Choose a whole sliced multigrain sourdough loaf if you want to serve plenty of sandwiches without having to bake anything. Bread fresh from the bakery is ideal for an Easter brunch where the crust and presentation matter. Bake-at-home bread lets you serve it fresh from your own oven, but you’ll need time and the right equipment. Whichever you choose, check the label: ‘multigrain’ and ‘sourdough’ alone don’t tell you how much wholemeal flour the bread contains or what type of salt has been used.
The most convenient type of bread depends mainly on when you buy it and how you want to serve it at Easter.
Would you like to put bread on the table with no preparation, buy it fresh from the bakery or bake it shortly before eating? Choose the type of bread to suit when you plan to serve it and the space you have for baking during your Easter brunch.
Look beyond a dark crust or the name ‘multigrain’. Compare the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g, including fibre and salt, and check whether iodised salt or baker’s salt is listed if that matters to you.
Sourdough doesn’t mean gluten-free. If you need to avoid gluten or other allergens, check the ingredients and allergen information for the exact loaf you plan to buy.
First, decide whether you want bread that’s ready to serve, fresh from the in-store bakery or baked at home. Then compare the labels of products that suit your plan.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Nutritional information and ingredients | Compare the proportion of wholemeal flour, and the fibre and salt per 100 g. If you want to check the type of salt, look for iodised salt or baker’s salt in the ingredients. | If I’m choosing carefully based on wholemeal flour, fibre, salt and allergens, the name ‘multigrain’ isn’t enough. Around 36% of consumers put checking the label first. |
| Crust and presentation | Choose between a whole sliced loaf and an unwrapped loaf from the bakery. If you’re buying fresh bakery bread, check the ingredients and allergens in store. | For an Easter brunch, I want bread that suits the way I set the table and serve the slices. For around 29% of consumers, presentation is the most important factor. |
| Baking at home | Check the storage advice and the defrosting and baking instructions on the pack, including what equipment you’ll need. | I do my shopping in advance and want to bake the bread just before serving, as long as I have time. For around 21% of consumers, this is the main consideration. |
| In-store availability | Check whether you can order your chosen bread online or whether it’s only available in store. If necessary, check availability at your local branch. | I need my Easter shopping to fit into one planned visit, so where I can buy the bread helps determine my choice. Around 14% of consumers prioritise this practical consideration. |
The name and colour don’t tell you how much wholemeal flour a loaf contains. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread contains more fibre and other nutrients than bread made with refined flour.
Read the ingredients list and compare the fibre listed per 100 g for the loaves you’re considering.
According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Calling a loaf sourdough or artisan doesn’t tell you whether it contains iodised salt.
Check whether ‘iodised salt’ or ‘baker’s salt’ is listed in the ingredients. If you’re buying unwrapped bread, ask what type of salt has been used.
Multigrain sourdough bread may contain wheat and other grains that contain gluten. The leavening method doesn’t make these ingredients gluten-free.
If you need bread that meets a gluten or other allergen restriction, check the specific product claims and full allergen information for the loaf you’ve chosen.
Bake-at-home bread needs some preparation. Jumbo also says that its fresh, in-store sourdough loaves are only available in store and can’t be ordered online.
Before you shop, choose between bread that’s ready to serve, fresh from the bakery or ready to bake at home. For bake-at-home bread, check the baking instructions; for in-store bread, check where you can buy it.
These examples show the different types of bread you could compare. Always check the latest information for the specific product before you buy.
AH OerDesem donker meergranen is a whole, sliced loaf for anyone who wants to serve sandwiches straight away.
Jumbo has a brown multigrain option in its range of sourdough loaves baked in store.
PLUS lists, among other products, multigrain demi-baguettes to bake at home and a multigrain buckwheat sourdough loaf for freezer storage.
Lidl lists an organic rustic multigrain sourdough loaf.
ALDI lists, among other products, farmhouse wholemeal multigrain bread and freshly baked bread.
Dirk lists a whole multigrain hearth loaf and a rustic multigrain baguette.
These two listings are for Lekhaven Bakkerij multigrain bread to bake at home for your Easter brunch. They offer a different way to serve bread from a whole loaf that’s ready to eat or bread fresh from the bakery.
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A good option if you’d like to bake the bread for your Easter brunch and can plan when you’ll serve it.
Pack size: 4 × 135 g. Check the instructions on the current packaging before baking. If they matter to your choice, also read the full ingredients and allergen information.
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This multipack could be a good choice if you want to stock up on more bake-at-home bread for your Easter brunch.
The product name lists 4 × 135 g × 2. Before buying, check whether the pack contains baguettes or bread rolls. Also check the baking instructions, ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
No. ‘Multigrain’ doesn’t tell you what proportion of the flour is wholemeal. Compare the ingredients of the loaves you’re considering; the fibre per 100 g is listed in the nutritional information. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread contains more fibre and other nutrients than bread made with refined flour.
No. Sourdough bread may contain wheat, rye, barley or spelt. If you need gluten-free bread, check the specific product claim and the full ingredients and allergen information for that loaf.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The AH OerDesem loaf mentioned above lists iodised salt, but that doesn’t tell you anything about another loaf. Read the ingredients or, if you’re buying unwrapped bread, ask what type of salt has been used.
Yes, as long as the storage instructions for your chosen product fit your plans. For example, PLUS says its Korenlanders Desem Meergranen Boekweit should be kept frozen. Bake-at-home bread also needs to be prepared before serving. Follow the storage, defrosting and baking instructions on the packaging for your loaf.
