Buffet planner catering for a crowd
You want to serve enough bread without having too much left over. A whole loaf may suit a larger group, while half a loaf could be more practical for a smaller buffet.
Who is this choice relevant for?
Host who wants to bake bread just before serving
You want freshly baked bread on the table and can make time and space in the oven or air fryer alongside the other buffet dishes.
Label-conscious bread buyer
You’re looking for bread explicitly labelled as wholemeal, or you want to check the ingredients and allergens for your guests before buying.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, work out how much bread you’ll need alongside the other dishes and whether you have time to bake it. Then check the label to assess the ingredients, and plan your purchase around your shop’s opening hours.
Sliced bread, whole or half a loaf
Choose this: if you want to serve the bread without any extra preparation and choose a size to suit your group.
Consider: a whole loaf may leave you with more leftovers if you’re serving lots of other dishes too.
Part-baked bread
Choose this: if you want to bake the bread just before the buffet.
Consider: defrosting or baking may take time and space in the oven or air fryer.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| How much bread | Compare the weight and choose a whole or half loaf based on the number of guests and the other dishes. | I want enough slices for lots of guests without too much left over. Around 31% of consumers put the amount of bread they’ll need first. |
| Preparation before serving | Check whether the bread is ready to serve or needs baking, and whether you have an appliance available to prepare it. | I want to bake the bread just before the buffet, but I may also need the oven for hot dishes. This timing is the biggest consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Look for the term ‘wholemeal’ and check the ingredients list for the type of salt and the allergen information. | I want to know whether the bread is wholemeal and which ingredients or allergens it contains for my guests. This information is a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Holiday planning | Check your local shop’s opening hours and decide how you’ll store the bread if you shop in advance. | I’d rather shop ahead, but I don’t want to serve dry bread or have unnecessary leftovers on Boxing Day. Planning and storage are the top priorities for around 19% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’
Bread made with several types of grain isn’t necessarily wholemeal. The Voedingscentrum points out that multigrain bread can also be made with refined flour.
Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name or legal description and check the ingredients. Don’t judge by the colour or visible seeds alone.
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Choosing part-baked bread without making time for it
Part-baked bread isn’t always ready to serve straight away. PLUS says its wholemeal multigrain baguettes take 8–10 minutes in an oven at 220 °C or 5–6 minutes in an air fryer at 200 °C; these instructions apply to that product.
Check the preparation instructions on your own pack and schedule the baking around the other hot dishes. Choose sliced bread if you don’t want to set aside time for preparation.
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Buying more bread than you can serve or store
A whole loaf may be left over if your buffet includes lots of other dishes.
If you’re hosting a smaller group, consider choosing half a loaf. If you shop in advance, divide the bread into portions to freeze and follow the product’s storage advice.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Stocks multigrain bread as part of its regular bread range.
- AH Vloerbrood meergranen heel lists both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour, as well as iodised salt.
- Albert Heijn says product information may change, so check the current label.
Jumbo
Offers, among other options, a wholemeal multigrain loaf with seeds.
- Jumbo Stevig Meergranenbrood is labelled as wholemeal and lists baker’s salt.
- The ingredients and allergens in this loaf don’t necessarily apply to other Jumbo breads.
PLUS
Offers both a whole dark multigrain loaf and multigrain baguettes to bake at home.
- PLUS Korenlanders Donker meergranen rond heel lists 50% wholemeal wheat flour.
- The part-baked baguettes need preparing, so check the instructions for the product you choose.
Dirk
Offers multigrain bread in half and whole sizes.
- Half a loaf may suit a smaller buffet or a table with lots of other dishes.
- Compare the weight and ingredients of each size before choosing.
ALDI
Offers, among other options, half a wholemeal multigrain loaf and pre-baked multigrain baguettes.
- These two types of bread give you a choice between half a loaf and baguettes to bake at home.
- Check the baking instructions for the baguettes and availability at your shop for both products.
Lidl
Offers a multigrain loaf made with ingredients including wheat, barley and buckwheat.
- The grains listed make it easier to compare this bread by its ingredients.
- Lidl says this product is available in store only; check the label and range at your local shop.
Multigrain bread and buffet sizes at Joybuy
This selection includes round multigrain loaves, baguettes and individual rolls for a buffet. The round loaves and Lekhaven baguettes need to be defrosted and baked; check the packaging for preparation instructions for the other products.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round multigrain bread, 2 × 550 g
Two loaves may suit a buffet for a larger group. Allow time for defrosting and baking, and check the preparation instructions and ingredients on the packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round multigrain bread, 550 g
One round loaf may suit you if you need less bread alongside the other buffet dishes. Allow time to defrost and bake it, and follow the instructions on the packaging.
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g'woon Popular multigrain baguettes, 2, 300 g
You can serve the baguettes in pieces as part of the buffet. Check the packaging to see whether they’re ready to serve or need to be prepared first.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 4 × 135 g × 2
These multigrain baguettes are a good fit for a buffet if you have time to defrost and bake them. Check how many baguettes are in the pack and follow the preparation instructions.
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g'woon multigrain rolls, 4
You can serve individual rolls on the buffet. Check the weight, preparation instructions and allergen information on the packaging before deciding how many you’ll need for your guests.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. The Voedingscentrum says multigrain bread can also be made with refined flour. Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name or legal description, and check the ingredients if they’re important to your choice.
Can I tell from the name whether multigrain bread contains iodised salt?
No, ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you what type of salt the bread contains. Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt; product information from Jumbo, PLUS and Albert Heijn shows that this varies between loaves.
How should I plan for bread if I’m shopping before Boxing Day?
Choose an amount to suit the number of guests and store the bread according to the instructions for your chosen product. If you buy it in advance, you can freeze it in portions and allow time to defrost it before the buffet.
Is my supermarket open on Boxing Day?
Check the opening hours of your local shop before planning your shopping. Albert Heijn says its adjusted holiday opening hours are published around a week in advance; check the relevant store information for other shops too.