Families planning smaller meals
You serve bread with dinner or make sandwiches, but don’t expect to get through a whole loaf quickly. The portions you need and whether you can freeze any leftovers will help you decide.
Who is half a loaf useful for?
Families who prefer soft white bread
You’re looking for white bread for sandwiches, toasties or toasted sandwiches. Choose a type that suits the meal, without making assumptions about its nutritional value based on its name.
Families who check the label
You want to check the ingredients, allergens or nutritional information for the specific loaf before serving it. For unwrapped bread, you can ask about allergen information before buying, as explained by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide how much bread you’ll need for dinner. Then choose the type of loaf and think about what you’ll do with any leftovers. If anyone has an allergy, check the ingredients before you buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size | Check that it’s labelled ‘half’ and, where listed, check the weight or number of portions. | If bread is only being served with dinner, I want enough slices without lots left over. For roughly 29% of consumers, quantity comes first. |
| Storage | Read the storage instructions and check whether you can freeze the unused portion on the day you buy it. | If there are slices left over, I want to be able to use them later. For around 23% of consumers, storing leftovers is the main concern. |
| Type of loaf | Check whether the variety is intended for everyday sandwiches, a square loaf or toasties. | For toasties or sandwiches, I mainly look for a type of loaf that suits how I’m preparing them. This is the main consideration for roughly 18% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Read the current ingredients, allergen and nutritional information; ask about allergens for unwrapped bread. | If someone at the table needs to avoid an allergen, I want to check the specific loaf. Ingredients are the main concern for around 18% of consumers. |
| Availability | Check whether the half loaf you want is available in your shop or for your order. | I want to know whether the type of loaf I’ve chosen is available when I shop. Availability matters most to an estimated 12% of consumers. |
Common misconceptions
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Assuming half a loaf will automatically prevent waste
You can still have slices left over, even with half a loaf. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists bread as a food that is often wasted.
Decide whether bread is a side dish or the main part of dinner, then freeze any portions you’re unlikely to use soon.
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Treating white and wholemeal bread as the same nutritional choice
The different types of bread have different ingredients. For everyday bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as often as possible.
Choose white bread if taste or preparation is the priority for this meal. If you’re choosing bread for everyday use, consider half a wholemeal or brown loaf too.
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Relying on the name of the bread when checking for allergens
The ingredients in white bread vary from one product to another. A name such as ‘white bread’ doesn’t tell you which allergens the loaf contains.
For packaged bread, read the current label. For unwrapped bread, ask about allergen information before buying, as recommended by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.
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Assuming every loaf contains iodised baker’s salt
Brood.net Professionals describes the use of iodised baker’s salt as an agreement in a covenant, not a general legal requirement.
Check the ingredients list for the specific loaf if you want to know which salt has been used.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn stocks several varieties, including Extra lang lekker Zaans wit half, casino wit half and tijger wit half.
- For Extra lang lekker Zaans wit half, Albert Heijn says you can freeze the bread at home on the day you buy it.
- Ingredients and nutritional information may change, so check the current packaging.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers half-sized white varieties, including casino, tiger and toastie loaves.
- The different types of loaf give you options for sandwiches and toasties.
- Check the current product page or shop shelf for the variety you want to buy.
Lidl
Lidl lists an 800 g white loaf that’s only available in store.
- A whole white loaf is an option if you can use that quantity for dinner and afterwards.
- Don’t assume a half loaf is available without checking what your shop stocks.
Aldi
Aldi has a product page for Wit brood Half.
- The half-size pack is a good fit for a meal where a whole loaf would be too much.
- Check availability and the current label information for the loaf you buy.
Plus
Plus stocks varieties including Boeren wit half, Korenlanders Rond wit half and Goedhart Tostibrood wit half.
- You can choose a type of loaf to suit sandwiches or toasties.
- Compare the ingredients, allergens and nutritional values on the information for the specific product.
Dirk
Dirk stocks Bakker van der Akker Casino wit half.
- Dirk describes this bread as soft and light, suitable for sandwiches or toasties.
- Check the current ingredients of the product itself; a description of its texture says nothing about its nutritional value.
Joybuy products
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
When is half a white loaf more useful than a whole loaf?
Half a loaf is a good choice if bread is a side dish at your family dinner and you don’t expect to get through a whole loaf quickly. For white bread with added fibre, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives a storage time of 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1 to 3 months in the freezer. Follow the instructions on your bread’s packaging too.
What should I do with white bread left over after dinner?
Ideally, freeze any slices you won’t use soon in portions on the day you buy the bread. That way, you can defrost only what you need later. Follow the storage instructions and don’t eat bread that has gone mouldy.
Where can I find allergen information for white bread?
For prepacked bread, check the allergen information on the label. For unwrapped bread, you can ask the seller for this information before buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains what information must be available.
Does all bread in the Netherlands have to contain iodised baker’s salt?
No, don’t assume that it does. Brood.net Professionals describes the use of iodised baker’s salt as an agreement in a covenant, not a general legal requirement. Check the ingredients list for the bread you choose.
Is white bread the same choice as wholemeal bread for everyday use?
No, the different types of bread have different ingredients. For everyday bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as often as possible. For a particular dinner, you can also consider the taste and how you plan to prepare it.