Choose plain melba toast if you want to serve a variety of toppings without the toast influencing their flavour. If fibre content matters more to you, compare wholemeal and multigrain options per 100 g. Sesame toast adds its own distinctive flavour, but check the ingredients and allergens on the exact pack.
You’re looking for a neutral, crunchy base for the dishes on your table. Individual packets can be handy if you don’t want to open all the toast at once; Albert Heijn lists this packaging for its plain melba toast.
You want to know how much fibre a particular type of toast contains, and are happy for a wholemeal or multigrain option to have a different grain profile from plain melba toast.
You want to check the ingredients and allergens on each pack before dinner, so you can choose a suitable alternative for guests with an allergy.
First decide whether the toast should mainly support the toppings or add flavour of its own. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the options that suit your dinner.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| A neutral base | Check the flavour and the number of toast slices or individual packets. Albert Heijn lists its plain melba toast as 12 packets of 6 slices. | If I’m serving a variety of toppings, I don’t want the toast to overpower their flavours. Versatility is the top priority for roughly 40% of consumers. |
| Fibre and grains | Compare fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information and check which grains are used; the name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you how much fibre it contains. | When serving a meal with melba toast, I want to be able to compare fibre values, even if the grain flavour is more pronounced. Around 30% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Ingredients and labelling | Read the allergen information and, if necessary, compare salt per 100 g. Check separately whether baker’s salt is listed in the ingredients. | If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know which toast I can serve first. The salt content or mention of baker’s salt may also be a factor. An estimated 30% of consumers put checking the label first. |
A luxurious look, organic certification or the word multigrain won’t tell you how much fibre or salt the specific toast contains. Albert Heijn lists 9.4 g of fibre per 100 g for Van der Meulen Luxe Volkoren & Spelt; Jumbo lists 7.5 g per 100 g for Van der Meulen Melba Meergranen Toast.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g on the packs you’re considering, rather than going by the name.
The melba toasts reviewed contain ingredients including wheat, barley, soya or sesame, depending on the variety. A different flavour or grain mix may therefore mean different allergen information, too.
If you’re catering for guests with an allergy, check the current ingredients and allergen information on every pack you choose, and provide a suitable alternative.
According to the Voedingscentrum, bread does not have to be baked with baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether baker’s salt has been used just from the toast category or the word ‘organic’.
Check the ingredients list or ask the manufacturer if you need this information to make your choice.
Jumbo listed its tomato and basil toast as no longer available, while Lidl presents melba toast as an in-store product. A product description doesn’t necessarily tell you where you can buy the toast for your dinner.
Check availability with the relevant retailer shortly before you shop, and decide which other flavour would also go well with your toppings.
Melba toast in varieties including plain, wholemeal/spelt and multigrain.
Own-label options for anyone looking for a plain base or, alternatively, sesame toast.
A supermarket own-label range and retailer offering melba toast in a variety of flavours.
ALDI Netherlands lists Sun Snacks Melba Toast Naturel in a 240 g pack.
An in-store option for melba toast; Lidl lists a 240 g pack.
These two melba toasts are intended as a neutral base when you want to serve a variety of toppings at a family dinner. When planning your table and checking allergens, refer to the information on the pack you choose.
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Worth considering if you want the toppings to take centre stage at a family dinner and are looking for a neutral melba toast.
100 g pack. Before buying, check the allergens, nutritional information and number of toast slices on the current pack.
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A round melba toast to consider when you want to serve small bites with a range of toppings.
100 g pack. Check the current pack to see how many toast slices it contains, and check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, bread does not have to be baked with baker’s salt. Read the ingredients list or ask the manufacturer if you want to know whether it has been used in a specific toast.
Yes, if any guests need to avoid certain allergens. Depending on the variety, the melba toasts reviewed contain ingredients including wheat, barley, soya and sesame. Check the current ingredients and allergen information on each pack.
Store opened melba toast according to the instructions on the pack, and add the toppings just before serving. For its plain variety, Albert Heijn recommends storing it in a sealed tin once opened; for a multigrain variety by Van der Meulen that it reviewed, Jumbo advises keeping it in a cool, dry place.
No, the word ‘organic’ doesn’t tell you that. According to the Voedingscentrum, baker’s salt isn’t required when baking bread. For a specific melba toast, check the ingredients list or ask the manufacturer for information.
