Who would find a glass jar useful?

If you want to store flakes at home

A sealable jar can replace an opened packet, as long as the flakes stay dry. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises sealing chocolate sprinkles in their packet and storing them in a dry place; keep the storage instructions for your chosen flakes to hand, too.

If you’re serving a sweet extra at the table

A separate jar makes it clear that the chocolate flakes are a sweet topping, for example for bread or dessert, rather than a savoury nibble. Choose the jar size based on how much you actually want to serve.

If you need to consider allergens

Keep the packaging for the exact variety so you can check the ingredients and allergens before serving. According to PLUS product information, the dark chocolate flakes may contain milk and lactose despite being labelled vegan; the allergens listed vary by product.

What should you look for?

First decide whether the jar is just for a portion at the table or needs to hold your entire supply at home. This will determine how much you want to transfer and whether it’s important to keep the original packaging with the jar.

A small serving

Best if: you want to serve the flakes separately as a sweet extra at the table.

Bear in mind: store the rest in its original packaging and keep it available for the product information.

Your entire supply at home

Best if: you want to transfer the entire packet you’ve chosen into a glass storage jar at home.

Bear in mind: the jar needs to suit the flakes’ actual volume; the weight on the packet isn’t enough to work this out.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Keeping them dry and sealed Check that the jar and any parts that come into contact with the flakes are intended for food contact and that the lid seals well. Only fill a clean, dry jar. If I transfer the flakes, I want to avoid leaving them in a damp or open jar. For around 40% of consumers, keeping them well sealed would be the main concern.
Quantity and serving at the table Measure the portion you want to serve or try transferring the packet you’ve chosen into a suitable measuring jug first. Also check that the opening is practical for scooping or sprinkling. For serving at the table, I want a jar that suits my portion, without assuming a standard conversion from grams to millilitres. For around 30% of consumers, getting the quantity right would be the priority.
Flavour and allergens Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for the exact variety, including products labelled vegan. If I’m sharing, I want to know which flakes are in the jar before serving them. For around 30% of consumers, flavour and allergens would be the main concern.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing packet weight with jar capacity

    The weight in grams tells you how much the flakes weigh, not how much space they take up in millilitres. So choosing a jar based only on the packet weight could leave you disappointed.

    Measure the portion you want to serve or try transferring the exact variety before choosing a jar size.

  • Assuming dark or vegan means milk-free

    According to PLUS, the dark chocolate flakes are labelled vegan and also carry a warning that they may contain milk and lactose. The De Ruijter milk variety reviewed lists milk, lactose and soya.

    Check the current allergen information on the packet you buy; don’t assume a product is suitable based only on its flavour name or a vegan label.

  • Using a decorative jar for food

    Not every decorative jar is intended for storing food. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that specific rules apply to materials that come into contact with food.

    Check what the jar is intended for, including any parts that touch the flakes, such as the lid and seal.

  • Serving a sweet topping among savoury snacks

    The product information mentioned describes chocolate flakes as a sweet spread for bread or a topping. Without a separate label, guests may be less sure what’s in the jar, and the packaging with the allergen information may no longer be visible.

    Serve the flakes separately as a sweet extra and keep the product information to hand. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that information about allergens present must be available when unpackaged food is offered to consumers in the Netherlands.

Brands to consider

De Ruijter

De Ruijter offers chocolate flakes in milk and dark varieties, among others. The milk variety listed by PLUS comes in a 200 g packet.

  • For this milk variety, PLUS advises storing it in a cool, dry place and pressing the packet closed after use.
  • The listed allergens—milk, lactose and soya—apply to this milk variety; check other varieties separately.

AH

Albert Heijn lists its own-brand flakes in milk, dark and mixed varieties, in 300 g packets.

  • The product types and packet weights can help you choose a variety for use at home or at the table.
  • Check the label of your chosen variety for ingredients and allergen information.

PLUS

PLUS lists its own-brand dark chocolate flakes in a 300 g packet and also stocks De Ruijter varieties.

  • The storage instructions for the dark PLUS variety say to keep it in a cool, dry and dark place.
  • The dark variety labelled vegan states that it may contain milk and lactose. Check the current label if this is important to your choice.

Kiekeboe (ALDI)

ALDI Netherlands lists Kiekeboe chocolate flakes in milk or dark varieties, in 300 g packets.

  • The stated weight can help you decide how many flakes you want to store or serve.
  • Check the label of your chosen milk or dark variety before transferring the contents.

Lidl

Lidl lists milk chocolate flakes in a 300 g packet, available in store.

  • The packet weight can help you decide whether to transfer a serving or an entire packet.
  • Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you choose.

Glass storage jars at Joybuy

These glass storage jars are intended for storing dry food. If you want to use one for chocolate flakes, compare its stated capacity with a trial fill of your chosen flakes. Before serving at the table, also check that the opening makes them easy to dispense.

PURECOOK glass storage jars, set of two, 700 ml each

PURECOOK glass storage jars, 2 × 700 ml

A set for anyone who wants to split flakes between several jars or serve only some of them at the table.

The product name lists two glass jars, each with a 700 ml capacity, with a clip-top closure and a silicone component. The jars are not dishwasher-safe.

Try them with your chosen flakes to see if they fit, and check that the opening is practical for scooping or sprinkling.

View at Joybuy
5five glass storage jar, 1.7 l, with stainless steel lid

5five glass storage jar with stainless steel lid, 1.7 l

This jar is an option if you’d rather use one larger jar for your supply at home.

It has a stated capacity of 1.7 l; the product name describes a glass jar with a stainless steel lid.

Don’t assume a set quantity of flakes will fit: try it with your chosen variety and check that the opening is practical for serving at the table.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Can I store chocolate flakes in a glass jar?

Yes, as long as the jar is intended for food contact, is clean and dry, and seals well. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises keeping chocolate sprinkles well sealed and dry; also follow the storage instructions and best-before date on the original packaging for your flakes.

How do I choose a jar size for a packet of chocolate flakes?

Try transferring the exact variety into a suitable measuring jug, or first decide how much you want to serve at the table. A packet weight in grams doesn’t directly tell you the jar capacity you need in millilitres, so a 200 g or 300 g packet on its own doesn’t indicate the right jar size.

Can I serve flakes to guests without the packaging?

You can serve flakes from a jar at home, but keep the packaging available so you can answer questions about ingredients and allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that anyone offering unpackaged food to consumers in the Netherlands must make information about allergens present available where the product is offered.

Do chocolate flakes belong with savoury nibbles?

Treat chocolate flakes as a separate sweet extra, not as a savoury part of the spread. The product information mentioned describes them as a topping or spread for bread, so make it clear what you’re serving.