Sourdough or Wholemeal Kaiser Rolls: What to Check

Which choice is right for you?

Looking for sourdough

You want to know whether the roll contains sourdough and whether yeast has also been used. So compare the ingredients list and product description, rather than relying on the name on the shelf.

Choosing with fibre in mind

You’re looking for a kaiser roll made with wholemeal flour. Check the ingredients and compare the fibre per 100 g listed on the pack. The word ‘sourdough’ doesn’t tell you whether a roll is wholemeal.

Looking for quick bake-at-home rolls

You’re planning rolls for breakfast, lunch or guests, and want to know how long they’ll take to prepare. Check the baking instructions and make sure you can buy the rolls at your chosen shop.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want a sourdough roll, a wholemeal kaiser roll or, above all, a convenient bake-at-home roll. Then check the product label for the features you’re looking for.

What to look for	What to check	Who it matters to
Sourdough	Look for sourdough in the ingredients list and check whether yeast or inactive sourdough powder is also mentioned.	I want a roll made with sourdough, but I don’t want to assume from the product name that it has been raised with sourdough alone. For around 42% of consumers, checking that sourdough has been used is the top priority.
Wholemeal flour and fibre	Check for wholemeal flour in the ingredients list and compare the fibre per 100 g.	If you want to keep the shape of a kaiser roll but are mainly concerned about its ingredients, prioritise wholemeal flour and fibre. That’s the main consideration for around 33% of consumers.
Baking and availability	Read the baking instructions and check the range at your chosen shop.	If you’re planning breakfast or expecting guests, you’ll want to know whether you can get the rolls and bake them in time. For around 25% of consumers, this convenience matters most.

Common mistakes

Assuming sourdough is the only raising agent

PLUS lists both yeast and inactive sourdough powder in its white kaiser rolls. Jumbo lists both sourdough and yeast in its white sourdough rolls. So the presence of sourdough doesn’t prove that a roll has been raised with sourdough alone.

Read the full ingredients list. If it matters to your choice, ask which raising agents have been used in an unwrapped roll.
Assuming every roll contains iodised baker’s salt

According to the Voedingscentrum, bakeries in the Netherlands aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So the Dutch rules on adding iodine don’t mean that every roll contains iodised salt.

For a packaged roll, check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients.
Assuming sourdough means wholemeal

A roll can contain sourdough without being wholemeal. Conversely, PLUS’s wholemeal kaiser roll lists wholemeal wheat flour and baker’s yeast, but that doesn’t make it a sourdough roll.

If you want both, check the same product label for wholemeal flour and sourdough.
Expecting every shop to stock the same range

Lidl says its fresh bread range can vary from one branch to another. So a roll shown online may not be available every time you visit your chosen shop.

Check what’s currently available and read the packaging again when you buy, especially if the ingredients or allergens matter to your choice.

Brands to compare

Albert Heijn

Worth considering if you want to compare individual kaiser rolls with sourdough pistolets.

The range shown includes white and wholemeal kaiser rolls, as well as separate sourdough pistolets.
The sourdough pistolets shown aren’t labelled as kaiser rolls, so check which product you’re choosing.

Jumbo

Worth considering if you want to compare white sourdough rolls with kaiser rolls.

Jumbo White Sourdough Rolls list sourdough, iodised salt and yeast in the ingredients.
The mention of sourdough doesn’t mean this product is made without yeast.

PLUS

Worth considering if you want to compare white bake-at-home kaiser rolls with a separate wholemeal kaiser roll.

The wholemeal kaiser roll lists 67% wholemeal wheat flour and 6,9 g of fibre per 100 g.
The white bake-at-home kaiser roll contains yeast and inactive sourdough powder; the powder doesn’t prove that sourdough is the raising agent.

Lidl

Worth considering if you’re looking for a freshly baked white kaiser roll in store.

Lidl describes its kaiser roll as a freshly baked white wheat roll.
The fresh range can vary from one branch to another, and the product description doesn’t say that this is a sourdough roll.

Dirk

Worth considering if you’re looking for kaiser rolls to bake at home.

Dirk lists a pack of four bake-at-home kaiser rolls, with a cooking time of 6 to 8 minutes in an oven or air fryer.
Check the ingredients of the product you choose if sourdough or wholemeal flour is important to you.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a kaiser roll with sourdough powder the same as a sourdough roll?

Not necessarily. PLUS’s white kaiser roll contains yeast and inactive sourdough powder, while Jumbo lists both sourdough and yeast in its white sourdough rolls. Check the ingredients and product description if you want to know what role sourdough plays in a particular roll.

Does bread in the Netherlands have to be made with iodised baker’s salt?

No. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. If you want to know which salt is in a packaged roll, check whether the ingredients list mentions baker’s salt or iodised salt.

How long should kaiser rolls go in the oven?

Follow the instructions on the pack you buy. PLUS says to bake its white bake-at-home kaiser rolls for 6 to 8 minutes in an oven at 220 °C; that time and temperature don’t automatically apply to other rolls.

Which allergens should I check in these rolls?

Always check the allergen information for the individual product. The listed ingredients for Jumbo’s white sourdough rolls include wheat and spelt, while PLUS’s white kaiser rolls list wheat and rye. Don’t assume another roll has the same ingredients.