For a toppings table, start with sliced wholemeal bread if the type of bread and its nutritional information matter to you, but check that the slices suit the toppings you’re serving. Compare a brown loaf if you’re looking for a milder flavour, or sliced sourdough or spelt bread if you’d like the bread itself to have more flavour. The term ‘finely sliced’ doesn’t confirm a specific slice thickness, so check the individual loaf and read the current packaging if you have dietary requirements.
You want slices that guests can easily pick up and that suit the toppings you have planned. Compare the size and firmness of the individual loaf; ‘sliced’ or ‘fine wholemeal’ doesn’t, in itself, tell you how thick the slices are.
You want to choose your bread deliberately, alongside the toppings. Compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information. According to Albert Heijn, the colour of bread doesn’t tell you whether it’s wholemeal.
You want to be able to check the ingredients and allergens for your chosen loaf before serving it. If baker’s salt matters to your choice, check each loaf individually: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, its use isn’t compulsory.
First, choose a type and quantity of bread to suit your toppings table. Then check the actual slices and read the nutritional information for the loaf you’re buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who this matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Slices for toppings | Check that the bread is sliced and, if possible, look at the slice thickness and firmness to see if they suit your chosen toppings. | For a toppings table with spreads and other toppings, I want slices that guests can easily pick up. For around 30% of consumers, practicality of the slices would come first. |
| Type of bread and fibre | Check the product name and ingredients to identify the type of bread; compare fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information. | If the bread is more than just a base for toppings, I want to know what flour has been used and what its nutritional value is. For around 30% of consumers, this choice of bread would be the main consideration. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information. Check separately whether baker’s salt is listed if that matters to your choice. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know exactly what’s in this particular loaf. For around 20% of consumers, ingredient information would be the top priority. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare a half loaf with a whole loaf, and consider how you’ll store any leftover slices. | For one evening, I don’t want to use more bread than necessary, and I want to be able to store any leftover slices. For around 20% of consumers, the quantity needed would be the most important factor. |
A dark colour doesn’t prove that bread is made with wholemeal flour. If you rely on colour alone, you could end up buying a different type of bread than you intended.
Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name and check the ingredients.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when baking bread isn’t compulsory. So the type of bread alone won’t tell you whether it has been used.
Check the ingredients or ask the baker if this is relevant to your choice.
Ingredients and allergen information can change from one product to another. That makes the information on the bread you actually serve important.
Use the product page to compare options, and check the current packaging before serving too.
If you have slices left after one evening, the bread could go unused.
Consider buying a half loaf. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread in portions soon after purchase if you won’t use it straight away.
Albert Heijn offers sliced spelt wholemeal bread and sliced sourdough varieties, among other options. They’re worth considering if you want to compare different types of bread for your toppings table.
Jumbo offers Fine Wholemeal, Round Fine Wholemeal and sourdough bread, among other options. This lets you compare everyday bread with other styles.
Lidl offers pre-packaged and freshly baked bread, including Knip Wholemeal. That gives you a specific sliced option to look at.
ALDI’s fresh daily range includes fine wholemeal bread and wholemeal multigrain bread, among other options.
PLUS offers half and whole wholemeal loaves, including a half loaf of Round Fine Wholemeal. This may help if you haven’t decided how much you need yet.
Dirk offers types of bread such as wholemeal, white, multigrain and sourdough, as well as half and whole loaves.
This option is rye bread for anyone who’d like to consider a different type of bread alongside the usual choices for their toppings table. Before buying, check that the portions have the cut and preparation method you’re looking for.
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A rye bread option if you’d like to serve a range of bread types. Check whether the portions are medium-sliced, suit your toppings and need to be baked before serving. Read the packaging if allergens are relevant to your choice.
No, the colour doesn’t tell you whether wholemeal flour has been used. Check the product name and ingredients if you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging. According to Your Europe’s EU food labelling information, these details must be provided on pre-packaged food; you can use an online product page to compare options in advance.
No, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when baking isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients of your chosen loaf or ask the baker if the use of baker’s salt is relevant to your choice.
Freeze any slices you won’t need straight away in portions soon after purchase, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. You could also choose a half loaf in advance if that better suits the amount of toppings and the number of guests.
