If you want to cut thick slices of multigrain bread yourself for generous toppings at Easter brunch, choose a whole loaf and confirm before buying that it hasn’t been sliced. Pre-sliced bread saves time, but you can’t choose the thickness; bake-at-home baguettes are a good option if you want warm, smaller portions and have the time and oven space. For every loaf, check the current ingredients and allergen information and, if it matters to your choice, whether it contains baker’s salt.
Want to pile avocado, egg, fish or a generous layer of spread onto thick slices you’ve cut yourself? Look for a whole multigrain loaf and ask for it unsliced. The word ‘whole’ on its own doesn’t guarantee that it hasn’t been sliced.
If evenly sized portions and minimal slicing are your priorities, pre-sliced farmhouse bread could be a good fit. However, you’ll have to use the existing slice thickness, even if you were hoping for thicker slices.
Check the ingredients of the specific loaf if any guests have allergies or you want to know whether baker’s salt has been used. Read the current packaging or ask for product information if the bread is sold loose.
First decide whether choosing the slice thickness yourself, serving quickly or checking product information matters most to you. Then compare how the breads you’re considering are sold and check their labels.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting thick slices yourself | Ask whether the whole loaf is sold unsliced; ‘whole’ in the name isn’t enough. | If I want generous toppings, I want to choose the slice thickness myself. Around 42% of consumers put control over slicing first. |
| Serving quickly and evenly | Check whether the bread is pre-sliced and whether those slices suit your serving plans; if you’re buying bake-at-home baguettes, factor in the oven time too. | When I’m serving lots of dishes at brunch, I want to be able to lay out portions without having to slice a loaf just before we eat. Around 33% of consumers prioritise serving quickly and evenly. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information; look for baker’s salt if it matters to your choice. | If guests have questions about ingredients or allergens, I want to be able to check what’s in the specific loaf. Around 25% of consumers prioritise checking product information. |
A whole loaf may still be pre-sliced: ALDI describes its Luxe multigrain farmhouse loaf as pre-sliced.
Check the packaging or product page for details of how it’s sliced, or ask at the bakery counter if you want to cut thick slices yourself.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. The type of bread alone won’t tell you which salt has been used.
Look for baker’s salt in the ingredients list or ask if the bread is sold loose.
Allergens vary from loaf to loaf. PLUS’s product information for one specific dark multigrain loaf lists cereals containing gluten and sesame, among other possible allergens.
If you’re serving guests with allergies, check the latest allergen information for the loaf you’ve chosen; ask the seller for it if the bread is sold loose.
Albert Heijn lists several multigrain breads online, including an OerDesem variety described as ‘whole, sliced’.
Jumbo has an online category for multigrain bread, including a product with ‘Stevig Meergranen’ in its name.
Lidl provides information about the ingredients and allergens in its oven-fresh bread.
ALDI describes both pre-sliced multigrain farmhouse bread and part-baked multigrain baguettes.
PLUS provides online ingredients, allergen and nutritional information for its Korenlanders Donker multigrain round loaf, sold whole.
Dirk lists, among other products, whole multigrain farmhouse bread and whole Bakker van der Akker Bakkers multigrain bread.
These options suit two different brunch plans: a round multigrain loaf that you slice yourself after baking, or multigrain baguettes for smaller, warm portions. For both, check the packaging for preparation and allergen information.
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An option if you want to choose the slice thickness yourself for Easter brunch: once the bread has defrosted and been baked, leave it to cool before slicing.
This round multigrain loaf weighs 550 g. Check that the slices will suit the toppings you plan to serve, and follow the packaging for baking times and allergen information.
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An option if you want to serve warm, smaller portions of bread and have time to defrost, bake and slice the baguettes.
The pack contains four 135 g baguettes. Their shape doesn’t give you the same room to cut your own wide slices as a round loaf; follow the packaging for baking times and allergen information.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients on the packaging or ask the seller which salt has been used if the bread is sold loose.
Check the latest allergen information for the bread you’re serving, not just the type of grain in its name. For its Korenlanders Donker multigrain round loaf, PLUS lists wheat, barley, oats and sesame, as well as mentioning other possible allergens. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be listed on the label of pre-packed foods; if the bread is sold loose, ask for product-specific information before buying.
You can, if the storage advice for the loaf you’ve chosen allows it. PLUS says its Korenlanders Donker multigrain round loaf can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and used within one month; follow the storage advice for other breads.
Compare the nutritional values per 100 g for the specific loaves, so thicker slices don’t skew the comparison. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre explains that nutritional information is given per 100 g or 100 ml; for bread, compare the values per 100 g.
