Who might find it practical to stock up on bread?

If you have a few slices each day

You buy several loaves at once and want to take a small portion out of the freezer each day. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions straight after buying it.

If you want to compare labels

Before making a larger purchase, you check the ingredients, fibre and salt per 100 g, as well as the allergen information for the specific loaf.

If you want to check for bakers’ salt

You want to be able to see from the ingredients list whether your chosen bread contains bakers’ salt or iodised salt. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, not all bakers use bakers’ salt.

What should you look for when stocking up?

Start by checking the slice thickness and how much bread you want to store. Then compare the label on the specific product: ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t tell you whether the bread is wholemeal, and ‘whole’ or ‘half’ describes the loaf size, not the thickness of a slice.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important for?
Freezing in portions Check whether the bread is pre-sliced and follow the product’s storage instructions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing it in portions straight after buying. If I only need a few slices each day, I don’t want to defrost a whole loaf every time. Around 31% of consumers give this portioning convenience top priority.
Label and nutritional information Compare the ingredients, fibre and salt per 100 g; also read the allergen information on the packaging. When buying a larger quantity, I want to know what’s in the bread I’ll be eating more often. For around 25% of consumers, this label information matters most.
Slice thickness and loaf size Check whether the packaging says ‘medium’ or ask about the slice thickness. Choose a whole or half loaf depending on how much you want to store. I want slices of a particular thickness and a loaf that fits my storage space. This combination is the top priority for around 25% of consumers.
Where to buy Check which variety is available at your chosen branch and whether you can have it delivered, collect it or buy it in store. If I’m stocking up regularly, I want to know how I can buy the same bread again. Around 19% of consumers prioritise this practical availability.

Common mistakes when buying bread to stock up

  • Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’

    The name multigrain doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour or fibre a loaf contains. As a result, you might assume that loaves with different ingredients are equivalent.

    Read the description and ingredients for the specific loaf, and compare the fibre and salt per 100 g listed on the label.

  • Assuming ‘whole’ or ‘half’ refers to slice thickness

    These words describe the size of the loaf. Even if it says ‘sliced’, that still doesn’t tell you whether the slices are medium-thick.

    Look for an indication of slice thickness on the packaging or ask at the bakery counter.

  • Freezing bread without portioning it

    A whole frozen loaf is less convenient when you only need a few slices at a time. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread can become drier the longer it stays in the freezer.

    Freeze the bread in portions straight after buying it, and take out only what you need each time. Follow the storage instructions on the packaging.

  • Assuming every loaf contains bakers’ salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use bakers’ salt. The types of grain in multigrain bread don’t tell you whether it contains it.

    Check the ingredients list for bakers’ salt or iodised salt. If you’re buying unpackaged bread, ask for the ingredients information.

Brands to compare

These examples from supermarkets show the product information you can compare. Check the packaging of the bread you actually buy, particularly for the slice thickness.

Albert Heijn

A useful starting point if you want to check the ingredients, nutritional information and storage details for a whole, sliced multigrain loaf online.

  • For AH OerDesem donker meergranen heel gesneden, Albert Heijn lists a weight of 800 g, 6,6 g of fibre per 100 g, iodised salt and recommends freezing it on the day of purchase.
  • ‘Whole, sliced’ doesn’t confirm that the slices are medium-thick. Albert Heijn also warns that product information may change.

Jumbo

An option for looking at different multigrain breads as part of your regular grocery shop.

  • Jumbo’s multigrain category includes, among other things, a half loaf, and lists delivery and collection as ways to shop.
  • Check the ingredients, nutritional information and slice thickness of each loaf before choosing several.

Lidl

Worth considering if you want to look at multigrain bread in store and check the slice thickness there.

  • Lidl describes a multigrain loaf made with wheat, barley and buckwheat, and says that this product is only available in store.
  • Check the packaging and nutritional information for this specific loaf in store; a general fibre rating for packaged bread won’t tell you the slice thickness.

ALDI

An in-store option if you want to look at a half loaf of sliced wholemeal multigrain bread.

  • ALDI describes Boeren volkoren meergranen as sliced and shows a half-loaf version.
  • Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for your chosen variety, and check the slice thickness separately.

PLUS

A useful starting point if you want to compare the ingredients, nutritional information and freezing instructions for a whole, sliced multigrain loaf online.

  • For Korenlanders donker meergranen rond heel, PLUS lists details including 50% wholemeal wheat flour, bakers’ salt and use within one month of freezing.
  • The fact that the bread is sliced doesn’t confirm that it has medium-thick slices. Also check that the product information matches the packaging you buy.

Dirk

An in-store option if you’re looking for a half loaf of multigrain bread and want to check the product in person.

  • Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Bakkers meergranen half, as well as other multigrain varieties in its search results.
  • Check the ingredients, allergen information and slice thickness of your chosen loaf in store. Dirk doesn’t offer a delivery service.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

How should I freeze multigrain bread when stocking up?

Freeze the bread in portions straight after buying it, and take out only the slices you need each time, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Bread can become drier the longer it stays in the freezer, so also follow the storage instructions for the specific product. For Korenlanders donker meergranen rond heel, PLUS recommends using it within one month of freezing.

Does Dutch multigrain bread always contain bakers’ salt?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use bakers’ salt. If you want to know whether a specific loaf is made with it, check the ingredients list for bakers’ salt or iodised salt.

Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?

No. The name multigrain doesn’t confirm that a loaf is wholemeal. If wholemeal flour is important to your choice, check the description and ingredients for the specific product; compare the fibre and salt using the nutritional information per 100 g.