g; once opened, store the biscuits in an airtight container and check the label for ingredients and allergens.
Choose a pack size that suits how quickly your household gets through biscuits. Also check the best-before date and consider whether you can seal an opened pack properly or would rather use a multipack over several occasions.
Store opened biscuits in a cool, dry, dark place in an airtight container. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists softening, staleness and drying out as possible signs of a decline in quality; also follow the storage instructions on the pack.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, you can look at, smell and taste biscuits after the best-before date if the packaging is unopened and intact, although the quality may have declined. Also check the information on the specific pack.
Read the ingredients list and highlighted allergens on the label of the variety you’re buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) explains that 14 allergens must be declared; for cereals containing gluten, the specific type of cereal must be named.
Smaller inner packs are worth considering if you eat biscuits over several occasions or take them with you, and only want to open a portion at a time. Check the layout of the specific pack: a multipack size label doesn’t always tell you how many biscuits are in each inner pack.
