If you want to serve warm bread
You want to bake the bread just before the meal and can work around the oven or air fryer available, as well as the cooking time for your roast.
Which choice is right for you?
If you’re choosing wholemeal
You want to know whether a multigrain loaf is also wholemeal. According to the Voedingscentrum, that doesn’t follow from the term multigrain; the ingredients and nutritional information can help you compare breads.
If you need to consider allergens
You’re serving bread to guests who need to avoid certain ingredients, so you check the current packaging and how the bread will be served.
What should you look for?
First decide whether the bread needs to be ready to serve or still needs baking. Then compare the shape, ingredients and nutritional information with what matters for your meal and guests.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Serving warm | Check whether the bread needs baking and compare the baking time with the oven or air fryer available. | When the roast is nearly ready, I want to be able to bake the bread without both dishes needing the oven at the same time. Around 31% of consumers would put serving warm bread first. |
| Wholemeal and nutritional information | Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product description and ingredients; compare fibre and salt per 100 g. | I don’t want to guess how much wholemeal flour the bread contains from its dark colour or the term multigrain. For around 31% of consumers, checking this would be their first priority. |
| Flavour and shape | Compare a whole loaf to slice with baguettes or a sourdough baguette. | For my table, it makes a difference whether I slice a whole loaf or serve baguettes alongside the roast. Bread shape and flavour would matter most to around 23% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients, allergen information and any details about possible cross-contamination on the packaging. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check that the bread I choose and the way I serve it are suitable. For around 15% of consumers, this would be their main concern. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing multigrain with wholemeal
According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain refers to bread made with at least three types of grain. It doesn’t tell you whether the flour is wholemeal; a dark colour or visible seeds don’t confirm this either.
If wholemeal is an important factor for you, check the product description, ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g.
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Assuming sourdough means wholemeal flour
A sourdough baguette can contain both wholemeal flour and white flour. For example, PLUS states that its multigrain sourdough baguette contains 35% wholemeal wheat flour and 21% wheat flour.
Choose sourdough for its style of bread if that’s what you’re looking for, but check the ingredients of the specific loaf if you want wholemeal.
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Forgetting the baking time when planning your meal
Bake-at-home bread needs space in a suitable appliance at a time when the roast may also be cooking.
Check the instructions on the packaging and plan when the bread can go into the oven or air fryer. Choose ready-to-serve bread if that works better with your cooking plans.
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Relying only on allergen information online
Product information can change. What you need to know when serving the bread depends on the loaf you actually buy.
Read the current packaging before buying and serving, especially if you’re considering allergens for a guest.
Brands compared
Albert Heijn
AH Vloerbrood meergranen heel is an example of a whole loaf that’s ready to slice and serve at the table.
- Albert Heijn states that this loaf contains 31% wholemeal wheat flour, 5.2 g of fibre and 0.65 g of salt per 100 g.
- It also contains 30% wheat flour. Check the packaging for the current ingredients and allergen information.
Jumbo
The product information for Jumbo Volkoren Meergranen Brood gives you a specific label to use when comparing ingredients and nutritional values.
- Jumbo states that this loaf contains 40% wholemeal wheat flour and 7.8 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Jumbo says this particular loaf is no longer part of its online range; the product information doesn’t indicate current availability.
PLUS
PLUS offers bake-at-home bread in different shapes, including wholemeal multigrain baguettes and multigrain sourdough baguettes.
- For its wholemeal multigrain baguettes, PLUS provides baking instructions for both an oven and an air fryer.
- The sourdough baguette contains 35% wholemeal wheat flour as well as 21% wheat flour. Compare the labels for each product rather than using one loaf as a guide to the entire range.
Dirk
Dirk’s range includes different types of bread, including whole loaves and bake-at-home baguettes.
- The range of shapes helps you decide which type of bread will suit the occasion.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and any wholemeal claims on the packaging of the product you choose.
Multigrain bread to serve with your meal
These Joybuy products are multigrain breads in round loaves, baguettes and rolls. The round loaves and baguettes are designed to be baked at home. When choosing, consider how much bread you want to serve and when the oven will be available.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 2 × 550 g
Two round multigrain loaves to slice and share with your meal.
According to the product description, they need to be defrosted first and then baked for 11–13 minutes in a fan oven at 220 °C. Leave the bread to cool before slicing.
If wholemeal is important to you or you need to consider allergens, check the current packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 2 × (4 × 135 g)
A pack of several baguettes if you’d like to serve one alongside your roast.
The product description says to defrost and then bake for 5–7 minutes at 220 °C. Remember to allow enough oven space when planning your meal.
Check the packaging if you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread or need to consider allergens.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 4 × 135 g
Four multigrain baguettes if you’d prefer a smaller pack to serve with your meal.
The description says to defrost and bake at 220 °C, but gives both 5–7 and 6–8 minutes as the baking time. Follow the instructions on the packaging for the correct time.
Check the packaging for wholemeal information and current allergen details too.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 550 g
One round multigrain loaf to slice at the table.
The product information says to defrost and bake in a fan oven at 220 °C, but gives both 10 and 11–13 minutes as the baking time. Check the packaging before baking the bread.
Compare the ingredients if the amount of wholemeal flour matters to you, and read the current allergen information.
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g'woon Multigrain Rolls, 4 pieces
Four multigrain rolls if you’d rather serve individual rolls than a whole loaf.
The ingredients include rye, wheat, linseed, millet, maize, barley and oats. For warm rolls, check the instructions on the packaging and read the current allergen information; the product information also lists sesame.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain means that at least three types of grain are used; it doesn’t automatically mean the bread is made with wholemeal flour. Check the packaging to see whether the bread is labelled wholemeal and compare the ingredients.
Which bread should I choose if the oven is being used for the roast?
A ready-to-serve whole loaf doesn’t need time in the oven. If you’d still prefer bake-at-home bread, check whether your product has air fryer instructions: PLUS says to cook its wholemeal multigrain baguettes for 5–6 minutes at 200 °C in a preheated air fryer.
Does sourdough tell me anything about the fibre content of multigrain baguettes?
No, the term sourdough doesn’t tell you how much fibre a loaf contains. PLUS states that its multigrain sourdough baguette contains 5.8 g of fibre per 100 g, with both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour among the ingredients. For another loaf, compare its own nutritional information per 100 g.
How do I check multigrain bread for a guest who eats gluten-free?
Check that the packaging explicitly labels that particular bread as gluten-free and read the allergen information. When slicing and serving, take care to avoid contact with other bread too.