Families who buy bread regularly
If you need bread every day for breakfast and lunch, you’ll want to know how much each size gives you. Check the quantity rather than relying on the half or whole loaf description alone.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Families who plan their bread supplies
A whole loaf could work if you won’t use it all at once and have space to freeze portions. Follow the storage instructions for the bread you choose.
Shoppers who read labels carefully
If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread or checking fibre, baker’s salt or allergens, you’ll need more information than the product name ‘multigrain’. Check the description, ingredients and nutritional information for the exact loaf.
What should you look for?
First, choose a type of loaf that suits how much your family eats. Then compare the labels of the options that fit the way you’ll use them.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity per purchase | Check whether it’s a half or whole loaf, and compare the net weight. | When I do the family food shop, I want to know how much bread we’ll actually get. Around 36% of consumers put this exact quantity first. |
| Stocking up and storage | Choose a size that matches how much you use, and check the freezing or preparation advice. | I want to have bread in reserve without buying more than we can use. For around 29% of consumers, planning their supplies is the top priority. |
| Wholemeal, fibre and baker’s salt | Read the product description, ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g; check separately whether baker’s salt has been used. | If I’m looking for wholemeal bread, I don’t want to rely on the word ‘multigrain’ alone. Around 21% of consumers prioritise this label information. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Check the label on the exact product and read its ingredients and allergen information. | If I have a dietary requirement or need to avoid certain allergens, I first need to know whether this specific loaf is suitable. For around 14% of consumers, this is the first thing they consider. |
Common mistakes
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Comparing a half loaf with a whole loaf as if they were the same size
A half loaf won’t necessarily give you the same number of slices as a whole loaf. Even two half loaves can differ in net weight.
Check the size and net weight of both products before deciding which quantity suits your family’s needs.
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Assuming multigrain means wholemeal
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain. That alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s made with wholemeal flour.
Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product description and check the ingredients and fibre information for the loaf you’ve chosen.
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Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread doesn’t have to be baked with baker’s salt. So the name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t confirm which type of salt has been used.
Check the ingredients list if baker’s salt or iodised salt is important to your choice.
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Buying a large loaf without a storage plan
If your family doesn’t eat the bread in time, some of it may go to waste. So before choosing a larger size, be realistic about how much you’ll use.
Choose a smaller size or freeze portions according to the product instructions.
Brands and shops to consider
ALDI
ALDI lists Boeren volkoren meergranen as both a half and a whole loaf in its daily fresh range.
- Having two sizes lets you match the number of loaves to your family’s needs.
- Check the current ingredients, allergen and nutritional information on the packaging of the loaf you choose.
Dirk
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers multigrain bread as both a half and a whole loaf.
- There are separate product listings for both loaf sizes.
- Check the net weight of the option you choose if quantity is the deciding factor.
PLUS
PLUS lists products including Korenlanders multigrain bread and multigrain baguettes to bake at home.
- For its dark multigrain bread, PLUS advises freezing it on the day of purchase and using it within one month.
- The bake-at-home baguettes need to be prepared, so check that the instructions suit the equipment and time you have available.
Lidl
Lidl describes a multigrain loaf sold in store, made with ingredients including wheat, barley and buckwheat.
- Lidl provides fibre information on packaged loaves, so you can check their nutritional details.
- Check the packaging of the specific loaf for full ingredients and allergen information.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists Soezie All in budget multigrain bread as a 1 kg bread mix.
- A bread mix is another option if you’d like to bake your own bread.
- The mix isn’t ready-made bread, so factor in the preparation before choosing this option.
Multigrain options on Joybuy
These products include round multigrain loaves, multigrain baguettes and multigrain rolls. Choose between a whole loaf and individual portions based on how much your family uses at a time. For products you bake at home, check the instructions on the packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread, round, 2 × 550 g
Two round loaves are a good option if you want to plan for more than one loaf at a time for your family.
Check the storage and baking instructions, and read the latest ingredients and allergen information before use.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 2 × 4 × 135 g
The two packs of four baguettes are ideal for a family that wants to use bread in individual portions.
Check the storage, defrosting and baking instructions on the packaging before stocking up.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread, round, 550 g
One 550 g round loaf is a good choice if you’d rather use one loaf at a time than buy a pack of two.
Follow the baking instructions on the packaging and check the allergen information for this loaf.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 4 × 135 g
Four individual baguettes are a good option if you’d prefer smaller portions at each mealtime.
Check the baking instructions on the packaging and read the allergen information for this option.
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g'woon Multigrain Rolls, 4 pieces
This pack of four rolls is a good choice if you’d rather use individual rolls than slice a whole loaf.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging, especially if a particular grain or sesame is important to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain, but it can be made with wholemeal flour, refined flour or a combination of the two. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, read the product description and ingredients.
Does Dutch multigrain bread always contain baker’s salt?
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread doesn’t have to be baked with baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list if you want to know whether baker’s salt or iodised salt has been used.
How should I store bread if I won’t use a whole loaf straight away?
Freeze the bread in portions if the product instructions allow it. For its Korenlanders Donker multigrain round loaf, PLUS advises freezing it on the day of purchase and using it within one month. For other loaves, follow the instructions on their own packaging.
Are bake-at-home multigrain baguettes handy for keeping bread in stock?
They can be, if you have the necessary equipment and time to prepare them. For its wholemeal multigrain baguettes, PLUS recommends 8–10 minutes in the oven at 220 °C or 5–6 minutes in the air fryer at 200 °C. For other baguettes, check their own preparation instructions.
Can I simply choose multigrain bread if I need to eat gluten-free?
Don’t rely on the word ‘multigrain’ alone: choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the allergen information. PLUS describes Schär Meesterbakker Mehrkorn as gluten-free, while its regular dark multigrain bread contains gluten-containing grains.