For shoppers comparing pack sizes
If you want bread for several meals, check the weight and compare a whole loaf with a half loaf or smaller bake-at-home products. This helps you choose a quantity that suits how much you’ll actually use.
Which bread is right for you?
For barbecue planners serving freshly baked bread
Multigrain baguettes and bake-at-home baguettes are a good fit if you want to share bread with your meal. Allow for the preparation time and make sure you have enough room in your oven or air fryer.
For shoppers who read labels carefully
If wholemeal flour, fibre, allergens or iodised salt matter to your choice, check the label, ingredients and allergen information for the specific bread. The name ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t tell you this.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether the bread is mainly for the barbecue or for other meals too. Then compare the pack contents and check the product information that matters to your household.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and leftovers | Check the weight, the number of loaves and whether it’s a whole or half loaf. | If I want bread after the barbecue too, I want a pack I can finish without having lots left over. For around 36% of consumers, choosing the right quantity is the top priority. |
| Bread shape and preparation | Check the size, preparation instructions and the space available in your oven or air fryer. | I want to be able to share the bread as soon as the meal is served, but I also need to fit the baking in. For around 29% of consumers, being able to serve it straight away comes first. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and, where provided, compare the fibre per 100 g. | For my everyday bread, I want to know whether the product is actually wholemeal; ‘multigrain’ isn’t enough to tell me. Around 21% of consumers say this product information is their top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information. Look for iodised salt only if it matters to your choice. | If I need to check certain ingredients, I can’t rely on the bread’s name. For around 14% of consumers, the information on the label is the most important consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Comparing packs without checking what’s inside
A half loaf, a whole loaf and a pack of bake-at-home baguettes contain different quantities. So the number of packs tells you little about how much bread you’re actually bringing home.
Compare the weight and number of pieces, and think about how much bread you’ll use during and after the barbecue.
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Assuming multigrain means wholemeal
According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain. The label doesn’t automatically mean the bread is wholemeal.
Look for the wholemeal label and read the ingredients list if this distinction matters to your choice.
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Buying bake-at-home bread without planning when to prepare it
Bake-at-home baguettes and baguette-style loaves need to be prepared. During a barbecue, your oven or air fryer may already be in use for something else.
Read the pack instructions and plan when you’ll bake the bread.
Defrosting and baking take time and use space in your appliance.
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Assuming the bread contains iodised salt or particular allergens based on its name
‘Multigrain’ doesn’t tell you which allergens a specific bread contains or what type of salt has been used. Don’t assume that every bread contains iodised salt either.
Check the latest ingredients and allergen information for the product. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask for the product information available.
Brands to explore
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn has a range category featuring multigrain bread alongside maize bread.
- You can explore different types of bread within one range.
- Check the latest ingredients, nutritional information and allergen details for the product you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers multigrain bread in whole and half sizes.
- The distinction between whole and half loaves helps you choose the right quantity.
- Check the weight too when comparing different loaves.
Lidl
Lidl describes oven-fresh bread as part of its bread range, including multigrain bread.
- This range is worth considering if you want to pick up bread while you’re shopping.
- Check the product description and packaging of the bread you choose.
ALDI
ALDI offers both a whole farmhouse wholemeal multigrain loaf and a multigrain baguette.
- The two types of bread suit different occasions.
- A whole loaf and a baguette differ in shape and quantity, so choose based on how you plan to use them.
PLUS
PLUS offers multigrain bread, bake-at-home baguettes and wholemeal multigrain baguettes, among other products.
- For several products, the weight, preparation instructions, ingredients and allergens are listed.
- Follow the preparation and ingredient information on the pack you buy.
Dirk
Dirk offers a half multigrain loaf from Bakker van der Akker.
- A half loaf is worth considering if you won’t get through a whole one.
- Check the pack contents before comparing it with other types of bread.
Multigrain bread at Joybuy
This selection includes multigrain baguettes for the barbecue and round loaves you can enjoy at other meals too. For bake-at-home products, check the preparation instructions and choose a pack size that suits your plans.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette 4 x 135 g x 2
A multigrain baguette to share at a barbecue, if you have time and oven space to bake it after defrosting.
Check the number of pieces and total pack contents before choosing a quantity; the information for this bundle isn’t clear. Also check the latest preparation instructions and allergen information on the pack.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette 4 x 135 g
Four multigrain baguettes are ideal for sharing at a barbecue, as long as you can plan ahead for defrosting and baking them.
The title states 4 x 135 g. Follow the pack for baking times, as the available product information gives different timings. Check the latest ingredients and allergen information too.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 550 g x 2
This pack of two round loaves is an option if you’d like bread for other meals after the barbecue too.
The product description lists two loaves weighing 550 g each, which need to be defrosted and baked before use. Make room in your oven and check the latest preparation and allergen information on the pack.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round 550 g
This round multigrain loaf may suit you if you’re looking for one loaf to enjoy at the barbecue and at another meal later.
The title states 550 g. The description says to defrost and bake the loaf, but gives different baking times. Follow the pack instructions and check the latest allergen information.
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g'woon Popular Multigrain Baguettes, 2 stuks, 300 g
Two multigrain baguettes are a good size for sharing at a barbecue.
The title states 2 pieces and 300 g; the description lists 56% wholemeal wheat flour and iodised salt. Check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the pack, and find out whether and how the baguettes need to be prepared before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain, but that doesn’t automatically mean it’s wholemeal. If it matters to your choice, look for the wholemeal label on the specific product.
How do I choose between a half loaf and baguettes for a barbecue?
Choose based on when and how much bread you want to eat. A half loaf can also be saved for a later meal, while baguettes are a good choice for sharing at the barbecue. Either way, check the product’s weight and preparation method.
How long should I bake multigrain baguettes for?
It varies by product. PLUS recommends baking its wholemeal multigrain baguettes in an oven at 220 °C for 8–10 minutes, or in an air fryer at 200 °C for 5–6 minutes. Follow the instructions on the pack you buy.
Can I assume multigrain bread contains iodised salt?
No. Check the ingredients list for the specific bread. According to the Nederlands Bakkerij Centrum, using iodised baker’s salt isn’t a legal requirement, so the bread’s name alone doesn’t tell you what type of salt has been used.
Which allergens should I check in multigrain bread?
Check the allergen information for the specific bread, particularly the types of grain and any other ingredients that are relevant to you. The Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit states that allergens must be clearly listed on the label; ingredients vary by product.