Choose a rustic multigrain sourdough loaf or a hearth-baked loaf if you want the bread to take centre stage at your Easter lunch. If the ingredients matter most, look for a loaf explicitly labelled wholemeal. Part-baked bread is a good choice if you have oven space and time to prepare it just before serving. Whichever you choose, check the ingredients and allergen information: multigrain does not automatically mean wholemeal or gluten-free.
A round loaf, hearth-baked loaf or baguette can take pride of place on the table. Decide whether you want to slice it yourself or serve smaller portions, and plan when to bake part-baked bread so it’s ready to serve.
The word multigrain alone doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour a loaf contains. Compare the product description, ingredients and nutritional information, checking fibre on the same basis, for example per 100 g.
If a guest has a relevant allergy or needs to eat gluten-free, the information on the current packaging matters more than how the bread looks. Also consider how you’ll slice and serve different breads separately.
First decide what matters most for your Easter lunch: presentation and serving time, ingredients, guests’ needs or how much bread you’ll need.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation and serving time | Choose a loaf shape and slicing style to suit your table. If you’re buying part-baked bread, check the oven space and preparation time it requires. | If the bread will take pride of place on my Easter table, I want to be able to serve it at the right time. For around 37% of consumers, presentation and serving needs come first. |
| Wholemeal and nutritional information | Look for an explicit wholemeal description and read the ingredients. Compare fibre on the same basis, such as per 100 g. | If I mainly want to assess the ingredients, a dark crust or a coating of seeds isn’t enough to base my choice on. Around 27% of consumers give this need the highest priority. |
| Allergens and gluten | Read the current allergen information. If someone needs to eat gluten-free, check that the product is explicitly labelled gluten-free and avoid contact with regular bread. | If someone at the table could be at risk from certain ingredients, I first need to know which bread I can serve separately. This is the main concern for around 18% of consumers. |
| Quantity and leftovers | Choose whole loaves, half loaves or individual rolls to suit your group. Check the storage instructions if you want to freeze the bread. | For a smaller group, I don’t want to open more bread than we need, and I want to know what I can do with the rest. For around another 18% of consumers, quantity is the most important consideration. |
According to the Dutch Nutrition Centre, multigrain refers to bread made with at least three types of grain. The name doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains.
If wholemeal ingredients matter to you, check the product description and ingredients. Only compare fibre when the nutritional information is given on the same basis.
Multigrain bread made with grains containing gluten isn’t suitable for someone who needs to eat gluten-free. The colour, seeds and name of the bread won’t tell you otherwise.
For a guest who needs to eat gluten-free, choose a product clearly labelled gluten-free and keep it separate from regular bread when slicing and serving.
Defrosting or baking the bread may clash with preparing other lunch dishes. The Afbakker states that its multigrain baguettes at ALDI take 8–10 minutes to bake.
Read the instructions for the product you choose and set aside oven space for when you want to serve the bread.
The bread range can vary from shop to shop; Lidl says the same about its freshly baked bread.
Before doing your Easter shopping, check the range and opening times at the branch you plan to visit.
AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen is a rustic loaf made with wheat sourdough and seeds, for anyone who wants the bread itself to be part of the table setting.
Jumbo’s multigrain category gives you options to compare different loaf shapes and product descriptions.
PLUS Korenlanders Donker meergranen rond heel provides specific information for anyone looking for a round loaf with a stated wholemeal ingredient.
The freshly baked range is worth considering if you want to choose your bread in store from the shapes available.
At ALDI, you can look for hearth-baked loaves and multigrain baguettes if you’re choosing between a whole loaf and part-baked bread.
Dirk lists a range of multigrain breads and shapes, including a half loaf for anyone who doesn’t want to cut into a whole one.
These products include round loaves, baguettes and individual rolls for your Easter lunch. Choose a round loaf to slice at the table, baguettes if you can plan ahead, or rolls for individual portions. If any guests have allergies, always check the current packaging.
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A round loaf for anyone who wants to slice the bread at the table. Allow time to defrost, bake and cool before serving. If guests have allergies, check the current packaging.
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Baguettes are a good fit for a bread basket that guests can help themselves to. Allow time to defrost and bake them. Check the pack size before buying so you know how many baguettes you’ll have for lunch.
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Four 135 g baguettes are a handy option if you want to serve individual portions. Allow time to defrost and bake them, and check the current allergen information before serving them to guests.
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A 550 g round loaf to slice and share at lunch. Plan time to defrost, bake and cool it before serving, and check the current packaging for allergen information.
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Four multigrain rolls make handy individual portions for lunch. Check the packaging for preparation instructions and allergen information, including the sesame declaration.
No. According to the Dutch Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain, but the name alone doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains. Check the product description and ingredients if wholemeal matters to you.
Not if the bread contains grains that contain gluten. Choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and avoid contact with regular bread when slicing and serving.
Yes, as long as the storage instructions for your chosen bread allow it. For AH Liefde & Passie Meergranen and PLUS Korenlanders Donker meergranen rond heel respectively, Albert Heijn and PLUS say the bread can be frozen on the day of purchase. Follow the packaging instructions for storage and defrosting.
Don’t assume shops will have standard opening hours. According to the Dutch government, Sunday opening varies by municipality. Check the opening times of the branch you plan to visit for Easter Sunday.
