Who is half a loaf useful for?

Small households

If you only have bread for breakfast at home a few times a week, half a loaf makes it easier to control how much you have open at once. Work out which slices you’d like to freeze, too; a smaller pack on its own won’t prevent waste.

Busy breakfast eaters

If you want to grab a sandwich quickly on a weekday, look for pre-sliced bread and clear storage instructions. If a loaf is described as staying fresh for longer, check what the packaging says about storing and freezing it.

Shoppers who compare labels

If fibre, salt or particular ingredients influence your choice, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and read the allergen information. The colour or name of a product won’t tell you everything you need to know.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, work out how much bread you use on weekdays and what you’d like to freeze. Then compare the labels of the varieties available to you.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important for?
Quantity and storage Choose a number of slices that suits your breakfasts and read the storage and freezing instructions. If I only have breakfast at home on a few mornings, I don’t want to open more bread than I can use. For around 40% of shoppers, reducing waste is the top priority.
Weekday convenience Check whether the loaf is pre-sliced and how to store the packaging once it’s open. On a busy morning, I want to be able to grab a slice without having to cut the bread. Around 30% of shoppers say everyday convenience is their top priority.
Nutritional information and allergens Compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and read the ingredients and allergen list. If I’m checking the ingredients, I don’t want to rely on the product name alone. For around 20% of shoppers, the information on the label is decisive.
Availability Check that your chosen variety is available in your shop or through your usual way of ordering. If I shop at the same store regularly, I need to be able to buy my chosen loaf there. This practical consideration matters most to around 10% of shoppers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming half a loaf automatically prevents waste

    You can still end up with bread left over, even if you buy half a loaf. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also lists bread among the products that are often wasted.

    Count how many slices you expect to use on weekdays and freeze the remaining portions on the day you buy the loaf, if the packaging allows it.

  • Looking only at the front of the pack

    Terms such as wholemeal or extra high in fibre don’t tell you how much fibre or salt a particular loaf contains per 100 g. Ingredients and allergens also vary from recipe to recipe.

    Read the nutritional information and allergen details on the current packaging before comparing varieties.

  • Assuming every loaf contains iodised salt

    Information listed for one product doesn’t tell you what’s in another loaf. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt as an ingredient in AH Extra lang lekker Zaans volkoren half.

    If you want to check a particular loaf, look at the ingredients list on its packaging.

Brands to compare

These product examples show what you can compare when looking at half wholemeal loaves. Check the packaging of the loaf you buy, as recipes and product information can change.

Albert Heijn

AH Extra lang lekker Zaans volkoren half is a half loaf with instructions for freezing at home.

  • Albert Heijn lists 6,9 g of fibre and 0,9 g of salt per 100 g for this variety, with iodised salt as an ingredient, and advises freezing it on the day of purchase.
  • Check the current ingredients and nutritional information when you buy it, as these may change.

Jumbo

Jumbo Fijn Volkoren Half is a half wholemeal wheat loaf for anyone looking for a standard variety.

  • Jumbo lists 7,6 g of fibre and 1,00 g of salt per 100 g for this variety.
  • The product contains wheat, barley and gluten; check the rest of the allergen information on the packaging, too.

Lidl

Lidl lists a 400 g Halfje extra volkorenbrood as an in-store product.

  • The stated weight can help you choose an amount that suits your breakfast habits.
  • In store, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and read the allergen information on the packaging.

ALDI

ALDI describes a half wholemeal loaf with seeds and grains.

  • The seeds and grains mentioned set this variety apart from a straightforward half wholemeal loaf.
  • Check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens on the packaging if these affect your choice.

PLUS

PLUS Boeren volkoren half is a standard variety. PLUS also lists a 400 g Korenlanders Extra donker volkoren vloer-half.

  • PLUS lists 6,7 g of fibre and 1,03 g of salt per 100 g for PLUS Boeren volkoren half.
  • Wheat, barley and soya are listed as allergens in this variety. Check the label of the variety you choose.

Dirk

Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Boeren volkoren half, along with other half wholemeal varieties.

  • The different recipe names give you a starting point for deciding which varieties to compare.
  • Don’t judge the full nutritional value by a variety’s name; compare the label for the specific loaf instead.

Related products on Joybuy

Related products will appear here soon.

Frequently asked questions

How can I avoid having half a wholemeal loaf left over?

Freeze any slices you won’t use within a few days in portions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months; follow the instructions on the packaging, too.

Should I check the label differently for bread with seeds?

For bread with seeds, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and read the full ingredients and allergen list, too. The presence of seeds alone doesn’t tell you how much fibre or salt the bread contains.

What should I check if I need to avoid gluten or other allergens?

Check the allergen information for the specific loaf before choosing it. The half loaves mentioned from Jumbo and PLUS contain gluten-containing cereals; PLUS also lists soya in Boeren volkoren half. Product recipes can change.

Does every half wholemeal loaf contain iodised salt?

Don’t assume so without checking the label. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in AH Extra lang lekker Zaans volkoren half; for another loaf, check the ingredients list on the packaging.