Breakfast lovers looking for a sourdough roll
You want to see sourdough mentioned in the product information. A pistolet or another type of roll is also an option if the classic Kaiser shape matters less to you.
Which option is right for you?
Families who bake rolls at home
You’re looking for enough rolls to feed several people and want to know how long they take to prepare. Regular Kaiser rolls could be a good fit if their shape and ease of baking matter more to you than sourdough.
Shoppers comparing labels
You want to check the ingredients, allergens, fibre, salt or whether iodised salt is listed before you buy. To do that, compare the information for the specific roll, not just the product name.
What should you look for when choosing?
Regular bake-at-home Kaiser rolls
Choose these if: You want the classic Kaiser shape and plan to bake the rolls at home.
Bear in mind: The shape or name doesn’t confirm that sourdough has been used.
Bake-at-home sourdough rolls
Choose these if: A specific mention of sourdough and baking at home matter more to you than the Kaiser shape.
Bear in mind: A sourdough roll could be a pistolet or another shape, and may contain gluten-containing grains.
Fresh sourdough from the shop
Choose this if: You want to buy a fresh sourdough product and don’t necessarily need to bake it at home.
Bear in mind: Jumbo says its fresh sourdough breads are only available in store; check how the product you choose can be bought.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough | Look for sourdough in the product information and check what type of roll it is. | I want to choose a sourdough roll for breakfast, even if it isn’t a Kaiser roll. This is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Shape and preparation | Check the number of rolls and the baking instructions on the packaging. | If I’m baking rolls for several people, I want to be able to plan for the classic Kaiser shape and the preparation time. This is the main priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Label | Check the allergens and, if needed, compare fibre and salt per 100 g; if you’re interested in iodine, check the ingredients. | I want to know which grains and what type of salt the roll contains before I choose. Around 23% of consumers prioritise checking the label. |
| Availability | Check whether you can order the product you’ve chosen or need to buy it in store. | For my weekend breakfast, I don’t want to rely on an online order if the bread is only sold in store. The way it can be bought is the first consideration for around 15% of consumers. |
Common misconceptions
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Assuming ‘Kaiser’ and ‘sourdough’ mean the same thing
Kaiser refers to the type of roll; the name doesn’t tell you whether sourdough was used in its preparation.
Decide which feature matters most to you. If you want sourdough, check the ingredients or product description.
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Assuming sourdough tells you something about gluten or fibre
The Jumbo and PLUS sourdough rolls we looked at contain gluten-containing grains. Their stated fibre values differ: Jumbo lists 2,4 g per 100 g for its Desem Broodjes Wit, while PLUS lists 5,3 g per 100 g for the sourdough pumpkin roll we looked at.
If you have an allergy, read the allergen information. To compare nutritional values, check the figures per 100 g for the products you’re considering.
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Assuming the type of bread tells you whether it contains iodised salt
Not all bread lists iodised salt. According to the Voedingscentrum, you can check the label to see whether bread is made with baker’s salt.
If the type of salt matters to your choice, look for iodised salt or baker’s salt in the ingredients, or ask the baker.
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Assuming fresh sourdough bread is available to order online
Jumbo says its fresh sourdough breads are available in store and can’t be ordered online.
Before planning your breakfast, check how you can buy the specific bread and whether it’s available at your chosen shop.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn sells regular bake-at-home Kaiser rolls as well as a separate organic sourdough multiseed pistolet.
- Albert Heijn says its AH Kaiserbroodjes take 8–10 minutes to bake at 220 °C.
- The sourdough multiseed pistolet isn’t a Kaiser roll; check the ingredients and allergens for the product you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells Desem Broodjes Wit in packs of four and also offers fresh sourdough breads for in-store purchase.
- Jumbo lists sourdough and iodised salt in the ingredients for Desem Broodjes Wit.
- Desem Broodjes Wit aren’t classic Kaiser rolls. Jumbo says its fresh sourdough breads can’t be ordered online.
PLUS
PLUS sells white Kaiser rolls and separate sourdough products, including an organic sourdough pumpkin roll.
- PLUS says its white Kaiser rolls take 6–8 minutes to bake at 220 °C; the pumpkin roll we looked at is listed as containing 8% sourdough.
- The sourdough pumpkin roll has a different shape from a classic Kaiser roll.
Lidl
Lidl describes Kaiser rolls for baking at home and has a bakery section in many of its shops.
- The Kaiser rolls are designed to be baked at home.
- Don’t assume they’re sourdough based on the product name; check the ingredients. The range may vary from shop to shop.
ALDI
ALDI sells white bake-at-home Kaiser rolls alongside other types of rolls.
- ALDI lists the oven and air fryer as ways to prepare its bake-at-home rolls.
- Check the preparation instructions on the packaging and look separately for a mention of sourdough if that matters to you.
Dirk
Dirk sells bake-at-home Kaiser rolls and also mentions sourdough elsewhere in its wider bread range.
- For the Kaiser rolls we looked at, Dirk recommends 6–8 minutes in an oven or air fryer.
- A mention of sourdough elsewhere in the bread range doesn’t tell you anything about the ingredients in these Kaiser rolls.
Kaiser rolls at Joybuy
This Kaiser roll is a good fit for a weekend breakfast where the shape of the rolls is the priority. Check the ingredients if you’re also specifically looking for sourdough: sourdough powder listed as an ingredient doesn’t confirm that the roll itself has been fermented with sourdough.
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g'woon Kaiser Rolls, 4 rolls, 200 g
For a weekend breakfast when you want Kaiser rolls and want to check the ingredients for sourdough.
Pack size: 4 rolls, 200 g in total.
Check the preparation instructions and allergens on the packaging. A mention of sourdough powder doesn’t confirm that the rolls themselves have been fermented with sourdough.
Frequently asked questions
Is every Kaiser roll a sourdough roll?
No, the name Kaiser roll doesn’t confirm that sourdough has been used. Check the ingredients or product description if sourdough is a must for you; the definition of sourdough in the Warenwetbesluit Meel en brood (Dutch Commodities Act Decree on Flour and Bread) refers to fermentation, not the shape of the roll.
Does all bread contain iodised baker’s salt?
No, don’t assume that it does. According to the Voedingscentrum, the label tells you whether bread is made with baker’s salt; for an unpackaged roll, check with the baker.
Are sourdough rolls automatically gluten-free?
No. The Jumbo and PLUS sourdough rolls we looked at contain gluten-containing grains. If you follow a diet that requires you to avoid gluten, always check the allergen information for the specific product; don’t judge whether it’s suitable by the word sourdough in the name.
How should I plan the baking for a weekend breakfast?
Follow the instructions for the rolls you buy, including preheating the oven. PLUS says its white Kaiser rolls and the sourdough pumpkin roll we looked at take 6–8 minutes at 220 °C; Albert Heijn says its AH Kaiserbroodjes take 8–10 minutes at 220 °C.