If you want to cut your own thick slices for Christmas nibbles, choose a loaf that you’ve confirmed is unsliced before buying; the word ‘whole’ doesn’t prove that it is. Pre-sliced bread saves you the effort of cutting it, but gives you less control over slice thickness. You’ll also need to assess whether the specific loaf is sturdy enough for generous toppings. Check whether it’s wholemeal, review the allergen information and, if it matters to your choice, look for baker’s salt in the ingredients.
If you want to choose how thick the slices are for spreads, cheese or fish, a loaf you can slice yourself is worth considering. You’ll need to set aside time to cut it, and check that the slices from your chosen loaf will suit your toppings.
Looking for multigrain bread for a drinks spread or brunch, and is wholemeal important to you? According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘wholemeal’, so check the label on the bread.
If you want to know which allergens the bread contains before serving it, check the label on packaged bread. For unpackaged bread, ask for the allergen information before buying.
When to choose it: go for this option if you want to decide how thick the slices are and have confirmed that the bread isn’t pre-sliced.
The trade-off: you’ll need to slice the bread yourself. Choosing the thickness doesn’t guarantee that a slice will be sturdy enough for your toppings.
When to choose it: choose this if getting your toppings ready quickly matters more than deciding the slice thickness yourself. ALDI describes its luxury multigrain farmhouse loaf as pre-sliced.
The trade-off: you’re limited to the existing slices, so check the loaf if thick slices are essential for you.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness | Check whether the bread is pre-sliced and, if you’re unsure, ask how it has been sliced. If the slices need to hold generous toppings, assess them for yourself. | I want to be able to cut thick slices for my Christmas nibbles, rather than being limited to a standard slice. For around 36% of consumers, having this control comes first. |
| Wholemeal status | Look for the word ‘wholemeal’; ‘multigrain’ on its own doesn’t confirm that the bread is wholemeal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre distinguishes between the two terms. | For my drinks spread, I want to know whether the multigrain bread is also wholemeal, rather than assuming it from the name. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Allergens | For packaged bread, read the current label. For unpackaged bread, ask for the allergen information before buying. | When serving bread to guests, I want to check in advance which allergens it contains. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this check. |
| Ease of serving and buying | Check whether the bread is already sliced, how much is in the pack and whether the shape you want is available at your shop. | I want to prepare the nibbles quickly and buy a type of bread that suits my group. This matters most to around 14% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread is made using at least three types of grain. That alone doesn’t mean the bread is wholemeal.
If wholemeal matters to you, check whether the bread is labelled ‘wholemeal’.
You can’t make the existing slices thicker yourself if the bread is pre-sliced. The word ‘whole’ doesn’t tell you whether a loaf is unsliced either.
Check the slices or ask in store how the bread has been sliced before counting on thick slices.
The name ‘multigrain bread’ doesn’t tell you which allergens a particular product contains. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the allergen information on the label of prepacked products.
Read the current label or, for unpackaged bread, ask for the allergen information before buying.
A listing doesn’t tell you what will be in your local shop when you do your Christmas food shopping. Lidl says its fresh bread range can vary by store.
Check that the type of bread you want is available shortly before you buy it, and have an alternative in mind.
Albert Heijn’s online range includes sliced multigrain bread, among other products.
Jumbo’s multigrain category includes Stevig Meergranen and wholemeal multigrain bread.
Lidl includes multigrain bread in its fresh bread range.
ALDI lists luxury multigrain farmhouse bread and country-style wholemeal multigrain bread, among other products.
PLUS lists multigrain bread and a multigrain baguette, with product information about the ingredients.
Dirk’s search results include whole and half multigrain loaves, as well as bake-at-home multigrain bread.
These Joybuy products suit a plan to slice your own portions for Christmas nibbles after preparing the bread. The product name or slicing instructions don’t confirm how sturdy a thick slice will be with generous toppings. If wholemeal status, allergens or baker’s salt matter to your choice, check the packaging too.
Image unavailable
For Christmas nibbles you want to slice into portions yourself, allow time to defrost, bake and cool the bread before cutting it.
The product name lists two loaves of 550 g. Check the loaf itself if the slices need to hold generous toppings, and check the current packaging for ingredients and allergens.
Image unavailable
If you want to slice one round loaf for Christmas nibbles, allow time to defrost, bake and cool it before cutting.
The product name lists 550 g. Check the slice thickness on the loaf itself and read the current packaging if wholemeal status or allergens matter to your choice.
Image unavailable
If you want to slice smaller portions for Christmas nibbles after baking, check the product shape and instructions on the packaging before planning how to prepare it.
The product name lists 4 × 135 g × 2. Check that the slices suit your intended toppings, and review the current ingredient and allergen information.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread is made from at least three types of grain, but the name doesn’t mean that the bread is wholemeal. Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ if that matters to your choice.
No, don’t assume it does: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For packaged bread, check the ingredients list; for unpackaged bread, ask which salt has been used.
Ask for the allergen information for the specific bread before buying it. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information must be available to consumers; for prepacked bread, it appears on the label.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the bread you buy. If you bring the bread home before you plan to serve it, check any guidance for after opening too.
