Choose bread for your drinks party based on what you plan to serve. Look at the seeds for the texture you want, the size for the number of guests and any baking instructions when planning your time. If wholemeal matters to you, check the product description and ingredients. If anyone has a food allergy, always rely on the current allergen information rather than the bread’s name or appearance.
For a sharing board with dips or toppings, the seeds listed, the size and how you slice the bread are all worth considering. Don’t rely on the picture alone: check the ingredients listed for the bread you choose.
The name multigrain doesn’t, by itself, confirm that a loaf is wholemeal. Check the product description and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information if this is your main consideration.
Check the current information for the specific bread, including details of cereals containing gluten and sesame. If the bread is sold unpackaged and a guest needs this information, ask before buying.
First, check that the bread is suitable for everyone who’ll be eating. Then consider whether it’s wholemeal, the texture you want and how much preparation it needs before your drinks party.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the word wholemeal and compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g across similar breads. | If wholemeal is my main reason for buying this bread, I don’t want to rely on the name multigrain. This is the main priority for around 38% of consumers. |
| Seeds and texture | Check which seeds are listed and whether a whole, half or sliced loaf would work best on your sharing board. | With dips and toppings, I mainly want bread with the bite I’m looking for. Around 31% of consumers give texture top priority. |
| Allergens | Read the current allergen information and any warning about possible traces. For unpackaged bread, ask for product information. | If a guest has an allergy or coeliac disease, I need to be able to check whether the bread is suitable before buying it. This is the main priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Preparation and leftovers | Check the size, whether it needs baking and any storage or freezing instructions. | If I have little time to prepare or am buying for a small group, I don’t want an inconveniently large loaf or an unexpected trip to the oven. This is the first thing around 8% of consumers consider. |
The Voedingscentrum describes multigrain bread as bread made with at least three types of grain. The name doesn’t mean that wholemeal flour has been used throughout the loaf.
Check the product description and ingredients list. If you’re choosing between loaves, compare the fibre per 100 g.
Bread with seeds may contain sesame or cereals containing gluten. You can’t tell whether it’s suitable for a guest with an allergy just from the general type of bread.
For packaged bread, read the current allergen information. For unpackaged bread, ask for the information for that specific loaf before buying.
A whole loaf may be more than you need for a small drinks party. If it’s part-baked bread, you’ll also need to factor in time in the oven.
Choose a size to suit the number of guests and follow any storage and freezing instructions for the product you’ve chosen.
The Voedingscentrum refers specifically to bread baked with iodised baker’s salt. The name of the bread alone won’t tell you which salt was used in the product you’ve chosen.
Check the ingredients information or ask the bakery department if this is important to your choice.
These examples can help you narrow down the type of bread and the product information to look for. Always check the details of the bread you actually choose.
Albert Heijn lists, among other options, a whole multigrain loaf with seeds.
Jumbo lists, among other options, wholemeal multigrain loaves with seeds, available whole or in half sizes.
Lidl describes a range of bread that is baked in store.
ALDI lists, among other options, luxury multigrain hearth bread and farmhouse wholemeal multigrain bread.
PLUS lists, among other options, Korenlanders light multiseed bread and a part-baked multigrain baguette.
Search results for Dirk include various multigrain and wholemeal products.
These rolls, baguettes and round multigrain loaves offer options for different-sized sharing boards. Compare the sizes, and allow time to prepare any bread you’ll bake at home. If wholemeal is essential for you, don’t choose based on the word multigrain alone.
Image unavailable
Rolls for serving smaller portions on your sharing board. The pack contains four. If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, check the product description; if you have an allergy, read the current information on the packaging.
Image unavailable
A round loaf for slicing yourself to serve at your drinks party. The title lists two 550 g loaves. If you’re baking it at home, allow time for the bread to cool as well; follow the baking instructions on the packaging. Check separately whether it’s wholemeal and whether it contains any allergens.
Image unavailable
Baguettes for serving smaller slices of bread baked at home on your sharing board. The product title lists 4 x 135 g x 2; check how many baguettes you’ll actually receive before buying. Follow the baking instructions on the packaging and check the current allergen information.
Image unavailable
A handy size for slicing baguettes into small portions for your drinks party. The title lists four 135 g baguettes. Allow time to bake them at home and follow the baking instructions on the packaging. Also check whether they’re wholemeal and contain any allergens if these affect your choice.
Image unavailable
A round loaf for slicing yourself, without the second loaf listed for the other Country Bread variety. The title lists 550 g. If you’re baking it at home, allow time for preparation and cooling before slicing. Follow the baking instructions on the packaging and check the allergen information.
No. Multigrain and wholemeal don’t mean the same thing. The Voedingscentrum describes multigrain bread as bread made with at least three types of grain. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread, check the product description and ingredients.
If you have an allergy or coeliac disease, check the allergen information for the specific bread before buying it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists sesame and cereals containing gluten among the allergens that must be declared. If the bread is sold unpackaged, ask the shop for this information.
You can’t tell from the name of the bread alone. The Voedingscentrum discusses iodine in bread baked with iodised baker’s salt. Check the ingredients information for the bread you’ve chosen or ask the bakery department.
Choose a size that suits the number of guests and follow the storage and preparation instructions for that bread. If it’s part-baked, make sure you have time to put it in the oven. Freezing is an option if the product instructions recommend it for the bread you’ve chosen.
