A whole, pre-sliced multigrain sourdough loaf is handy if you want to prepare portions in advance for a large gathering; bake-at-home baguettes are a better choice if you want to serve bread just before Christmas dinner and have oven space available. For both options, check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens: ‘multigrain’ and ‘sourdough’ don’t tell you how much wholemeal flour the bread contains or whether it also includes baker’s yeast.
If you’re serving bread alongside something like soup or cheese, when you plan to serve it can influence your choice. A bake-at-home baguette needs oven space at the last minute, while you can prepare a sliced loaf ahead of time.
Check the proportion of wholemeal flour in the ingredients list and the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the term ‘multigrain’ alone doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour a loaf contains.
Check the latest allergen information for your chosen bread before serving it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority notes that allergens must be listed in the ingredients list for pre-packed foods; for unpackaged bread, ask the seller for information.
First decide how and when you want to serve the bread. Then compare the ingredients and check that it meets your guests’ allergy requirements.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Crust and presentation | Look at the shape of the loaf and check whether it comes from the shop bakery or is designed to be baked at home. | If the bread is going to be a visible part of my Christmas table, I first choose a shape and crust that suit the way I’ll serve it. Around 33% of consumers prioritise presentation. |
| Serving time and portions | Check the number of items, the cooking instructions and whether you’ll have oven space just before the meal. | If I want to serve bread with each course, I need to fit the baking time around the other dishes. For around 27% of consumers, serving convenience is the main consideration. |
| Wholemeal flour and fibre | Compare the stated proportion of wholemeal flour and the amount of fibre per 100 g. | I want to be able to assess the ingredients rather than rely on the name ‘multigrain’. This is the top priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the latest ingredients and allergen information for every product you plan to serve. | If guests have food allergies, I want to know which ingredients and allergens the bread contains before serving it. Around 20% of consumers put this check first. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain. The name doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains.
Compare the proportion of wholemeal flour in the ingredients list with the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information.
The multigrain sourdough breads described by Albert Heijn and PLUS contain baker’s yeast as well as sourdough, and include gluten-containing grains.
Check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack you choose, especially if you’re catering for someone with a food allergy or following a gluten-free diet.
Bake-at-home baguettes take up oven or air fryer space just before serving, which you may need for other dishes.
Plan when to bake them, with the instructions on the pack to hand. If that won’t work, choose a loaf you can slice in advance.
You may have portions left over after dinner if you buy a whole loaf.
Decide in advance how much you want to serve and check the storage instructions. Albert Heijn says AH OerDesem donker meergranen can be frozen on the day of purchase.
AH OerDesem donker meergranen is a whole, sliced multigrain sourdough loaf.
Jumbo includes desem bruin meergranen in its rustic sourdough range.
Lidl describes a 600 g organic rustic multigrain sourdough loaf with seeds and kernels.
ALDI stocks multigrain bread and bake-at-home multigrain options in its bread range.
PLUS lists bake-at-home Korenlanders Desem demi baguettes meergranen and Korenlanders Desem Meergranen Boekweit, among other products.
Dirk lists multigrain bread and sourdough bread in its bread range.
These two Lekhaven Bakkerij packs are suitable for a Christmas dinner where you want to defrost and bake individual multigrain baguettes. Choose between four baguettes and two packs of four; make sure you have time to use the oven and check the latest ingredients and allergen information before serving.
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For anyone who wants to bake several individual baguettes for Christmas dinner. The product information lists sourdough among the ingredients and gives instructions for defrosting and baking, so allow time to use the oven. Check the current packaging for the ingredients, allergens and proportion of wholemeal flour.
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For anyone who wants to bake four individual baguettes. The product information lists sourdough and gives instructions for defrosting and oven preparation; check the current packaging for the baking time. Also check the ingredients, allergens and proportion of wholemeal flour.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain, but the name doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour has been used. Check the ingredients list and compare the fibre per 100 g in the nutritional information.
You can’t tell from the name alone. The multigrain sourdough breads described by Albert Heijn and PLUS contain both sourdough and baker’s yeast; check the ingredients of the bread you buy.
Yes, if you choose a product designed to be baked at home and have room in your oven or air fryer. PLUS says its Korenlanders Desem demi baguettes meergranen take 8–10 minutes in an oven at 220 °C; follow the cooking instructions on the packaging for other products.
Don’t assume that bread is suitable just because it’s labelled ‘sourdough’ or ‘multigrain’. The breads mentioned from Albert Heijn and PLUS contain gluten-containing grains; check the latest allergen information for each specific product and agree your choice with your guest.
You can’t assume that all bread does. Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in AH OerDesem donker meergranen, and PLUS lists it in its Korenlanders Desem demi baguettes meergranen. Check the ingredients list for the specific bread if the type of salt matters to your choice.
