Smaller households
If you’re serving just a few slices with your snacks, a half loaf may be a better fit for the evening than a whole loaf. Before buying, think about whether you’ll use any leftover bread later.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Hosts catering for a group
When more people are sharing the table, choosing between slices and baguettes to share is mainly a matter of how you want to serve the bread. Bake-at-home bread also takes time and requires a suitable appliance.
Shoppers who check labels
If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread or need to avoid certain allergens, don’t rely on the word ‘multigrain’. Check the wholemeal claim and the ingredients and allergen information for the exact bread.
What should you look for?
First, work out how much bread you’ll need and whether you want to serve it straight away or bake it first. Then check the wholemeal claim and plan what to do with any leftovers.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Loaf size | Compare the number of slices or items with the number of people eating, and check the weight. | If I only need a few slices, I want to choose a size that suits. For around 33% of consumers, having the right amount straight away comes first. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for an explicit wholemeal claim and compare fibre on the same basis, such as per 100 g. | The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell me whether I’m buying wholemeal bread; I want to be able to check that on the label. Wholemeal status matters most to around 27% of consumers. |
| Serving and preparation | Check whether the bread is ready to serve or needs to be baked, and follow the instructions on the packaging. | I want to serve warm bread, but I’ll need enough time and an oven or air fryer. Ease of serving and preparation is the deciding factor for around 20% of consumers. |
| Using leftovers | Decide whether you’ll use any leftover bread later or can freeze it in good time. | If we don’t eat it all, I want to be able to keep the rest rather than throw it away. For around 20% of consumers, making use of leftovers is the main concern. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’
According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain refers to different types of grain; on its own, it doesn’t mean the bread is wholemeal.
Look for an explicit wholemeal claim and read the ingredients list if this is important to your choice.
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Treating a half loaf and a whole loaf as the same amount
The same type of product may be available in different sizes. If you don’t check the weight or number of slices, you won’t know how much bread you’re actually buying.
Choose a size to suit the number of people eating and what you plan to do with any leftover slices.
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Guessing allergens from the bread’s name
Ingredients vary by product. Jumbo lists cereals containing gluten, sesame and soya among the ingredients in its Stevig Meergranen; the name ‘multigrain’ tells you nothing about the ingredients in another loaf.
Check the latest allergen information for the exact product. If you need gluten-free bread, look for a product explicitly labelled gluten-free.
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Not having a plan for leftover bread
Bread that gets thrown away uneaten doesn’t provide any useful portions. The Voedingscentrum lists bread as one of the food groups that is often wasted at home.
Buy a suitable size or freeze any bread you won’t use in time.
Brands and shops to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn’s range includes multigrain bread in several varieties, including whole and half loaves.
- You can compare different loaf sizes within the range.
- Check the weight of the variety you choose and whether it’s available at your shop.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers, among other things, half and whole multigrain loaves, as well as products explicitly labelled wholemeal.
- The wholemeal claim is useful if that’s the type of bread you’re looking for.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each product; Jumbo Stevig Meergranen lists sesame and soya among its ingredients.
Lidl
Lidl is an option for different types and sizes of bread, including fresh and bake-at-home varieties.
- You can take your preferred way of serving the bread into account when choosing.
- The fresh range may vary by shop, so check the variety and label at your chosen store.
ALDI
ALDI offers, among other things, luxury multigrain hearth bread and farmhouse wholemeal multigrain bread.
- There are different types and sizes of bread to suit your meal.
- ‘Multigrain’ and ‘wholemeal multigrain’ don’t mean the same thing, so read the label of the variety you choose.
PLUS
PLUS offers multigrain bread and wholemeal multigrain baguettes that you can bake at home.
- Bake-at-home baguettes make a warm, shareable addition to a snack table.
- Allow time for preparation and follow the instructions on the specific packaging.
Dirk
Dirk offers, among other things, Bakker van der Akker multigrain bread in a half-loaf size.
- A half loaf may suit an evening with just a few people.
- Think about how many slices you need before choosing a size.
Multigrain bread and baguettes at Joybuy
This selection includes round multigrain loaves and multigrain baguettes in a range of pack sizes. Choose based on the number of people eating, and check the packaging instructions for bread you want to bake at home.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 2 × 550 g
Two round loaves are a good fit for a group or if you plan to use some later.
Allow time for defrosting and baking. Check the baking time on the packaging, and look for the wholemeal claim and allergen information if they’re important to your choice.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 4 × 135 g
Four baguettes make individual, shareable loaves for a snack table.
Allow time for defrosting and baking, and follow the packaging for the baking time. Check the label if you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread or need to avoid certain allergens.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 550 g
A 550 g round loaf is a good option when one loaf is enough for everyone at the table.
The bread needs to be defrosted and baked. Check the packaging for the baking time, and read the label if wholemeal status or allergens matter to you.
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g'woon Popular Multigrain Baguettes, 2 pieces, 300 g
Two multigrain baguettes weighing 300 g in total make a handy size to share with snacks.
Check the packaging to see whether they’re ready to serve or need to be prepared first. Also read the ingredients and allergen information if it’s relevant to your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread always wholemeal?
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain, but it can also be made mostly from refined flour. If you want wholemeal bread, look for an explicit wholemeal claim.
What size loaf is right for a small snack night?
A half loaf works well if you only need a few slices. A whole loaf can also be handy if you’ll use or freeze the rest for later, so think about how much everyone is likely to eat before you buy.
Can you cook wholemeal multigrain baguettes in an air fryer?
For its own wholemeal multigrain baguettes, PLUS gives air fryer instructions of 5–6 minutes at 200 °C. These instructions don’t necessarily apply to other baguettes, so always follow the packaging for the product you’ve bought.
Can I simply choose multigrain bread if I need a gluten-free option?
No. ‘Multigrain’ doesn’t mean ‘gluten-free’. The Stevig Meergranen described by Jumbo contains cereals with gluten. For a gluten-free option, check that the product is explicitly labelled as such and read the latest allergen information for the exact product.