For a shared lunch, choose a whole seeded loaf explicitly labelled wholemeal if you’re looking for a wholemeal base; individual rolls are easier to hand out at a picnic. Part-baked baguettes are a good option if you have the time and equipment to bake them at home. Whatever you choose, check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and storage or preparation instructions.
You can slice a whole loaf yourself and make sandwiches for a group. If you’re specifically looking for a wholemeal base with seeds, check that the loaf is labelled wholemeal. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo examples we looked at list 7 and 8 g of fibre per 100 g respectively; compare other loaves on the same basis.
Multigrain rolls are easy to hand out individually, without having to slice a loaf on the spot. Products from PLUS, Dirk and Lidl show that seeded rolls are available, but you’ll need to check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging of each product you choose.
Part-baked multigrain baguettes are a good option if you can use an oven or air fryer at home and factor the preparation into your plans. The PLUS version we looked at includes separate instructions for both appliances.
First decide whether you’re looking for a wholemeal base, easy-to-share portions or bread to serve later. Then check the details on the product you’re actually buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal base and fibre | Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre per 100 g; the term “multigrain” alone doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour the bread contains. | If I’m choosing bread as the base for a shared lunch, I want to know what’s in it rather than judging by the seeded crust alone. For around 33% of consumers, a wholemeal base and fibre content come first. |
| Bread shape and portions | Choose between a whole loaf to slice yourself and individual rolls or baguettes to hand out; if you want a noticeable seed texture, check the ingredients. | For a picnic, I want to be able to give everyone an individual portion without bringing a whole loaf to slice. Easy sharing is the main priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Check the current packaging for, among other things, cereals containing gluten, sesame and any warnings about the possible presence of allergens. | If someone in my group needs to avoid certain ingredients, the product I choose must meet that requirement. For around 20% of consumers, this check matters most. |
| Preparation and storage | Read the storage and freezing instructions; for part-baked bread, check the equipment required and preparation time too. | If I’m buying bread in advance or want to bake it just before leaving, it needs to fit into my plans for the day. For around 20% of consumers, planning is their main concern. |
“Multigrain” and “seeded” don’t, on their own, tell you how much wholemeal flour a loaf contains. A dark colour or visible seeds won’t tell you either.
Look for the wholemeal label and compare fibre per 100 g on the packaging if this matters to your choice.
The bread products we looked at list cereals containing gluten and sesame, among other ingredients. Depending on the product, they may also contain soya or milk, or carry warnings about the possible presence of allergens.
If you have an allergy or need to follow a restricted diet, check the current packaging of the bread you’ve chosen before serving it.
A part-baked baguette still needs equipment and time to prepare. The PLUS baguettes we looked at, for example, have separate instructions for ovens and air fryers.
Read the preparation instructions before deciding when to leave. If you don’t want to prepare anything on the spot, choose bread that the packaging says is ready to serve.
Albert Heijn warns that ingredients and allergen information for the bread we looked at may change. This is particularly important if an ingredient determines whether someone can eat the bread.
Use product pages to help you decide in advance, then check the packaging of the version you take with you when you buy it.
These examples can help you compare bread shapes and product information. The features listed apply to the products described, not necessarily to a shop’s entire range.
The whole AH Les Pains Bastille loaf is a wholemeal multiseed bread for anyone who wants to slice their own sandwiches for a group.
Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranenbrood is a whole loaf with seeds and kernels.
PLUS offers both wholemeal multigrain rolls for individual portions and part-baked wholemeal multigrain baguettes.
The Bakker van der Akker Multikorn multigrain rolls described here offer individual portions with seeds and kernels.
ALDI describes a boeren volkoren meergranenbrood loaf in its fresh daily range.
The multigrain rolls described here are an in-store option if you’re looking for individual portions.
This selection includes round multigrain loaves to slice yourself and individual multigrain baguettes to bake at home. If you’re specifically looking for a wholemeal base, check the label and ingredients on the packaging you choose; “multigrain” in the product name isn’t enough.
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An option if you want to slice round loaves yourself for a shared lunch.
According to the product name, the pack contains two 550 g loaves. If you’re baking them at home, allow time for thawing and cooling, and follow the instructions on the packaging.
Check the current ingredients and allergens, especially if wheat or sesame is a concern for your group.
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A round loaf to slice into portions yourself for a shared lunch.
The product name lists a weight of 550 g. If you’re baking it at home, allow time for thawing and cooling, and check the preparation instructions on the packaging.
Check the current ingredients and allergens if you need to avoid wheat or sesame.
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Four individual baguettes are a good fit for a lunch with separate portions, as long as you have time to prepare them at home.
The product name lists four baguettes weighing 135 g each. Check the baking time on the current packaging before planning when to leave.
Also check the ingredients and allergens on the packaging if wheat or sesame is a concern for your group.
No. Check that the bread you choose is explicitly labelled wholemeal and read the ingredients; “multigrain” and “seeded” alone aren’t enough. The Albert Heijn and Jumbo loaves described here are labelled wholemeal, but you can’t assume the same is true of other multigrain breads.
You can only assess this for the specific product by checking its current packaging. The products described here list cereals containing gluten and, in some cases, sesame or warnings about the possible presence of allergens. Anyone with a dietary restriction they need to follow should check all the information on the label.
Some products can be frozen at home on the day you buy them. Albert Heijn lists this as an option for the Les Pains Bastille loaf described here, while PLUS gives this advice for the wholemeal multigrain rolls described here, recommending that you use them within one month. Follow the instructions on the packaging you buy.
For the PLUS wholemeal multigrain baguettes described here, PLUS recommends 8–10 minutes in a preheated oven at 220 °C. For a preheated air fryer, the recommended time is 5–6 minutes at 200 °C. For other products, follow the instructions on their own packaging.
No, you can’t assume that every loaf does. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine can be added to bread and other bakery products through baker’s salt. If this matters to your purchase, check the ingredients list on the bread you choose.
