Which breakfast option is right for you?

Planning a family breakfast

If you want to make filled sandwiches for several people on Sunday without baking the bread first, a whole, sliced loaf is a practical choice. Check the label if the proportion of wholemeal flour matters to you.

Fans of fresh-from-the-oven bread

You want to bake the bread shortly before serving and can set aside time and use an oven or air fryer. Check the instructions for your chosen product before planning breakfast.

Label-conscious bread buyers

If fibre, wholemeal ingredients, salt or allergens influence your choice, look beyond the words multigrain and sourdough. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and read the latest ingredients and allergen information.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want to serve sliced bread or a bake-at-home option. Then compare the labels of products suited to the occasion.

What to consider What should you check? Who might this matter to?
Wholemeal content and fibre Check the ingredients and compare the proportion of wholemeal flour and the fibre per 100 g. If I choose bread for its wholemeal ingredients and fibre, I want to be able to check that on the label. Around 40% of consumers prioritise this nutritional information.
Preparation and serving time Check whether the bread needs baking and what time, temperature and equipment the packaging recommends. I want to bake the rolls just before breakfast, so I need to allow time for that. For around 30% of consumers, serving time is the biggest consideration.
Flavour and shape Decide whether you want a whole loaf or smaller rolls, and check which grains, kernels, seeds and raising agents are listed. For a shared breakfast, I’m mainly looking for a shape and ingredients that work well with the toppings on the table. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this too.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming multigrain means wholemeal

    According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain. The name alone doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour the bread contains.

    Read the ingredients list and compare the fibre per 100 g. Don’t judge by a dark colour or visible kernels alone.

  • Assuming sourdough contains no baker’s yeast

    Sourdough bread can also contain baker’s yeast. Albert Heijn lists both ingredients in AH OerDesem donker meergranen heel gesneden.

    If you want bread raised exclusively with sourdough, check the full ingredients list rather than relying on the product name alone.

  • Leaving allergen checks until you’re at the table

    The Albert Heijn and PLUS breads described here list cereals containing gluten; potential cross-contact allergens may vary by product.

    Before buying, read the latest ingredients and allergen information, including any statements about ingredients the product may contain.

  • Buying bake-at-home bread without planning breakfast

    Bake-at-home bread needs to be prepared shortly before serving. The time and equipment required depend on the product.

    Read the preparation instructions before choosing. If baking doesn’t fit into your morning, consider sliced or ready-baked bread instead.

Brands to consider

These brands offer examples of different bread styles and ways to shop. Compare the latest information for the specific loaf you want to buy.

Albert Heijn

An example of a whole, sliced multigrain sourdough loaf for sharing.

  • AH OerDesem donker meergranen heel gesneden is listed as 800 g, with 44% wholemeal wheat flour, 7.1% wholemeal wheat sourdough and 6.6 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The ingredients also include baker’s yeast and cereals containing gluten. Check the packaging for the latest ingredients and allergen information.

Jumbo

A place to shop for products including multigrain brown sourdough bread.

  • Jumbo says the breads in its rustic sourdough range are left to rise for more than 24 hours using fresh sourdough, then baked in store.
  • Jumbo says these breads aren’t available to order online. Check in store to see which bread and product information are available.

Lidl

An in-store option if you’re looking for multigrain sourdough with kernels and seeds.

  • Lidl describes its Rustiek meergranen desembrood as white multigrain sourdough with kernels and seeds.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for the loaf you choose in store.

PLUS

A brand offering multigrain sourdough with buckwheat, as well as separate bake-at-home demi-baguettes.

  • PLUS Korenlanders Desem Meergranen Boekweit lists 4.9 g of fibre and 0.91 g of salt per 100 g. PLUS provides separate oven and air fryer instructions for its demi-baguettes.
  • The products have different ingredients and preparation methods. Check the allergen information for each option and, for the demi-baguettes, read the preparation instructions.

ALDI

A place to shop for fresh multigrain bread and wholemeal multigrain bread.

  • ALDI’s fresh range includes products such as luxe vloerbrood meergranen and boeren volkoren meergranen.
  • If sourdough is a must for you, check the product name and ingredients of the loaf you choose.

Dirk

A place to shop for a range that includes multigrain and sourdough bread.

  • Dirk lists products including vloerbrood meergranen and also offers sourdough as a type of bread.
  • For a specific loaf, check whether it is both multigrain and sourdough, and read the latest ingredients list.

Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does multigrain mean that bread is wholemeal?

No. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain bread contains at least three different types of grain; that doesn’t automatically tell you how much of it is wholemeal. Read the ingredients list if the proportion of wholemeal flour influences your choice.

Is multigrain sourdough always made without baker’s yeast?

No. According to Albert Heijn, AH OerDesem donker meergranen heel gesneden lists both wholemeal wheat sourdough and baker’s yeast. If you’re looking for bread raised exclusively with sourdough, check the ingredients for the specific loaf.

How do I check for allergens in multigrain sourdough?

Read the latest ingredients and allergen information for the specific product. The Albert Heijn and PLUS breads described here list cereals containing gluten; also look out for any statements about ingredients the bread may contain.

How can I tell whether my bread contains iodised salt?

Check the ingredients list for iodised salt. The Albert Heijn bread reviewed and the PLUS bake-at-home demi-baguettes described here list this ingredient, but don’t assume another bread in the same product category has the same ingredients.

How long should multigrain sourdough demi-baguettes go in the oven?

It depends on the product. For PLUS Korenlanders Desem demi baguettes meergranen, PLUS recommends 8–10 minutes in a preheated oven at 220 °C, or 5–6 minutes in an air fryer at 200 °C. For other varieties, follow the instructions on the packaging.