Choose a whole, sliced multigrain sourdough loaf if you’re serving filled slices to several people. A small loaf means there’s less to go round, while bake-at-home bread is ideal if you want to serve it warm just before your Mother’s Day brunch. Remember to allow time for preparation, and check the ingredients, allergens and whether baker’s salt is used for each loaf: the words ‘multigrain’ and ‘sourdough’ don’t tell you everything.
Bake-at-home baguettes are a good option if you want to finish preparing the bread just before you eat. Make sure you have enough time and space in the oven or air fryer, as cooking instructions vary by product. Jumbo also sells a multigrain sourdough loaf that’s baked fresh in store.
A whole, sliced loaf is easy to share when you’re serving several people. Albert Heijn lists AH OerDesem dark multigrain as a whole, sliced 800 g loaf. That size may be more than you need for a small brunch.
If you’re keeping an eye on grains, allergens, fibre or salt, compare the nutritional information and ingredients for each loaf. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says baker’s salt is not compulsory, so check the packaging to see whether iodised salt or baker’s salt has been used.
First, decide how much bread you want to serve at your Mother’s Day table and whether you want to bake it just before the meal. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the specific loaves you’re considering.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Serving it warm | Check whether the bread is ready to serve or needs to be defrosted or baked first, and look at the cooking time on the packaging. | I want to serve the bread warm just before brunch and can set aside time to prepare it. An estimated 36% of consumers prioritise serving it this way. |
| Quantity and size | Compare the weight and choose between a whole, sliced loaf, a small loaf or individual rolls. | If several people are eating, I want enough slices to fill and share. For around 29% of consumers, this is the main consideration. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Read the ingredients and allergen information. Compare fibre and salt on the same basis, for example per 100 g, and check whether baker’s salt is listed if needed. | I need to know which grains and allergens the bread contains before serving it. This is the main concern for an estimated 21% of consumers. |
| Minimal preparation | Check whether you’ll need to visit a shop or bake the bread at home, and read the storage and preparation instructions. | I want to keep serving the bread simple and have as little to do as possible on the morning itself. Around 14% of consumers prioritise keeping preparation to a minimum. |
Bread can contain both sourdough and baker’s yeast. The ingredient information for multigrain sourdough products from Jumbo and PLUS, among others, shows that they can be used together.
Read the full ingredients list if the method of preparation or a particular ingredient is important to your choice.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. You can’t tell which salt has been added just from the type of bread.
For packaged bread, look for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’ on the label. For unpackaged bread, ask the shop or baker about the ingredients.
Jumbo says its fresh sourdough loaves are baked in store and aren’t available to order online. That means a visit to the shop needs to be part of your preparations.
Before brunch, check how you can buy the bread you’ve chosen. Choose bake-at-home bread if that works better with your plans.
‘Multigrain’ doesn’t tell you whether all the grains used are wholegrain. The multigrain sourdough products mentioned may contain wheat, rye, barley, spelt or other allergens.
Check the grains and allergens for each product, and look for an explicit wholegrain or gluten-free claim if that’s important to you.
Bread types, preparation methods and ingredients vary between these brands, so choose based on the specific product and its current packaging.
Offers whole, sliced multigrain sourdough loaves, ideal for preparing slices to serve at a larger brunch.
Offers both a fresh in-store brown multigrain sourdough loaf and pre-baked multigrain rolls and a baguette.
Lists multigrain sourdough in various sizes, including a small pre-baked loaf and demi baguettes.
Lists a 600 g organic rustic multigrain sourdough loaf with seeds.
Lists multigrain bread and sourdough as bread categories, and offers a 440 g rustic multigrain bake-at-home baguette.
Lists fresh daily multigrain bread and Boeren wholemeal multigrain as regular multigrain options.
These two Lekhaven Bakkerij options are ideal if you want to bake multigrain baguettes at home for your Mother’s Day brunch. They’re not a substitute for choosing a whole or small loaf that’s ready to serve, and you’ll also need to allow time to defrost these baguettes.
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For anyone who wants to bake individual multigrain baguettes for brunch; the product name lists four baguettes weighing 135 g each.
Allow around four hours to defrost at room temperature before baking, or put the bread in the fridge the night before. The ingredients list wheat, barley, sesame and yeast. Check the label if allergens or the type of salt used are important to you.
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For anyone who wants to bake multigrain baguettes at home for brunch. Check how many baguettes are in each pack before buying, as the quantities in the product title and description differ.
Allow around four hours to defrost at room temperature, or put the bread in the fridge the night before. The ingredients list wheat, barley, sesame and yeast. Check the label if allergens or the type of salt used are important to you.
No. Sourdough bread may also contain baker’s yeast; this is shown in the ingredients information for multigrain sourdough products from Jumbo and PLUS, for example. Read the ingredients list if you’re looking for a specific method of preparation.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For packaged bread, check the ingredients list for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’. For unpackaged bread, ask which salt has been used.
No. The multigrain sourdough products mentioned contain wheat, rye or other gluten-containing grains, among other ingredients. If gluten-free bread is essential for your group, choose a loaf that’s explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the allergen information on the packaging.
Follow the storage instructions for the product you choose, especially if it still needs to be defrosted or baked. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ordinary bread goes stale more quickly in the fridge. Throw away any mouldy bread.
