Snack makers who want thick slices
If you want to make topped or toasted bread snacks, ask for an unsliced loaf or confirmation that it can be cut thickly. Albert Heijn and PLUS each describe a whole multigrain loaf that is nevertheless sold sliced.
Which bread shape is right for you?
Home cooks who want to cut their own pieces
If you have the time and an oven or suitable air fryer, you can bake a part-baked product and cut it into pieces yourself. ALDI describes par-baked multigrain baguettes, while PLUS sells multigrain triangles to bake at home.
Shoppers who want to compare labels
If ingredients, fibre, salt or allergens matter to you, compare the exact product. Check the label for iodised salt too: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread is not compulsory.
What should you look for when choosing?
Whole multigrain loaf
Choose this if: you want broad slices for topped snacks and can confirm in advance that the loaf will be delivered unsliced or cut to your preferred thickness.
Bear in mind: ‘whole’ can also refer to a loaf that has already been sliced, as Albert Heijn and PLUS product information shows.
Bake-at-home multigrain bread
Choose this if: you want to bake the bread at home and then cut it into pieces yourself.
Bear in mind: baguettes and triangles have a different shape from thick slices of bread and need to be prepared before serving.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness | Ask whether the loaf is unsliced or can be cut to your preferred thickness; don’t rely on ‘whole’ alone. | If I want to serve topped snacks on broad slices, I want to know in advance what sort of slice I’ll get. A confirmed thick slice is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Baking and portioning | Check the cooking instructions on the packaging and make sure you can use the oven or air fryer required. | For hot sharing snacks, I want to be able to bake the bread in time and cut it into pieces myself. Portioning it yourself is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Label information | Compare ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per 100 g; check separately whether iodised salt or baker’s salt is listed. | If I’m buying bread for guests, I want to know what it contains and what nutritional information is provided. For around 20% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘whole’ means ‘unsliced’
A whole loaf may already have been cut into regular slices. Albert Heijn says that the farmhouse loaf it reviewed is sliced and packaged daily; PLUS also describes its reviewed whole loaf as sliced.
Before buying, ask specifically for an unsliced loaf or your preferred slice thickness.
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Assuming every loaf contains iodised baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when making bread is not compulsory. Its presence can therefore vary from product to product.
Check the packaging of the bread you choose to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed among the ingredients.
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Choosing bake-at-home bread without planning when you’ll serve it
A bake-at-home product needs to be prepared before you can cut it up and serve it. ALDI says its multigrain baguettes take 8–10 minutes in the oven; follow the packaging instructions for any other product.
Before buying, check what equipment you’ll need and plan to prepare the bread before snack time.
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Going by the word ‘multigrain’ alone
The name doesn’t tell you which ingredients or allergens a particular loaf contains, or how thickly it has been sliced.
Read the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, especially if you’re buying it for guests.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn publishes online information about the ingredients, nutritional values and allergens in the multigrain breads it has reviewed.
- You can check the nutritional information and ingredients listed for AH Vloerbrood meergranen heel.
- Albert Heijn says this farmhouse loaf is sliced and packaged daily, so the name ‘whole’ doesn’t confirm that it comes in thick slices.
Jumbo
The product information for Jumbo Meergranen Heel lists its ingredients and nutritional values.
- The nutritional information lists 7.5 g of fibre and 1 g of salt per 100 g.
- The product page consulted says this particular loaf is no longer available in the online range; check current options in store and confirm the slice thickness separately.
Lidl
Lidl describes a multigrain bread made with a mixture of grains and seeds, including wheat, barley and buckwheat.
- The product description gives you an initial idea of the grain mix used.
- For thick snack slices, ask how the bread is cut and check the packaging of the loaf you choose for its ingredients and nutritional values.
ALDI
ALDI describes both sliced farmhouse wholemeal multigrain bread and par-baked multigrain baguettes.
- You can cut the baguettes into snack-sized pieces after baking; ALDI recommends 8–10 minutes in the oven.
- A baguette doesn’t have the same shape as a broad slice of bread, while the ‘sliced’ label on the farmhouse loaf doesn’t confirm that the slices are thick.
PLUS
PLUS describes a dark wholemeal multigrain loaf and multigrain triangles to bake at home.
- The triangles are a bake-at-home option for small sharing snacks; follow the cooking instructions on the pack you choose.
- The Korenlanders whole loaf reviewed is labelled ‘whole loaf, sliced’. Ask about the slice thickness if you want broad snack slices.
Dirk
Dirk describes Bakker van der Akker multigrain bread in both whole and half-loaf sizes.
- Choosing between a whole and half loaf can help you get the right amount to serve.
- Check in store how the bread is sliced and refer to the packaging for its ingredients and nutritional values.
Multigrain products to portion yourself
These two multigrain products are suitable for baking at home and then slicing yourself for an Asian-themed evening. Check whether the pieces you can cut from them will work with the toppings you want to serve.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 4 × 135 g
For anyone who wants to bake baguettes at home and then cut them into snack-sized pieces.
The pack contains four 135 g baguettes. Allow time to defrost and bake them, and follow the packaging for the correct cooking time.
Before serving, check what slice thickness you can achieve and read the current label if wheat, sesame or iodised salt matters to your choice.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 2 × 550 g
For anyone who wants to bake a round multigrain loaf at home and then slice it themselves.
The pack contains two 550 g loaves. Allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling before slicing.
Check whether you can cut the thick slices you want and read the current label if wheat, sesame or iodised salt matters to your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is a whole multigrain loaf automatically unsliced?
No. Albert Heijn says that the whole farmhouse loaf it reviewed is sliced and packaged daily, and PLUS also describes its reviewed whole multigrain loaf as sliced. If you need thick slices, ask for an unsliced loaf or a specific slice thickness.
Does Dutch multigrain bread have to contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when making bread is not compulsory. Check the ingredients list for the bread you choose to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed.
What should I check if my guests have food allergies?
Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact multigrain bread before serving it. The name ‘multigrain’ doesn’t tell you which grains, seeds or potential cross-contact allergens are listed for the product you choose.
Can I freeze leftover multigrain bread?
Check the storage instructions for the bread you choose. Albert Heijn and PLUS say that the multigrain breads they reviewed can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and recommend using them within one month; don’t assume the same timeframe applies to another product.