If you’re shopping for someone with coeliac disease, only buy rolls whose packaging explicitly states that they’re gluten-free; spelt, multigrain and ordinary rolls aren’t suitable alternatives just because of their name. Then choose a quantity that fits the storage instructions and when you plan to bake them. It’s also worth comparing the ingredients and nutritional information for the option you choose.
If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, the name of a roll alone isn’t enough to tell you if it’s suitable. The Dutch Nutrition Centre advises looking for the ‘gluten-free’ label or the Crossed Grain symbol. When preparing the rolls, also avoid contact with crumbs from ordinary bread.
If you only use a few rolls at a time, the number in the pack, baking instructions and shelf life after opening all matter. Albert Heijn and PLUS both describe their white gluten-free rolls as being packed in pairs.
If you regularly buy gluten-free rolls, you can compare fibre and salt per 100 g and check the ingredients list to see what type of salt has been used. The ‘gluten-free’ label alone tells you nothing about this nutritional information.
Start by checking for a gluten-free label on the packaging. Then choose a quantity that suits the storage and baking instructions, and compare the nutritional information.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free label | Check the current packaging for the words ‘gluten-free’ and read the ingredients and allergen information. Keep crumbs containing gluten separate when preparing the rolls. | If I’m buying for someone with coeliac disease, I can’t rely on ‘spelt’ or ‘multigrain’, and I also need to avoid contact with gluten when baking. For around 42% of shoppers, choosing a gluten-free option comes first. |
| Stocking up and preparation | Compare the number of rolls with the shelf-life, storage and baking instructions on the packaging you choose. | I want to shop for several days without being left with rolls I can’t store according to the label. For around 33% of shoppers, having a practical supply for the week is the main consideration. |
| Nutritional information | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and check the ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt. | If gluten-free rolls are often on the menu, I want to take their ingredients into account when choosing what to buy. For around 25% of shoppers, comparing labels is the most important factor. |
Spelt is a type of wheat. ‘Brown’ and ‘multigrain’ don’t mean that a roll is suitable for someone with coeliac disease either.
Choose a pack with an explicit gluten-free label and check the packaging every time you buy it.
A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you how much fibre or salt a roll contains, or whether it’s made with iodised salt. Albert Heijn’s white gluten-free rolls list iodised salt; check other recipes individually.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and read the ingredients list to see what type of salt has been used.
A pack of two is only practical if you can use the rolls within the stated time. Albert Heijn says its white gluten-free rolls are not suitable for freezing at home.
Before buying, check the best-before date and instructions for storing the rolls after opening.
If you buy more packs than you can use according to those instructions, you may have rolls left over.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. This is particularly important if you’re buying a roll again for someone who needs to eat strictly gluten-free or avoid other allergens.
Use the product page to plan your shop, but check the packaging on the rolls you receive.
Albert Heijn describes white gluten-free rolls for baking at home, packed in pairs and weighing 130 g in total.
PLUS describes white gluten-free rolls packed in pairs and also lists a multiseed option in its gluten-free range.
Jumbo has an online range of gluten-free products, as well as a separate category for rolls.
Dirk lists gluten-free alternatives to bread rolls, including Schär Kaiserbrötchen. This is a different type of product from a pistolet.
If you’re also considering a gluten-free roll to bake at home for your weekly shop, this product is a mini baguette, not a roll described as a pistolet. Compare the packaging and preparation instructions with what you need for the occasion.
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A gluten-free bread to bake at home, worth considering if a mini baguette would suit your meal better than a pistolet.
The product name lists seven pieces, but check the pack contents and portion size before planning your weekly supply. Check the baking instructions there too.
The product information lists soya and possible traces of lupin and mustard. If you have allergies, check the current label.
Not just because of the name: spelt is a type of wheat, and ‘multigrain’ isn’t a gluten-free label. If you’re buying for someone with coeliac disease, choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and avoid contact with gluten during preparation.
Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a food product in the Netherlands may be labelled ‘gluten-free’ if it contains no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. Check the label on the product you’re buying; the name of a type of roll isn’t a substitute.
Follow the oven temperature and baking time on the packaging for your particular variety. Albert Heijn and PLUS each have their own preparation instructions for their white gluten-free rolls. If you’re preparing food for someone with coeliac disease, use clean kitchen utensils too, to avoid contact with ordinary bread crumbs.
It depends on the packaging you choose. Albert Heijn says its white gluten-free rolls aren’t suitable for freezing at home. For other rolls, check the freezing advice and shelf life after opening separately.
No. The ‘gluten-free’ label tells you nothing about the type of salt used. Albert Heijn’s white gluten-free rolls list iodised salt; for other varieties, check the ingredients list to see whether it mentions iodised salt or baker’s salt.
