If you’re looking for a whole loaf to slice and share at your barbecue, multigrain sourdough is a good choice when flavour and crust are your priorities. Individual rolls are more practical for burgers or a buffet; bake-at-home baguettes or demi-baguettes are a good option if you have oven space shortly before serving. Check the ingredients and nutritional information for each product: the name ‘multigrain’ alone tells you nothing about the proportion of wholemeal flour, fibre, allergens or whether iodised salt is used.
For a sharing board with dips, cheese or generous toppings, you can slice a whole multigrain sourdough loaf as you like. If flavour and crust are guiding your choice, the shape of the loaf matters just as much as its name: NielsenIQ cites flavour and a crisp crust as reasons for eating sourdough.
Individual rolls mean less slicing for burgers or a buffet. Jumbo lists four multigrain sourdough rolls per pack; with PLUS bake-at-home demi-baguettes, you’ll also need to allow time for baking just before the meal.
If you’re looking at wholemeal flour, fibre, salt or allergens, the ingredients list and nutritional information are more useful than the bread’s colour. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain; the amount of each varies from product to product.
First, decide whether you want a whole loaf to share or individual portions. Then consider whether you want to bake it shortly before serving, and compare the labels of the bread types that suit your plans.
| What to consider | Check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and crust | Check whether sourdough is listed in the ingredients and whether the bread is ready to serve or needs baking. | If I’m sharing bread with dips or generous toppings, I mainly want a flavour and crust that suit my serving plans. For around 33% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
| Portions and timing | Compare the number of pieces and the preparation instructions; if you’re buying bake-at-home bread, make sure you have oven space. | For burgers or a buffet, I want to give guests their own portion without much slicing. For around 25% of consumers, ease of serving comes first. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Check the types of flour, fibre and salt per 100 g, the allergen information and, if relevant, whether iodised salt is listed. | When I’m buying bread for guests with different dietary needs, I want to check what’s in it rather than rely on the name. Around 25% of consumers give checking the label top priority. |
| Quantity and storage | Compare the weight and number of portions with your serving plans, and read the storage instructions. | For a larger barbecue, I want enough bread without ending up with lots left over. For around 17% of consumers, the quantity needed is their first consideration. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that a loaf contains at least three types of grain, not that it contains a particular amount of wholemeal flour. So the name may give you a different impression from the ingredients list.
Compare the types of flour used and the fibre per 100 g if these matter to your choice.
The word sourdough doesn’t tell you whether a loaf is suitable for guests avoiding certain ingredients. The multigrain sourdough products described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo contain cereals containing gluten; Jumbo also lists sesame in its rolls.
Read the full ingredients and allergen information for the bread you choose, even if you’re mainly choosing it for its sourdough, flavour or crust.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be added to bread through bakers’ salt. This doesn’t mean that every loaf contains iodised salt.
If this matters to your choice, check the ingredients list for iodised salt or ask about the ingredients used in unpackaged bread.
Bread that needs baking requires attention at a time when you may also be preparing other dishes. PLUS says its multigrain sourdough demi-baguettes take 8–10 minutes in a preheated oven at 220 °C.
Check the instructions on your pack and make sure you have oven space before choosing bake-at-home bread for your barbecue.
These brands offer examples of different bread formats. Compare the ingredients and preparation instructions for the specific product you plan to serve.
Its range includes a whole organic multigrain sourdough loaf and a multigrain sourdough pistolet.
The product ranges described include both multigrain sourdough rolls and rustic sourdough loaves in a multigrain variety.
Its range includes Bio rustic multigrain sourdough bread.
Its range includes a multigrain baguette and individual multigrain petit pains to bake at home.
Its range includes a small brown multigrain sourdough loaf and bake-at-home multigrain sourdough demi-baguettes.
Its range includes a rustic multigrain baguette and a whole multigrain floor-baked loaf to share.
For individual portions, there are multigrain baguettes to bake at home and multigrain rolls. Round multigrain loaves are a good choice if you want to slice and share bread at the table. The baguettes are labelled as sourdough; don’t assume the other bread formats are sourdough.
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For individual portions of bread that you can bake at home for your barbecue. The product information mentions sourdough, defrosting and baking; check the baking time on the pack, as the instructions provided vary. According to the ingredients, the product contains wheat, barley and sesame; read the full allergen information for your guests.
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For four individual portions of bread to defrost and bake at home. The product information mentions sourdough; check the baking time on the pack, as the instructions provided vary. According to the ingredients, the product contains wheat, barley and sesame; read the full allergen information.
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For a barbecue where you want to serve four individual portions of bread without specifically looking for sourdough. Check the preparation instructions on the pack. The product information lists cereals containing gluten and sesame; if your guests have allergies, also read the full allergen and cross-contamination information.
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For bread to slice and serve on a sharing board at your barbecue. This variety contains two round loaves weighing 550 g each; the product information says to defrost, bake and leave to cool before slicing. According to the ingredients, the product contains wheat and sesame. Check the pack if you’re specifically looking for sourdough or need to check for allergens.
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For a sharing board where one round 550 g loaf is just right. The product information says to defrost and bake; leave the bread to cool before slicing, and check the baking time on the pack, as the instructions vary. According to the ingredients, the product contains wheat and sesame; check the full allergen information.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain, but the name doesn’t tell you what proportion of the flour is wholemeal. Check the ingredients list to find out; compare the fibre per 100 g if that’s important to your choice.
No. The multigrain sourdough products described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo contain cereals containing gluten; Jumbo also lists sesame in its rolls. Check the full ingredients and allergen information for the specific product rather than relying on the sourdough label.
No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be added to bread through bakers’ salt, up to a maximum of 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt; this isn’t a requirement for every loaf. Check the ingredients list for iodised salt or ask which ingredients are used in unpackaged bread.
Plan the baking around the instructions on the pack you choose, and make sure you have oven space shortly before serving. PLUS says its multigrain sourdough demi-baguettes take 8–10 minutes in a preheated oven at 220 °C; don’t assume that time and temperature apply to other bread.
