Everyday price comparers
You regularly buy bread for breakfast or lunch and want to compare a half loaf, a whole loaf or bake-at-home bread on more than just the packaging. How much you’ll actually eat is an important part of your choice.
Who is this guide for?
Budget shoppers looking for wholegrain
You’re looking for multigrain bread for everyday use, but also want to know whether it’s genuinely wholegrain. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ on its own doesn’t mean that a loaf is made with wholemeal flour.
Shoppers with dietary or storage needs
You need to check for specific allergens, want to know whether bakers’ salt has been used, or are buying bread for later. In these cases, the product information and a plan for storing it matter just as much as the size you choose.
What should you look for?
First, work out how much bread you use and whether wholegrain is a must-have for you. Then compare loaves in a suitable format and quantity for the same use. Check the allergens and storage instructions for each product.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and loaf format | Compare the weight and choose between a half loaf, a whole loaf and individual rolls. | If I don’t eat much bread at a time, I don’t want to buy a whole loaf that I won’t finish. For around 38% of consumers, keeping the upfront cost of everyday bread low is a priority. |
| Wholegrain status | Look for ‘wholegrain’ in the product description and check which types of flour are listed in the ingredients. | I want multigrain bread that’s also labelled wholegrain, not just a loaf made with different grains. Around 31% of consumers make choosing wholegrain their priority. |
| Allergens and bakers’ salt | Read the allergen and ingredient information for the specific loaf. If it’s sold unpackaged, ask the retailer. | If I need to avoid an allergen or want to know which salt has been used, I can’t rely on the name of the bread. For around 16% of consumers, this information is their top priority. |
| How much you use and storage | Choose a size that suits how much bread you use and check whether you can freeze it in portions straight away. | I’d rather buy an amount I can store than throw bread away before I’ve finished it. Around 15% of consumers base their choice mainly on stock levels and food waste. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multigrain’ means wholegrain
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain refers to bread made with at least three types of grain. It doesn’t tell you whether the flour is wholemeal.
If you want wholegrain bread, look for an explicit wholegrain label and check the ingredients of the loaf you’re buying.
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Treating a half loaf and bake-at-home bread as the same quantity
A half loaf, a whole loaf and a pack of bake-at-home bread can differ in both shape and contents. Simply comparing the number of packs won’t help you choose a useful amount.
Compare the weight and format, and think about how many portions you’ll need before storing or baking the bread.
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Judging allergens by the name or visible seeds
The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you which gluten-containing grains or other allergens a particular loaf contains. Visible seeds don’t give you the full picture of the ingredients either.
Check the product’s allergen information. If the bread is sold unpackaged, ask for details before you buy. If you need to avoid gluten, only rely on an explicit gluten-free label, not the word ‘multigrain’.
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Buying a whole loaf without a storage plan
A large loaf may not be the best choice if you only use a few slices a day and can’t store the rest in time. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions on the day you buy it.
Choose a size you can finish, or freeze the bread straight away in portions you can use later.
Brands to consider
These brands have a range of multigrain products. Check the product description, size and information available at your local shop for each loaf.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers multigrain bread in a range of formats.
- The range includes AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen and AH Vloerbrood meergranen heel.
- Check whether each product is available at your local shop and what ingredients it contains.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells multigrain bread, including products specifically described as wholegrain multigrain bread.
- Jumbo describes Stevig Meergranen as a whole wholegrain multigrain loaf with kernels and seeds.
- Check availability for the specific loaf, as it can vary by product.
Lidl
Lidl offers, among other things, a rustic multigrain sourdough loaf with kernels and seeds.
- The product description makes clear that this is a white multigrain sourdough loaf.
- This product is listed as an in-store item; check the ingredients and allergens in store too.
ALDI
ALDI lists both standard multigrain bread and wholegrain multigrain bread in its fresh daily range.
- Boeren volkoren meergranen is listed in both half-loaf and whole-loaf sizes.
- Compare the size and ingredients of each loaf. ‘Multigrain’ and ‘wholegrain multigrain’ don’t mean the same thing.
PLUS
PLUS sells, among other things, Korenlanders multigrain bread and wholegrain multigrain products to bake at home.
- According to PLUS’s ingredient information, Korenlanders Donker meergranen rond contains around 50% wholemeal wheat flour.
- Bake-at-home products need to be prepared. Check the instructions and allergen information for the loaf you choose.
Dirk
Dirk offers multigrain bread in different sizes, alongside wholegrain multigrain and bake-at-home options.
- Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen is also listed as a half loaf.
- Check the weight, wholegrain labelling and nutritional information for each loaf.
Multigrain products at Joybuy
These products include multigrain loaves, baguettes and rolls in a range of portion sizes. The Lekhaven products are described as frozen bread that you bake after defrosting. Check the wholegrain labelling, quantity and allergens for each product individually.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round multigrain country loaf, 2 × 550 g
For anyone who wants to store two round loaves and bake them later. The product description says to defrost before baking. Check the wholegrain labelling and ingredients if these matter to your choice.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij rustic multigrain baguettes, 4 × 135 g
For anyone who wants four individual baguettes to enjoy on different occasions. The stated quantity is 4 × 135 g. According to the product description, the baguettes should be baked after defrosting.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round multigrain country loaf, 550 g
For anyone who wants to store one round loaf for a later occasion. The title gives the weight as 550 g; the product description says to defrost and bake before use. Check the ingredients if you’re specifically looking for wholegrain bread.
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g'woon multigrain rolls, 4 pack
For anyone who prefers four individual rolls to a whole loaf. Check the packaging for ingredients and allergens; the product information lists gluten-containing grains and sesame, among other things.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij rustic multigrain baguettes, 4 × 135 g × 2
For anyone who wants to stock up on multigrain baguettes. The title states 4 × 135 g × 2, while the description mentions four baguettes; check the total quantity on the packaging. The description says to defrost and bake the baguettes.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholegrain?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ refers to the number of types of grain, not whether the flour used is wholemeal. If you want wholegrain bread, check the product description and ingredients.
Does multigrain bread always contain bakers’ salt?
No, don’t assume that it does. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t always use bakers’ salt. Check the label or ask which salt has been used if the bread is sold unpackaged.
How can I check allergens in unpackaged multigrain bread?
Ask for the allergen information for that specific loaf before you buy. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says sellers must be able to provide information about the relevant allergens in unpackaged foods. Don’t try to work out the ingredients from the name or appearance.
How can I avoid having to throw away a whole loaf?
Freeze the bread in portions on the day you buy it, then take out only what you need. This is the storage advice from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Alternatively, choose a smaller loaf that suits how much bread you use.
Can you cook a multigrain bake-at-home product in an air fryer?
Only if the cooking instructions for that product say you can. PLUS recommends 5–6 minutes at 200 °C in a preheated air fryer for its wholegrain multigrain baguettes. Follow the product’s own instructions for anything else.