Households that freeze bread in portions
If you buy several loaves at once, you’ll want to thaw only the slices you need. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Shoppers looking for wholemeal flour and fibre
The seeds can affect the texture, while you may be more interested in comparing the type of flour and the nutritional information. Check the ingredients list and compare fibre per 100 g within the same bread category.
Shoppers with specific ingredient or allergen requirements
If, for example, you’re looking for gluten-free bread or choosing based on protein or carbohydrate content, look beyond the front of the packaging. Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the loaf you choose.
What should you look for when stocking up?
First decide whether you want to freeze ready-to-eat bread in portions or bake part-baked bread at home. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional information for the type of bread that suits your stocking-up plans.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage and portioning | Check whether the bread can be frozen at home, and follow the storage and preparation instructions for that product type. | If I buy a lot of bread at once, I want to thaw only what I’m going to eat, so the rest can stay in the freezer. This convenient way to stock up is a priority for around 31% of consumers who buy seeded bread. |
| Wholemeal flour and fibre | Read the ingredients list and compare the amount of fibre per 100 g; don’t rely on ‘multiseed’ alone. | For my everyday sandwiches, the type of flour matters more than the visible seeds. Wholemeal flour and fibre are the first selection criteria for around 31% of these consumers. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the full ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging, including for gluten-free bread. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I need to know what’s in this particular loaf before buying several. Around 23% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Protein and carbohydrate content | Compare protein, carbohydrates, fibre and salt per 100 g, as well as the ingredients list. | I’m looking for a seeded loaf with a protein or carbohydrate content that suits the way I choose to eat. For around 15% of consumers, this is the most important point of comparison. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multiseed’ means ‘wholemeal’
The presence of seeds doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour the loaf contains. Nor does the term ‘multigrain’ on its own confirm that a loaf is wholemeal.
Look for wholemeal flour in the ingredients list and compare fibre per 100 g if that matters to your choice.
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Freezing a whole loaf without dividing it into portions
If you thaw more than you need each time, it’s harder to keep the rest of your supply frozen and unused.
Following the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice, freeze fresh bread in useful portions as soon as you buy it, and take out only what you need each time.
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Treating a dietary claim as a full label check
A gluten-free multiseed loaf may contain other allergens. For example, the Lekker Vrij van Gluten Meerzaden Brood described by Jumbo contains soya and may contain almonds, egg and milk.
Check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for the loaf you’re actually buying.
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Assuming product descriptions never change
A product description you looked at previously may not match the packaging on the loaves you buy for your supply.
When buying, check the ingredients, use-by or best-before information and storage instructions on the packaging you choose.
Brands to use as a point of comparison
The products below show what you can compare across different loaves; a product mentioned here doesn’t represent a brand’s full range.
Albert Heijn
AH ELL Eiwitrijk volkoren meerzaden half is a specific example of a wholemeal multiseed loaf with stated nutritional values.
- Albert Heijn’s product information states that this loaf contains 17 g of protein and 11 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Don’t apply these values to other Albert Heijn loaves; check the packaging of the variant you choose.
Jumbo
Jumbo has examples of both a wholemeal loaf and a gluten-free multiseed loaf.
- Jumbo Fijn Volkorenbrood lists 7.6 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Jumbo Lekker Vrij van Gluten Meerzaden Brood contains soya and may contain almonds, egg and milk; if you have an allergen requirement, check the current label.
Lidl
Lidl describes, among other products, an organic brown sourdough multigrain loaf with seeds and kernels.
- The product descriptions give you a starting point for comparing grains and seeds in different loaves.
- Check the full ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging of the loaf you choose.
ALDI
ALDI describes a bread range that includes everything from white and brown to wholemeal loaves.
- This gives you different types of bread to compare by flour type and ingredients.
- Check which multiseed variant is available in your store and what the packaging says.
PLUS
PLUS has examples of both a light multiseed loaf and a gluten-free multiseed loaf.
- PLUS Korenlanders Licht Meerzaden half states that it can be frozen at home on the day of purchase and should be used within one month.
- The gluten-free version has a different base of ingredients, so don’t compare its label as though it were the same type of bread.
Dirk
Dirk describes Bakker van der Akker Boeren meerzaden heel as a fresh brown wheat loaf with seeds.
- The product description makes clear what type of bread it is.
- Check the packaging of the loaf you choose to assess wholemeal flour, fibre and allergens.
Seeded bread at Joybuy
These two loaves suit different stocking-up plans: a multiseed part-baked loaf to store before baking, and a pack of TastyBasics bread for anyone who wants to compare the ingredients and nutritional information of a seeded loaf. Check the packaging for both before building up a larger supply.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round 550 g
An option if you want to store multiseed bread in the freezer before baking and have an oven at home.
Joybuy’s product information states that this loaf can be stored for four months before baking at −18 °C. Allow time to defrost and bake it, following the instructions on the packaging.
Check the nutritional information on the packaging before comparing values per 100 g with those of other bread.
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TastyBasics Rustic Bread, 5 pieces
A pack of five to consider if you’re looking for seeded bread and want to check the nutritional information and ingredients of the variant you choose.
Before stocking up, check the storage and freezing instructions on the packaging, as well as the current allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
How should I freeze seeded bread for a supply?
Freeze fresh bread in portions as soon as you buy it, and take out only what you need. That’s the storage advice from the Netherlands Nutrition Centre; also follow the instructions on the packaging of your loaf, especially if it’s frozen part-baked bread.
Is multiseed bread always wholemeal?
No, ‘multiseed’ on its own doesn’t mean that wholemeal flour is the main ingredient. Read the ingredients list and compare the amount of fibre per 100 g if you’re choosing between loaves in the same category.
If I have an allergen requirement, can I rely on ‘gluten-free’ or ‘with seeds’?
No, check the full allergen information on the current packaging too. For example, Jumbo states that its Lekker Vrij van Gluten Meerzaden Brood contains soya and may contain almonds, egg and milk.
Does seeded bread always contain iodised salt?
You can’t tell from the name ‘seeded bread’. Check the ingredients list for the specific loaf to see whether it contains baker’s salt or iodised salt, rather than assuming this applies to every variant.