Families with fussy eaters
A bread with a familiar texture may be easier to serve than one with lots of visible seeds. Check the ingredients too: multigrain doesn’t automatically mean wholemeal.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers comparing wholemeal and fibre
If you’re making sandwiches or serving bread with dips, compare the wholemeal flour in the ingredients list and the fibre per 100 g. That way, you’re not relying on the product name alone.
Diners who need to eat gluten-free
Ordinary multigrain bread isn’t automatically gluten-free. Look for an explicit gluten-free label and check the other allergen information on the packaging too.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide what matters most for your meal: wholemeal flour, an easy-to-enjoy texture, warm bread to share or gluten-free suitability. Then compare the exact varieties by checking their labels.
| What to consider | What to check | Especially useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for wholemeal flour in the ingredients list and compare fibre per 100 g across similar breads. | If I’m making sandwiches, I want to know how much wholemeal flour and fibre the bread contains. For around 36% of shoppers, wholemeal and fibre are top priorities when choosing. |
| Taste and texture | Check the flours and any visible seeds in the variety you’re considering; the word multigrain doesn’t tell you what the texture will be like. | For fussy eaters, I look for a bread with a texture that isn’t too strong or unusual. Around 29% of shoppers prefer a familiar texture. |
| Bread to share | For part-baked bread, check how many pieces are included and the instructions for your oven or air fryer. | For dips at the table, I want warm bread to share and can make time to bake it. That’s the main thing for around 21% of shoppers. |
| Gluten-free suitability | Look for an explicit gluten-free label and read the full allergen and ‘may contain’ information. | If someone needs to eat gluten-free, ordinary multigrain bread can’t simply be served at the table. For around 14% of shoppers, gluten-free suitability is the first requirement. |
Common misconceptions
-
Assuming multigrain means wholemeal
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain refers to the number of types of grain, not the proportion of wholemeal flour. Choosing on the basis of that name alone could mean ending up with a different type of bread from the one you had in mind.
Check the ingredients list and compare fibre per 100 g if wholemeal matters to you.
-
Planning to serve part-baked bread straight away
A part-baked baguette needs to be cooked before you put it on the table. Instructions vary by product.
Check the time, temperature and recommended appliance on the packaging, and plan the baking around the rest of your meal.
Remember to allow time for preparation and to use your oven or air fryer.
-
Assuming gluten-free means allergen-free
Gluten-free multigrain bread may still contain other allergens. The gluten-free label doesn’t replace the allergen information.
For anyone sharing the meal, check the allergen list and any ‘may contain’ information on the packaging you choose.
-
Assuming every bread contains iodised salt
The fact that one bread lists iodised salt tells you nothing about the ingredients in another bread.
Check the ingredients list of the bread you actually choose.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Offers sliced and dark multigrain bread, among other varieties, for anyone looking for a loaf to make sandwiches or serve as a side.
- For AH Boeren donker meergranen, Albert Heijn lists details including the ingredients and fibre per 100 g.
- Check the current packaging of the variety you choose, especially if ingredients or allergens are important to you.
Jumbo
Offers wholemeal multigrain varieties whose ingredients and nutritional values you can compare.
- For Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen Half, Jumbo lists 55.7% wholemeal wheat flour and 8.0 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Don’t apply these values to other Jumbo breads; check the label of the exact variety.
PLUS
Offers bake-at-home wholemeal multigrain baguettes and also sells Schär gluten-free multigrain bread.
- PLUS provides oven and air fryer instructions for its wholemeal multigrain baguettes.
- The baguettes and Schär gluten-free bread suit different needs; check the ingredients and allergens for each product.
Dirk
Bakker van der Akker’s half loaf of multigrain bread is worth considering if a whole loaf would be too much for your meal.
- The product name makes it clear that it’s a half loaf.
- Read the packaging before comparing this bread for fibre, salt or allergens.
ALDI
Luxe vloerbrood meergranen is a pre-sliced loaf with grains and seeds, for serving slices at the table.
- ALDI describes this variety as pre-sliced.
- For nutritional or allergen comparisons, use the label on the packaging you choose.
Lidl
Lidl’s multigrain bread is a supermarket product described as containing ingredients including wheat, barley and buckwheat.
- The grains listed give you a useful starting point for comparing this variety with other breads.
- Check the packaging of the bread in store for fibre, salt and allergen information.
Multigrain bread at Joybuy
This selection includes multigrain baguettes, individual rolls and a round loaf for sharing at a fakeaway meal. If wholemeal flour, allergens or preparation are deciding factors for you, check the label of the variety you choose.
No image available
g'woon Popular Multigrain Baguettes, 2 pieces, 300 g
Two baguettes could be a good choice if you want bread to share with your meal. To compare wholemeal flour, fibre and salt, check the values on the packaging; if you have allergies, read the allergen information too.
No image available
Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 4 × 135 g
Four individual baguettes are a handy option if you want to serve bread one piece at a time. Allow time to defrost and bake them, following the packaging for timings and temperature. If you have allergies, check the full allergen information too.
No image available
g'woon Multigrain Rolls, 4 pieces
Four individual rolls are ideal for a meal where everyone can make their own sandwich. If you’re looking for wholemeal, don’t rely on the word multigrain alone: compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g on the packaging. Check the allergen information if you have allergies.
No image available
Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 550 g
You can slice this round loaf into portions to serve at the table. Allow time to defrost and bake it, following the packaging instructions. When comparing breads, check the label for ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per 100 g.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain, but the label doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains. If that matters to your choice, check the ingredients list and compare fibre per 100 g.
Should I choose sliced bread or bake-at-home baguettes for fakeaway night?
Choose sliced bread if you want to make sandwiches without having to bake anything first. Bake-at-home baguettes are a good choice if you want warm bread to share and have time to prepare it. Follow the instructions for your product: PLUS recommends baking its wholemeal multigrain baguettes in the oven for 8–10 minutes at 220 °C, or in the air fryer for 5–6 minutes at 200 °C.
Is ordinary multigrain bread suitable for someone who needs to eat gluten-free?
Don’t assume ordinary multigrain bread is gluten-free: some varieties may contain grains that contain gluten. Choose bread with an explicit gluten-free label and also check the other allergen information on the exact packaging.
How can I avoid having bread left over after a fakeaway meal?
Choose a size that suits the number of people eating, and check the storage instructions before freezing any leftover bread. Albert Heijn says that certain multigrain breads can be frozen on the day of purchase; follow the instructions for the variety you buy.