Families sharing breakfast
If you’re feeding several people, a pack with individually wrapped portions can be handy: open what you need and keep the rest unopened. Check how many inner packs there are, not just the total weight.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers choosing toppings first
The base makes a difference with cheese, egg, hummus or vegetables. Choose between thin melba toast, mini crackers and toasts with a raised edge.
Breakfast shoppers comparing labels
If you’re keeping an eye on salt, fibre or specific ingredients, the nutritional information and allergen details for the particular product are more useful than the words ‘plain’ or the pack size.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide which shape will work with your toppings and how you want to divide up the pack. Jumbo’s product examples include mini crackers, melba toast and snack cups, so a bigger pack doesn’t necessarily mean more of the same type of toast.
Mini crackers in individual portions
A good fit for: breakfasts where you want to open separate portions for several people.
Bear in mind: mini crackers are a different shape from thin melba toast.
Classic melba toast
A good fit for: savoury toppings on a thin, neutral toast base.
Bear in mind: the Van der Meulen pack shown contains 120 g, so it’s not the same as a 250 g multipack.
Toasts with a raised edge
A good fit for: soft or loose toppings that you’d rather spoon into a toast.
Bear in mind: the Haust Snack Cups shown contain 130 g; check separately whether that’s enough for the number of people you’re serving.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Portions and storage | Check the total weight, number of inner portions and storage instructions after opening. | When we’re having breakfast with several people, I want to open only what we’ll use and keep the rest crisp. For around 36% of consumers, portioning is the top priority. |
| Shape and nutritional information | Choose a shape that works with your toppings and compare salt, fibre and ingredients per 100 g on the labels. | I want a base for savoury toppings that also suits my dietary choices, so I look beyond the word ‘plain’. This combination is the main consideration for around 46% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients, allergen details and any ‘may contain’ statement on the current packaging. | If someone at the table needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to check what’s in each product and what the label says about possible cross-contamination. This check matters most to around 18% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a large pack contains classic toast
A 250 g pack may contain mini crackers rather than thin melba toast. The weight doesn’t tell you how large or what shape the individual crackers are.
Check the product name, image and portioning before choosing a pack for the toppings you want to serve.
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Assuming ‘plain’ tells you about salt or allergens
Plain describes the variety; it doesn’t automatically tell you about the nutritional value or ingredients. For example, according to Jumbo’s product information, Van der Meulen Melba Toast Natural contains wheat, barley and soya.
Compare salt and fibre per 100 g, and check the current allergen details for each product individually.
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Assuming all toast contains baker’s salt
The Voedingscentrum explains that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell whether it’s been used from the product name ‘toast’ alone.
Check the ingredients on the pack or ask the manufacturer if this is important to your choice.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
Jumbo’s toast range includes both classic toast and mini crackers, giving you a choice of shapes and portion sizes to compare.
- Jumbo lists its Mini Crackers Naturel in a 250 g pack, divided into eight portions of 31,25 g.
- Mini crackers aren’t the same as classic melba toast, so check that their shape works with your toppings.
Van der Meulen
Melba Toast Naturel is a thin toast base for anyone who prefers this shape to mini crackers.
- For its 120 g pack, Jumbo lists 3,9 g of fibre and 1,3 g of salt per 100 g.
- The ingredients list includes wheat, barley and soya; the pack contains less than the 250 g multipacks mentioned.
Haust
Snack Cups Naturel Ovaal have a raised edge, making them a different way to serve toppings than flat toast.
- According to the product description on Jumbo’s website, the raised edge is designed to make the toasts easier to fill.
- The pack shown contains 130 g; check whether that’s enough for the breakfast you’re planning.
Bolletje
Bolletje offers breakfast crackers, other crackers, crispbread and rusks, among other options, if you’re not specifically looking for melba toast.
- The range includes a variety of product shapes, so you can search for the type of base you want to top.
- Crackers or rusks aren’t necessarily interchangeable with melba toast; compare the shape, ingredients and nutritional information of each product.
Products for savoury toppings
These Joybuy products are crackers to use as a base for toppings, not a selection of classic melba toast or toasts with a raised edge. The two Minicracker varieties also differ in flavour. Choose the one that works with your toppings, and check the label if salt or allergens are important to your choice.
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LU Mini Cracker Natural 250 g
A plain mini cracker to consider if you want your toppings to take centre stage, but aren’t looking for classic melba toast.
Check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and portion sizes if you plan to use the pack over several breakfasts.
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LU Minicracker Salt 250 g
A salted mini cracker for serving toppings on a cracker, with individually wrapped packs for added convenience.
According to the product information on Joybuy, the pack contains eight sachets, each with five duo crackers, and has 2,8 g of salt per 100 g. Compare the salt content with other varieties if that’s important to your choice.
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LU Cracottes Natural 250 g
A plain cracker for anyone looking for a larger pack, but not specifically mini crackers or melba toast.
Check how the pack closes after opening if you want to spread the crackers over several breakfasts, and read the current ingredients and allergen details.
Frequently asked questions
How can I keep toast crisp after opening a family-size pack?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack, and if it contains individually wrapped portions, open only what you need. Store the rest as directed on the label; according to the product description, the Haust Snack Cups shown on Jumbo’s website have a resealable sticker.
Can I choose regular toast if someone needs to eat gluten-free?
Don’t choose regular toast based on the product name alone: check whether the specific product is suitable for the dietary requirement. Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel, listed on Jumbo’s website, contains wheat and barley. Also read the current allergen and potential cross-contamination information on the pack.
Does toast in the Netherlands always contain baker’s salt?
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So check the ingredients of the toast you want to buy, or ask the manufacturer whether baker’s salt has been used.