Hosts keeping an eye on quantities
You’re serving toast with a range of toppings to several guests and want to have enough without being left with lots of leftovers.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone looking for one base for different toppings
You want to serve both sweet and savoury toppings on the same toast. Van der Meulen describes its plain Melba toast as having a neutral flavour and being suitable for topped nibbles.
Guests and hosts who check labels
You’re comparing plain and multigrain, or need to check the ingredients and allergens for a guest. In the latter case, the information on the pack of the specific product is what matters.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how much toast you’ll need for your nibbles. Then choose a variety to suit the toppings, and check the nutritional information and allergens on the label where needed.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to most |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size and leftovers | Compare the weight in grams with the number of guests, and think about whether you’ll use an opened pack later. | When I’m making nibbles for a group, I want enough toast without having lots left over. Around 36% of consumers put choosing the right quantity first. |
| A base for toppings | Check whether plain Melba toast will work with the toppings you want to serve. | For sweet and savoury nibbles, I don’t want to choose a different toast for every topping. Versatility matters most to around 29% of consumers. |
| Variety and nutritional information | Compare plain and multigrain by checking the ingredients and nutritional values per 100 g on the pack. | If I’m considering a multigrain variety, I want to know how its ingredients and nutritional values differ from plain toast. This is the first thing around 21% of consumers consider. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any may-contain information on the pack. | If a guest has a food allergy, I need to be able to check exactly what’s in this particular toast. Around 14% of consumers give checking the label top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Buying a large pack without a plan for leftovers
Toast left over after the evening may lose its quality once opened if the pack isn’t sealed properly.
Choose an amount you’re likely to use, and seal an opened pack well.
Toast that goes stale and soft may end up being thrown away.
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Assuming plain means allergen-free
A neutral flavour tells you nothing about the allergens in a particular toast. Albert Heijn also points out that product information can change.
If you have a food allergy, read the label on the pack you buy rather than relying on the variety name.
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Assuming all toast contains iodine
The word ‘toast’ doesn’t tell you whether baker’s salt has been used in that product.
If you want to know whether a particular toast contains added iodine, check the ingredients on the pack.
Brands to consider
Sun Snacks
ALDI Netherlands lists Sun Snacks Melba Toast Naturel in a 240 g pack.
- A 240 g pack to compare with the amount you’ll need for your guests.
- Check the product information on the pack if the ingredients or allergens are important to your choice.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists AH Melba toast naturel in a 240 g pack.
- The stated pack size makes it easy to compare quantities.
- Albert Heijn warns that information such as ingredients and allergens can change, so check the current label.
Van der Meulen
Van der Meulen describes both plain and multigrain Melba toast, each in a 120 g pack.
- According to the manufacturer, the plain variety has a neutral flavour that works well with toppings.
- Compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific variety; the name ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t tell you enough about its composition.
Melba toast for different quantities and nibbles
These Melba toast products let you choose between a 240 g pack and two 100 g varieties. Match the quantity and, for the round variety, the shape to the nibbles you want to make for St Nicholas’ Eve.
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Crispy Melba toast, 240 g
An option if you want to serve toast with a range of toppings to several guests. The pack contains 240 g.
The allergen information in the product description is contradictory. Check the current label before serving this toast to someone with a food allergy.
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Delverde Classic Melba Toast, 100 g
A smaller quantity if you’re only serving a few topped toasts. This variety is described as having a neutral flavour, and each pack contains 100 g.
If you have a food allergy, read the information on the pack you buy.
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Conimex Delverde Melba Toast Round, 100 g
The round shape works well for small topped nibbles, and the pack contains 100 g. The product description says it has a neutral flavour.
If you have a food allergy, check the current label. The product description says the toast is hard and crispy, and recommends supervising young children.
Frequently asked questions
How should I store an opened pack of toast?
Seal the pack well and store it somewhere dry. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened toast snacks in a kitchen cupboard for up to one month, in a cool, dark place.
Does all toast contain iodine from baker’s salt?
No, you can’t tell from the product category. Check the ingredients of the specific toast if you want to know whether baker’s salt has been used.
How do I choose toast for someone with a food allergy?
Read the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any may-contain information on the current packaging. The Voedingscentrum says that checking the label is important if you have a food allergy; a name such as ‘plain’ is no substitute for doing so.