Host of a special meal
Looking for bread for a sharing platter, leisurely lunch or dinner where crust, flavour and presentation all matter.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shopper looking for fibre
Wants to serve something special without losing sight of the type of bread and its nutritional information. A rustic appearance alone doesn’t tell you whether bread is wholemeal.
Shopper with an allergen or gluten-free requirement
Needs information about the bread that will actually be served. Sourdough, spelt and seeds are no substitute for an explicit gluten-free label or allergen information.
What should you consider when choosing?
Start with any requirements around ingredients and allergens. Then compare the type of bread with what you’d like to serve and consider how much preparation it needs.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and presentation | Check the type and shape of the loaf, and consider whether you’d like a substantial, rustic crust. | For a sharing platter or celebratory lunch, I want bread that’s a visible part of the meal too; an estimated 36% of consumers are expected to put flavour and presentation first. |
| Fibre and type of bread | Look for a wholemeal product description and compare the fibre content per 100 g in the nutritional information; if you wish, check the ingredients for iodised salt. | If the bread will also be served at an everyday lunch, I want to know whether the special-occasion loaf is wholemeal. Fibre and nutritional value are expected to be the top priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Allergens and gluten-free requirements | Read the allergen information for the specific loaf and, if required, look for an explicit gluten-free label. | If someone eating the meal needs to avoid certain ingredients, I can’t rely on the words sourdough or spelt; this check is expected to matter most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Serving time and availability | Check where the bread is available and, for bake-at-home or frozen bread, read the storage and preparation instructions. | If the meal starts at a set time, I want to be able to buy or prepare the bread in good time. This is expected to be the main concern for around 14% of consumers. |
Common pitfalls
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Mistaking a rustic look for wholemeal
A dark crust, sourdough or seeds don’t automatically make a loaf wholemeal. If fibre is your main priority, you could end up choosing a different type of bread from the one you intended.
Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product description and compare the nutritional information per 100 g.
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Relying on sourdough or spelt when you have an allergen requirement
Bread made with a special type of grain or method can still contain allergens. Even products labelled gluten-free need to be checked for any other relevant allergens.
For packaged bread, read the label. For unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information before buying, as advised by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.
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Assuming bake-at-home bread is ready to serve
Thawing, baking and cooling can all affect your planned serving time.
Read the instructions for your chosen product before planning the meal.
Remember to allow for the oven space you’ll need and, for frozen products, suitable freezer space.
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Assuming you can order in-store bread online
Jumbo says its rustic sourdough loaves are available in-store only. Lidl says its fresh bread selection can vary between stores.
Check with your chosen store in advance if a particular loaf is important for the meal.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
Liefde & Passie OerDesem and a separate gluten-free sourdough loaf offer different options for comparing product information.
- Albert Heijn states that Biologisch OerDesem blond weighs 600 g, has a 56-hour proving process and contains iodised salt.
- Check the label of your chosen loaf: ingredients and allergens can vary by product, and product information may change.
Jumbo
Jumbo describes its rustic sourdough loaves as baked in-store and available in eight flavour varieties.
- According to Jumbo, these sourdough loaves are proved for more than 24 hours.
- Jumbo says the loaves are only available in its stores and can’t be ordered online.
PLUS
Korenlanders includes sourdough bread and bread to bake at home, so preparation method can also factor into your choice.
- PLUS describes Korenlanders sourdough as slow-proved and baked on a stone oven floor.
- Check which varieties are available at your chosen store and time, and how they’re prepared.
Lidl
Lidl offers oven-fresh, packaged and bake-at-home bread for you to compare.
- Lidl says its bread is freshly baked from 06.00.
- According to Lidl, its fresh selection can vary between stores, so check whether your preferred type of bread is available at your chosen store.
ALDI
Bakkersgoud Rustiek is a range of hearth-baked loaves for anyone looking for rustic bread to serve with a meal.
- ALDI describes the Spelt variety as a hearth-baked loaf topped with oats, seeds and kernels.
- Check availability in-store; the description of one variety doesn’t necessarily apply to the whole range.
Dirk
Dirk’s bread range includes sourdough, multigrain, spelt, hearth-baked and wholemeal bread.
- These different product descriptions make it possible to compare types of bread across the range.
- Check the ingredients, nutritional information and preparation method for the specific product, rather than relying on the range name.
Bread for special meals at Joybuy
This selection ranges from rustic baguettes and round loaves to wholemeal bread and brioche burger buns. Choose a shape to suit your meal, then check how each product should be stored and prepared.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette 4 x 135 g
These four rustic multigrain baguettes are a good option if you’d like to serve individual loaves with a meal.
This frozen product needs to be thawed and baked. Follow the pack instructions for baking time and check the allergen information.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread 550 g
This 550 g round wholemeal loaf is a good fit for a meal where the type of bread matters more than simply its rustic appearance.
Thawing and baking at home take a little preparation. Check the pack for baking time and allergen information.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Natural Rustic Round Bread 550 g
This 550 g round loaf is an option if you’d like to put a single rustic loaf on the table for everyone to share.
Joybuy recommends thawing this product for four hours at room temperature or overnight in the fridge. Check the pack for further preparation instructions and allergen information.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Natural Rustic Baguette 4 x 135 g
Four rustic baguettes, weighing 135 g each, suit a meal where individual loaves are more practical than one round loaf to share.
Allow time to thaw and bake this frozen product. Follow the preparation instructions on the pack and check the allergen information.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Brioche Hamburger Buns 2 x 50 g
These two brioche burger buns, weighing 50 g each, are made for a burger meal rather than as a round loaf to share at the table.
According to the product information, this frozen product needs around four hours to thaw. Check the pack for ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Is sourdough automatically wholemeal?
No. Sourdough describes how the bread is made; it doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether it’s wholemeal. If fibre is the deciding factor for you, look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product description and compare the nutritional information per 100 g.
How do I check allergens in fresh bread?
For packaged bread, read the allergen information on the label. For unpackaged bread, ask the retailer for the information before buying, especially if a particular ingredient or the possibility of its presence matters to someone eating it.
Does all bread contain iodised salt?
Don’t assume it does: check the ingredients list of your chosen loaf for iodised salt or baker’s salt. For example, Albert Heijn lists iodised salt for Biologisch OerDesem blond; this doesn’t tell you anything about other loaves or future recipes.
When should I start preparing frozen bread?
Work backwards from when you want to serve it, following the instructions for your chosen product. For Lekhaven Bakkerij Natural Rustic Round Bread, Joybuy recommends thawing for four hours at room temperature or overnight in the fridge. Allow for the stated baking time and make sure you have enough oven space, too.