Which type of toast is right for you?

If you’re making small bites

If you’re serving small filled bites at Easter lunch, crisp Melba toast or party toast is a better fit than a large, soft slice of bread.

If you’re making sandwiches or toasties

For larger filled sandwiches or hot toasties, soft sliced white or toastie bread is the right kind of product. Compare the size and nutritional information too.

If you read labels carefully

If you need to consider allergens, fibre or baker’s salt, make your choice based on the current packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing nutritional values per 100 g.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether your Easter lunch will feature small bites or larger, soft sandwiches and toasties. Then check the features that matter for your table.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Shape for small bites Check whether it’s crisp Melba toast or party toast, and whether the size works with your toppings. If I want to serve small filled bites straight away, I look for a different base than I would for sandwiches. Around 36% of consumers prefer this way of serving.
For soft or hot serving Check whether the product is sold as soft sliced white or toastie bread, and check its size and usage information. For larger filled sandwiches or hot toasties, I want soft sliced bread. Around 29% of consumers prioritise this use for bread.
Fibre and baker’s salt Compare fibre per 100 g and, if iodine from bread is relevant to your choice, check whether the ingredients list mentions iodised baker’s salt. When the ingredients determine my choice, I want to be able to compare the nutritional values and ingredients; this matters most to around 21% of consumers.
Allergens Read the current allergen and ingredients information on the exact product you’re buying. If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, a suitable label matters more than how the food is served. Around 14% of consumers give this check top priority.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing Melba toast with soft toastie bread

    Melba toast and party toast are crisp bases for small bites; soft white and toastie bread are soft bread options. Mixing them up could change the kind of lunch you had planned.

    Before you buy, decide whether you want to serve small bites, filled sandwiches or hot toasties, then look for the corresponding type of product.

  • Assuming all bread contains iodised baker’s salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread made with iodised baker’s salt is a source of iodine, but bakers don’t have to use this salt. So the word ‘toast’ or ‘bread’ doesn’t tell you which ingredients have been used.

    If baker’s salt matters to your choice, read the ingredients list or ask which salt has been used when buying unpackaged bread.

  • Relying only on the front of the packaging

    A product name or picture doesn’t tell you enough about fibre and allergens. For example, Jumbo lists gluten and wheat in its Tosti Brood Wit.

    Compare nutritional values per 100 g and, if you’re buying for guests with food allergies, read the current allergen information on the packaging.

  • Leaving your shop until Easter Sunday

    According to the Dutch Government, Sunday opening varies by local authority. A product page also won’t tell you whether your local shop has the product in stock at that time.

    Check the opening hours of the shop you plan to visit and buy what you need in good time.

Brands and shops to consider

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn’s party toast range includes AH Natural Melba Toast and Melba toast varieties from Van der Meulen.

  • You can compare different types of crisp toast side by side.
  • Albert Heijn says product information may change, so check the ingredients, nutritional values and allergens on the packaging.

Jumbo

Jumbo’s Casino Wit Brood Half and Tosti Brood Wit Half are examples of soft white wheat bread.

  • The product information lists 2.3 g of fibre per 100 g for both examples; gluten and wheat are listed as allergens for the toastie bread.
  • Check the current packaging to make sure the size and ingredients are right for your lunch.

Sun Snacks

ALDI lists Sun Snacks Natural Melba Toast as crisp toast in a 240 g pack.

  • Melba toast is a familiar choice for small filled bites.
  • Check the packaging of the product you buy for ingredients and allergens.

Lidl

Lidl lists 240 g Melba toast as a shop product; no product brand is given on the product page.

  • An option to look for in store if you want crisp Melba toast.
  • Check the packaging and availability at your local shop.

Melba toast for small bites on Joybuy

These two products are Melba toast for small filled bites at Easter lunch. If you’re looking for soft sliced bread for sandwiches or toasties, choose that type of bread rather than these crisp toasts.

Conimex Delverde Melba Toast Round, 100 g

Conimex Delverde Melba Toast Round, 100 g

For small filled bites where you want to use round Melba toast. The pack contains 100 g.

Check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens; ‘Round’ doesn’t confirm the slice thickness of soft bread.

View on Joybuy
Delverde Classic Melba Toast, 100 g

Delverde Classic Melba Toast, 100 g

For small bites with Melba toast as a crisp base. The pack contains 100 g.

If you’re buying for guests, check the current ingredients and allergen information; Melba toast isn’t soft sliced toastie bread.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is Melba toast the same as medium-sliced toast bread?

No. Melba toast is a crisp product for small bites; the soft white wheat breads described by Jumbo are soft bread options. If you need a particular slice thickness, check that it’s specified for the bread you choose.

How do I compare the nutritional value of toast and bread?

Compare the values per 100 g and read the ingredients list too. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g; also consider the difference in product type and portion size when deciding what to serve at lunch.

Does toast or bread always contain iodised baker’s salt?

No, don’t assume that it does. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients if the type of salt used matters to your choice.

What should I look for if a guest needs to avoid wheat or gluten?

Check the current allergen information and, if gluten-free is essential, look for a product explicitly labelled as gluten-free. Don’t assume Melba toast is suitable just because it isn’t soft bread: for example, Jumbo lists gluten and wheat in its Tosti Brood Wit, while other products need to be checked individually.

Can I still buy the toast on Easter Sunday?

That depends on the shop you plan to visit. According to the Dutch Government, Sunday opening varies by local authority, so check your shop’s opening hours and buy what you need earlier if necessary.