For a Christmas breakfast with someone who has coeliac disease, first choose a roll whose current packaging clearly says ‘gluten-free’ or bears the Crossed Grain trademark. Part-baked Kaiser rolls that can be stored in a cool, dry place are handy if you want to buy them in advance and finish them in the oven shortly before serving. Frozen rolls need freezer space and more planning. Also check the preparation instructions and avoid contact with ordinary bread when serving.
If you’re eating alongside people who are having ordinary bread, the gluten-free label on the packaging and separate preparation matter more than the shape of the roll. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends looking for ‘gluten-free’ and the Crossed Grain trademark on the packaging.
You want to buy the rolls in advance and serve them at a set time. Part-baked rolls that can be stored in a cool, dry place and frozen rolls have different requirements when it comes to oven space, freezer space and planning.
If your preferred Kaiser roll isn’t available in your shop, you can look for another individual roll for the Christmas table. Check the packaging and preparation instructions for each gluten-free bread roll, pistolet or mini baguette rather than relying on a label on the shop shelf.
Start by checking the packaging and thinking about how you can serve the roll without it coming into contact with ordinary bread. Then choose between a roll that can be stored in a cool, dry place, a frozen option or another type of roll that suits your Christmas plans.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Especially useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free labelling and serving separately | Check the current packaging for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain trademark. Set aside separate utensils and a separate serving area alongside ordinary bread. | If I have coeliac disease, I want to know which roll is intended for me and avoid it coming into contact with ordinary bread during preparation. For around 50% of consumers, this reassurance is the top priority. |
| Storage and preparation | Compare the storage instructions with the defrosting or oven time needed for the product you’ve chosen. | For a brunch at a set time, I want to be able to shop in advance without having to change my plans on Christmas morning. For around 30% of consumers, making planning easier is the main priority. |
| Alternatives and nutritional information | If you choose another gluten-free roll, check the serving size, preparation instructions, ingredients and nutritional information on its own label. | If I can’t buy a suitable Kaiser roll, I want to choose an alternative that I can prepare in time and that goes well with the meal. For around 20% of consumers, having that choice is the main concern. |
The shape of a roll or the absence of visible grains tells you nothing about its gluten content. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that gluten occurs naturally in foods including wheat, rye and barley.
When you buy a roll, check its packaging for the words ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain trademark.
Contact with a toaster, chopping board, pair of tongs or serving plate can undo the care you took when choosing the product.
Use clean, separate utensils and keep the gluten-free roll apart from bread containing gluten and any toppings that have been in contact with it.
Jumbo says Schär Kaisersemmel takes 1–2 hours to defrost or 8–10 minutes to bake at 180 °C. That calls for different planning from part-baked Kaiserbrötchen, which only need a short time in the oven.
Before buying, check that you have enough freezer space and time, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging after defrosting.
The gluten-free label doesn’t tell you how much fibre a roll contains or whether iodised baker’s salt has been used. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread made with iodised baker’s salt is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands.
Check the nutritional information and ingredients of your chosen roll if these details matter to you.
This shop information can help you look for a suitable roll. Check the range and the packaging of the product you actually buy.
Albert Heijn has a product page for Schär Kaiser brötchen glutenvrij.
Jumbo lists Schär Kaiserbrötchen, a pack of 4 weighing 240 g, and frozen Schär Kaisersemmel, a pack of 6 weighing 350 g.
PLUS lists Schär Kaiserbrötchen weighing 240 g and also mentions gluten-free pistolets as another type of roll.
Dirk’s search results include 240 g packs of Schär Kaiserbrötchen glutenvrij.
ALDI lists gluten-free rolls as part of its bread and bake-at-home range.
Lidl describes a gluten-free range, but says that additional gluten-free products are currently unavailable.
Check the current packaging for the words ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain trademark, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. The name Kaiser roll or a place on a gluten-free shelf isn’t a substitute for this. Keep the chosen roll separate from ordinary bread during preparation too.
Before buying, ask about the allergen information for that specific roll and don’t assume it’s gluten-free. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority stresses that consumers must be able to get allergen information before buying. For someone with coeliac disease, clear information confirming that the product is suitable as gluten-free remains essential.
No. Follow the instructions for the version you’ve chosen. Jumbo says to store the part-baked Schär Kaiserbrötchen in a cool, dry place. For frozen Schär Kaisersemmel, Jumbo says to store at −18 °C, not to refreeze after defrosting and to keep refrigerated and eat within one day of defrosting.
You can’t tell from the words ‘gluten-free’ or from the name of the roll. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that bread made with iodised baker’s salt is an important source of iodine in the Netherlands. If you want to know which salt has been used, check the ingredients of the specific product.
