If you have coeliac disease and are buying kaiser rolls for the first time, start by choosing a separately packaged product with a clear gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol; the shape of the roll alone tells you nothing about whether it is suitable. Then check the allergens and storage instructions. A long-life pack needs to be used soon after opening, while frozen rolls require freezer space and a little planning. If the kaiser shape isn’t important to you, you could also consider another gluten-free roll for baking at home.
If you have coeliac disease, you’ll want to avoid accidentally adding an ordinary wheat roll to your shopping. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises looking for the gluten-free label or the Crossed Grain symbol, and checking the label on the product you buy.
If you don’t eat rolls every day, the storage instructions can help you decide which pack is most practical. Check whether you can use an opened pack in time, or whether you’d prefer to use frozen rolls as and when you need them.
A gluten-free label won’t tell you which other allergens a roll contains. Also check the ingredients and nutritional information for each variety if things like soya, fibre or iodised salt matter to your choice.
Start by checking for a gluten-free label on the packaging. Then compare how the rolls fit your allergen requirements, available storage space and intended use.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the packaging, and read any warnings about cereals containing gluten. | When I’m doing my first shop, I don’t want to mistake an ordinary kaiser roll for a gluten-free product. Around 42% of consumers put this label check first. |
| Storage and preparation | Check whether the pack is long-life or frozen, and read the instructions for after opening or defrosting. | If you want to keep rolls for several occasions, you’ll need to decide between using up an opened pack and making room in the freezer. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
| Allergens and nutritional information | Read the allergens and ingredients for each variety; compare nutritional values on the same basis, for example per 100 g. | If I need to watch out for soya or other ingredients as well as gluten, the ‘gluten-free’ label alone isn’t enough. Around 17% of consumers prioritise these additional checks. |
| Pack size and food waste | Check the number of rolls and how soon you’ll need to use them after opening or defrosting. | A pack with more rolls isn’t such a good fit if I can’t use them up in time. This is the main consideration for around 16% of consumers. |
‘Kaiser roll’ describes the shape, not the ingredients. So a roll from an open bakery counter isn’t automatically suitable if you have coeliac disease.
Choose a clearly identifiable gluten-free product and check the packaging before eating it.
The Schär Kaiserbrötchen and Kaisersemmeln described by Jumbo contain soya. Other allergens that may be present vary between these varieties.
After checking the gluten-free label, read the allergen information on the specific pack too.
According to the instructions listed by Jumbo, the long-life pack should be used within a few days of opening or frozen straight away. Once defrosted, the frozen variety should be eaten within one day and must not be refrozen.
Choose a pack whose rolls you can store and use in line with those instructions.
Jumbo lists iodised salt in the long-life Schär Kaiserbrötchen, but only ‘salt’ in the frozen Kaisersemmeln. So you can’t tell which is used just from the product category.
Check the ingredients for each variety. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also discusses iodine in the context of your overall diet, rather than a single roll.
Jumbo describes both long-life Schär Kaiserbrötchen and frozen Schär Kaisersemmeln: two storage options in the kaiser-roll style.
Albert Heijn’s AH Glutenvrij range includes, among other things, multiseed rolls for anyone looking for a gluten-free roll without sticking to the kaiser shape.
Consenza describes gluten-free multigrain rolls for baking at home as an alternative for anyone who mainly wants a roll to bake.
Not unless there’s clear information confirming that the specific roll is gluten-free. The Dutch Coeliac Association advises checking the label for the gluten-free mark or the Crossed Grain symbol; don’t judge by the shape of the bread.
No. ‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t mean that other allergens are absent. According to Jumbo, the Schär Kaiserbrötchen described contain soya and may contain mustard; the frozen Kaisersemmeln also contain soya and may contain egg, hazelnuts, milk and mustard. Check the current packaging for the variety you buy.
No, you can’t tell from the word ‘gluten-free’. Jumbo lists iodised salt in the long-life Schär Kaiserbrötchen and only ‘salt’ in the frozen Kaisersemmeln. Check the ingredients; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre discusses iodine intake in the context of your overall diet.
Follow the storage instructions for the variety you choose. According to Jumbo, you should keep the long-life Schär Kaiserbrötchen in a cool, dry place and use them within a few days of opening, or freeze them straight away. The frozen Kaisersemmeln must not be refrozen after defrosting and should then be eaten within one day.
