If you want to choose the thickness of your slices for generously filled sandwiches, pick a whole loaf to slice at home. Pre-sliced bread or individual rolls are more practical when you want to make and hand out sandwiches quickly. With pre-sliced bread, check the actual slice thickness, and keep any fillings that need to be chilled cool while you’re travelling.
If you’re planning to add plenty of vegetables or a creamy filling, a whole loaf lets you choose how thick to slice it. You can also pack moist fillings separately and make up your sandwiches at the picnic spot.
Pre-sliced bread and individual rolls save you the effort of slicing and make it easier to hand out portions. Pack any fillings that would normally be kept in the fridge in a cool bag. According to the Voedingscentrum, you should throw these products away if they have been left unrefrigerated for more than two hours.
You can slice a wholemeal loaf yourself; with pre-sliced wholemeal bread, check that the slices suit your fillings. The Voedingscentrum describes wholemeal bread as a type of bread that’s high in fibre, vitamins and minerals. If you have specific ingredient requirements, check the packaging too.
Choose this if: you want to match the slice thickness to your fillings and portion sizes.
Bear in mind: you’ll need time at home and a bread knife to slice the loaf.
Choose this if: you want to make sandwiches quickly with evenly sliced bread.
Bear in mind: the slices are already cut to a set thickness, so check them before choosing this option for generous fillings.
Choose this if: you want to hand out individual portions without slicing a whole loaf.
Bear in mind: the size and shape of each roll affect how much room there is for fillings.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness and sturdiness | Check whether you can slice a whole loaf yourself, or look at the actual slice thickness if you’re buying pre-sliced bread. | With generous fillings, I want to choose how thick my sandwich bread is. For around 42% of consumers, a sturdy bread base comes first. |
| Keeping chilled fillings cool while travelling | Take a cool bag and clean, sealable containers for products that need to stay chilled. | If my fillings come from the fridge, I want to keep them cool and sealed while travelling. This is the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Choosing wholemeal | Check that the bread is labelled wholemeal, then choose the type of loaf you want. | I want to bring wholemeal bread without compromising on the portions I need. This is a priority for around 25% of consumers. |
The term multigrain doesn’t mean that a loaf is wholemeal. You could end up taking a different type of bread than you intended.
If wholemeal is what you’re looking for, check the label and then choose the shape and slice thickness to suit your fillings.
A product photo or an English description won’t necessarily show how thick each slice is.
Check the actual slice thickness of pre-sliced bread, or choose a whole loaf if you want to decide for yourself.
Thick slices won’t keep chilled fillings cool. According to the Voedingscentrum, you should throw away products that would normally be kept in the fridge if they have been left unrefrigerated for more than two hours.
Pack these products in a cool bag and take them out of the fridge shortly before you leave.
A general agreement on the use of baker’s salt doesn’t tell you which type of salt has been used in an individual loaf.
If you have a specific question about iodine or ingredients, check the packaging and, if necessary, ask the baker which type of salt they use.
At Albert Heijn, you can compare whole and pre-sliced loaves, among other options.
At Jumbo, you can compare loaves and individual rolls side by side.
Lidl is an option if you want to look at pre-sliced wholemeal bread in store.
At ALDI, you can compare a pre-sliced wholemeal option with a wholemeal loaf.
PLUS offers a range of whole and half wholemeal loaves to compare by shape.
At Dirk, you can compare whole and half wholemeal loaves with individual rolls.
These whole, round loaves are suitable if you’d like to slice your own bread for a picnic. Decide in advance how thick you want the slices for your fillings. You’ll also need to allow time to defrost, bake and cool these products.
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For anyone who wants to slice their own bread for picnic sandwiches with fillings. This pack contains two round loaves, each weighing 550 g. Allow time to defrost, bake and cool them before slicing.
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For anyone who wants to choose the slice thickness without buying a pack of two loaves. This round loaf weighs 550 g and needs to be defrosted, baked and cooled before slicing.
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For anyone who wants to slice their own bread and is looking for two round multigrain loaves. Each loaf weighs 550 g; allow time to defrost, bake and cool them. Check the packaging if you specifically want wholemeal bread.
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For anyone who wants to buy one round multigrain loaf to slice at home. The loaf weighs 550 g and needs time to defrost, bake and cool. The term multigrain doesn’t confirm that it’s wholemeal.
No. Slicing your own bread thickly lets you choose the right size slices for generous fillings, while pre-sliced bread or individual rolls need less preparation and can be handy for smaller portions. Check the actual slice thickness if you’re buying pre-sliced bread.
The Voedingscentrum recommends packing them in a cool bag and taking them out of the fridge shortly before you leave. Use clean, sealed packaging, and throw away products that would normally be kept chilled if they have been left unrefrigerated for more than two hours.
Don’t assume this is the case for every loaf. In 2008, Overheid.nl described an agreement encouraging the use of iodised salt in bread-making. Check the ingredients list on the bread you buy or ask the baker.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging of the bread you buy. For an opened soft roll, the Voedingscentrum’s storage guide recommends keeping it for 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard or 1 to 3 months in the freezer. Freezing it for longer may make the bread drier.
