Smaller households with bread left over
If you don't eat lots of bread every day, half a loaf may suit the way you eat. Freezing bread in portions straight away is another way to store it; Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling recommends this approach.
Who might find this choice useful?
Breakfast eaters looking to compare fibre
If bread is a regular part of your breakfast, you can choose wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the fibre in wholemeal bread; nutritional information varies between Melba toast products.
Breakfast eaters who want something to keep in the cupboard
If you want a crunchy base that you can top straight away, Melba toast could suit you. Check the quantity in each pack and also look at the salt and allergens for the product you choose.
What should you look for when choosing?
For a quick breakfast in a smaller household, how quickly you use it up is the main factor in deciding whether half a loaf, Melba toast or rusks will be practical. Then compare the nutritional information for the product you actually plan to buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and waste | Compare the loaf size or number of inner packs with how much you will use; consider whether you can freeze bread in portions straight away. | If I eat bread in a small household, I don't want to buy a whole loaf that gets left uneaten. Around 42% of consumers would say avoiding leftover bread is their main reason for buying. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check whether the bread is wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g on the packaging for the exact product. | If I eat the same breakfast often, I want to know which product I'm choosing rather than judging by its colour or the word ‘multigrain’. Around 33% of consumers would put this choice of wholemeal bread and fibre first. |
| Ready to eat and easy to store | Check the pack size and storage instructions after opening; also check the salt and allergens. | On busy mornings, I want to be able to grab a base and top it straight away. This convenience would be the main reason for buying for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Buying a whole loaf when you don't eat much bread
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bread is one of the foods that Dutch households often throw away. Bread left uneaten won't help you have a quick breakfast.
Choose half a loaf if that better suits how much you eat, or freeze bread in portions straight away, as advised by Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling.
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Judging by the colour or the word ‘multigrain’
These features don't tell you how much fibre the toast or bread you choose contains. Nutritional values vary between Melba toast products.
Check whether the product is wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g on the current packaging.
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Assuming every loaf or type of toast contains iodine
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren't required to use bakers' salt. So you can't tell whether a product contains it just from its category.
Check the label for bakers' salt or iodised salt, or ask about the ingredients if you're buying unwrapped bread.
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Assuming small pieces of toast mean less salt or no allergens
Nutritional information and ingredients vary between Melba toast products; cereals, sesame or soya may also be relevant.
Read the allergen information and compare the salt per 100 g on the packaging for the exact product.
Brands to compare
Van der Meulen
Melba toast for anyone looking for a crunchy base for breakfast or toppings.
- Albert Heijn lists the wholemeal version as 6 packs of 6 pieces of toast.
- Check the fibre, salt and allergens for each product; wholemeal and multigrain don't have the same ingredients.
Albert Heijn
Own-brand Melba toast to compare with half a loaf or a smaller pack of toast.
- Albert Heijn lists AH Melba toast naturel in a multipack of 12 packs of 6 pieces of toast.
- Consider whether you'll use the full quantity and compare the nutritional information with other products.
Jumbo
A point of comparison for households considering half a wholemeal loaf.
- Jumbo lists both whole and half loaves in its bread range.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and availability of the product you choose.
Bolletje
A brand to consider if you're looking for rusks in smaller portions.
- Albert Heijn lists a Bolletje rusk product that is individually wrapped.
- Albert Heijn listed this specific product as no longer in its range; check what's currently available and the allergens for any alternative you choose.
Lidl
A supermarket range where you can compare half a loaf with Melba toast.
- Lidl lists a 400 g half loaf of extra wholemeal bread and 240 g Melba toast.
- These products are listed as available in store only; check the packaging there for ingredients and nutritional information.
ALDI en Sun Snacks
Product ranges to compare if you're considering half a wholemeal loaf alongside Melba toast to keep in the cupboard.
- ALDI lists half a loaf of extra high-fibre wholemeal bread and Sun Snacks Melba Toast Naturel, 240 g.
- Check the current packaging, nutritional information and availability for each product.
Melba toast for a quick breakfast
These Joybuy products are Melba toast: a crunchy base you can top straight away. Compare the pack size with how much you use; if you prefer slices of bread or like to freeze bread in portions, consider half a wholemeal loaf instead.
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Delverde Classic Melba Toast, 100 g
Melba toast for anyone looking for a smaller pack to use as a ready-to-top breakfast base.
Pack size: 100 g. Check the current packaging if the number of inner packs, fibre, allergens or iodised salt matters to your choice.
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Crispy Melba Toast, 240 g
Melba toast for anyone who regularly uses a ready-to-top base and is considering a larger pack.
Pack size: 240 g. Check that you'll use this quantity. Check the allergens on the current packaging before buying; the available product description gives conflicting information about them.
Frequently asked questions
How can I avoid having bread left over if I don't eat much?
Choose half a loaf if that quantity better suits how much you eat, or freeze bread in portions as soon as you buy it. The latter is also the storage advice from Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling.
Can Melba toast replace half a wholemeal loaf?
It depends on what you're looking for: Melba toast is a crunchy option you can keep in the cupboard and top straight away, but nutritional information varies between products. If wholemeal and fibre matter to your choice, compare the product name and fibre per 100 g on the packaging; the Netherlands Nutrition Centre highlights the fibre in wholemeal bread.
Does bread or Melba toast always contain iodine?
No, you can't assume that for every product. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren't required to use bakers' salt. So check the ingredients for bakers' salt or iodised salt, or ask about it when buying unwrapped bread.
Where can I check the allergens in toast and rusks?
Read the allergen information on the current packaging for the specific product. Ingredients vary between products, so don't assume a new flavour or pack has the same ingredients as one you've bought before.