Who is this guide for?

Students who plan meals in advance

A pack of several rolls could be a good choice if you’re shopping for more than one meal. Check how many rolls you’ll use and follow the storage and baking instructions on the pack.

Students who check what’s in their food

Visible seeds don’t tell you how much wholemeal flour a roll contains. If wholemeal flour and fibre matter to you, compare the ingredients list and nutritional information per 100 g.

Shoppers who need to avoid gluten or sesame

Check the allergen statement for the exact variety, including any ‘may contain’ warnings. A gluten-free multiseed roll isn’t automatically sesame-free.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by working out how many meals you need rolls for. Then compare the ingredients and preparation instructions for the varieties that suit your plans.

What to consider What to check before buying Who should consider this?
Pack size and planning Check the number of rolls, the weight and the storage instructions. If you’re planning several evening meals, you won’t want to be left with rolls you haven’t used. A suitable pack size is a priority for around 36% of consumers.
Wholemeal flour and fibre Read the ingredients list and compare the fibre per 100 g. If I choose seeds for their texture, I also want to know whether the roll contains wholemeal flour. Ingredients are a priority for around 29% of consumers.
Preparation Check which appliances are suitable, and follow the time and temperature on the pack. After a late class, I want to know whether baking the rolls suits my appliances and the time I have available. Around 21% of consumers place the greatest importance on ease of preparation.
Allergens For the exact variety, check both ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ warnings; check for gluten and sesame separately. If you need to avoid gluten or sesame, you’ll want to check the exact ingredients before your meal. This check is the top priority for an estimated 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘multiseed’ means ‘wholemeal’

    Seeds give a roll a different texture, but on their own they tell you nothing about how much wholemeal flour it contains. PLUS states that its Pistolets meergranen contain 56% wholemeal wheat flour; you can’t tell this from the name ‘multiseed’ alone.

    Look up the ingredients and nutritional information per 100 g for the variety you want to buy. Check any stated wholemeal flour content separately from the seeds.

  • Choosing a multipack without planning your meals

    Four rolls are only practical if you know when you’ll use them or can store them according to the instructions on the pack. Jumbo and Dirk each list a pack of four rolls, but the product names don’t tell you how to store an opened pack.

    Work out how many rolls you need in advance, then read the storage and preparation instructions on the pack you choose.

  • Guessing allergens from the name of the roll

    Regular PLUS Pistolets meergranen contain cereals with gluten and may contain sesame. PLUS’s gluten-free multiseed variety does contain sesame, so ‘gluten-free’ doesn’t answer every allergen question.

    Check the full allergen statement on the pack for the exact variety, even if you’ve bought a similar roll before.

  • Assuming every roll contains iodised salt

    The fact that some rolls list iodised salt tells you nothing about the ingredients of a different roll. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that bread isn’t always baked with baker’s salt.

    Check the label to see whether ‘iodised salt’ or ‘baker’s salt’ appears in the ingredients list.

Brands compared

The features listed apply to the products described, not to every roll from a particular brand. Always compare the information for the specific variety you choose.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists, among other products, an AH Desem pistolet bruin meerzaden and organic multigrain rolls.

  • For the sourdough variety mentioned, Albert Heijn lists wholemeal wheat flour, several types of seeds and iodised salt.
  • Check availability and pack details for the product you choose; according to Albert Heijn, its organic multigrain rolls are only available in store.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists Pistolet Meerzaden in a pack of four, weighing 300 g.

  • The number of rolls and pack weight help you decide whether this pack suits your meals.
  • Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for the pack you choose; the product name doesn’t confirm the wholemeal content.

PLUS

PLUS lists regular multigrain rolls, multigrain sourdough rolls and a gluten-free multiseed variety.

  • PLUS states that its regular Pistolets meergranen contain 56% wholemeal wheat flour and 7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The varieties have different ingredients and allergens. Check for cereals containing gluten and sesame on each pack.

Dirk

Dirk lists 1 de Beste Pistolet rustiek meergranen in a pack of four, weighing 300 g.

  • The description mentions a mix of grains and makes the number of rolls clear.
  • Check the pack to see which grains and any seeds the variety contains, as well as its allergens and nutritional information.

ALDI

ALDI lists an individual white roll and multiseed bread in its bakery range.

  • A single roll could suit a meal where you only need one.
  • The white roll mentioned isn’t the same as a multiseed roll. For a multiseed product, check the exact type of bread and its ingredients.

Lidl

Lidl lists rolls in its bread range.

  • When buying a roll in store, you can check the pack before choosing a variety.
  • Lidl refers customers to the packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for food products. Read the label to check whether a roll contains seeds or wholemeal flour.

Related products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a multiseed roll automatically wholemeal?

No, seeds don’t automatically make a roll wholemeal. Check the ingredients list and any stated wholemeal flour content. For example, PLUS states that its Pistolets meergranen contain 56% wholemeal wheat flour.

How can I tell whether a roll contains iodised salt?

Check whether ‘iodised salt’ or ‘baker’s salt’ appears in the ingredients list for the roll you choose. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that bread isn’t always baked with baker’s salt, so don’t assume it is based on the type of bread alone.

Can I cook a multigrain roll in an air fryer?

You can if the preparation instructions for the variety you choose say so. PLUS recommends four minutes in a preheated air fryer at 200 °C for its Pistolets meergranen; don’t assume the same time and temperature will work for a different product.

What should I check if I need to avoid gluten or sesame?

Read the allergen statement on the exact pack, including any ‘may contain’ warnings. Regular PLUS Pistolets meergranen contain cereals with gluten and may contain sesame; PLUS’s gluten-free multiseed rolls do contain sesame.