If you want to share bread at the table
If you’re serving antipasti, soup or pasta, you’ll want bread that you can slice and share. Its shape and seeds for added texture matter, as does whether you’ll need to bake it before serving.
Which option is right for you?
If you want to compare wholemeal flour and fibre
Don’t rely on a dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’ alone. Check the ingredients and compare fibre content on the same basis, for example per 100 g.
If you need to check ingredients carefully
If you’re catering for guests with a relevant allergy, check the current allergen and ‘may contain’ information. If the use of iodised salt matters to your choice, also check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed among the ingredients.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide how you want to serve the bread with your meal. Then use the ingredients list and nutritional information to compare similar types of bread more closely.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Texture and how to serve it | Check which seeds are listed and whether the bread is sliced, whole or intended for baking at home. | If I want to share bread with antipasti, I look for a shape and texture that suit the table. This serving occasion is a priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal flour and fibre | Look for wholemeal flour in the ingredients list and compare fibre per 100 g. | If you’re mainly interested in what the bread is made of, its dark colour won’t tell you enough. Around 31% of consumers put verifiable wholemeal flour and fibre content first. |
| Allergens and type of salt | Read the current allergen and ‘may contain’ information; check for baker’s salt or iodised salt if needed. | If someone at the table needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to check the label before serving. For around 23% of consumers, checking the ingredients is the top priority. |
| Availability and preparation | Check whether the bread is available locally and, if it’s part-baked, read the preparation instructions. | When I’m hosting a meal, I want to know whether I can get the bread and whether baking it fits into my plans. For around 15% of consumers, this practical convenience matters most. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark multigrain bread is wholemeal
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ refers to bread made with at least three types of grain. The name and colour don’t tell you how much wholemeal flour it contains.
Check the ingredients list and, if fibre matters to your choice, compare the stated amount per 100 g.
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Assuming seeded bread is suitable for every guest
Multigrain bread may contain sesame and gluten-containing cereals. Information about possible traces also varies by product.
Check the current packaging before serving and ask your guests which ingredients they need to avoid.
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Guessing the type of salt from the name of the bread
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt is not compulsory. So the name ‘multigrain bread’ doesn’t tell you which type of salt has been used.
Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt if this information matters to your choice.
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Assuming an online listing means it’ll be available for your meal
Availability of a particular loaf can vary from shop to shop.
Check what’s available at the shop where you do your food shopping and, if needed, have another type of bread in mind.
If the bread is unavailable, you may need to make an extra trip to the shops just before dinner or change your serving plans.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
AH Liefde & Passie Multigrain is a sliced loaf for anyone looking to serve a seeded sourdough option.
- Albert Heijn lists sunflower seeds, sesame seeds and sprouted rye in the product information.
- This brown bread contains both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour; also check the allergen information for your guests.
Jumbo
Jumbo Boeren Donker Volkoren Meergranen is worth considering if wholemeal flour and fibre are important to your choice of bread.
- Jumbo states that this bread contains 55.7% wholemeal wheat flour, sunflower seeds and linseed, and provides 8.0 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Check the current packaging for gluten-containing cereals and possible traces of other allergens.
Lidl
Lidl lists wheat, barley, buckwheat and seeds among the ingredients in its half loaf of dark multigrain bread.
- A half loaf could be a good choice if you don’t want a whole loaf for your meal.
- Check the packaging for the full ingredients list, allergen information and nutritional details.
ALDI
ALDI describes a seeded multigrain baguette for anyone who wants to serve a baguette with dinner.
- A baguette gives you a different way to serve bread from a sliced loaf for the table.
- Check the packaging for ingredients and allergens; the shape of the bread doesn’t tell you whether it’s wholemeal.
PLUS
PLUS Korenlanders Rustic Brown Multigrain Oven-Baked Loaf is a part-baked loaf for anyone who wants to bake bread for dinner.
- For its defrosted oven-baked loaf, PLUS gives baking instructions of 10 minutes at 200 °C, after preheating the oven.
- Check the instructions on the packaging and confirm that the bread is available at your shop.
Dirk
Dirk lists a 440 g part-baked rustic multigrain baguette as an option for baking at home.
- The stated size and baguette shape help you decide whether it’ll suit your table and oven schedule.
- Check the packaging for preparation instructions, ingredients and allergens.
Multigrain bread at Joybuy
This round multigrain country loaf is a good choice if you want to bake bread and share it at the table. Bear in mind that you’ll need to defrost it, make room in the oven and follow the preparation instructions on the packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round multigrain country loaf, 550 g
The round shape makes this loaf ideal for sharing at the table. As it’s part-baked, you’ll need to allow time for it to defrost, bake and cool before slicing; follow the instructions on the packaging.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information if seeds, wholemeal flour or the type of salt used are important to your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means the bread contains at least three different types of grain; it doesn’t specify how much wholemeal flour it contains. Check the ingredients list and, if you like, compare the fibre per 100 g.
Does all seeded multigrain bread contain baker’s salt?
No, you can’t tell from the name of the bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that baker’s salt isn’t compulsory; check the label to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed.
What should I check if a guest needs to avoid gluten?
Check the current ingredients list, allergen information and any gluten-free claim for the specific loaf. Multigrain bread may contain gluten-containing cereals, so don’t assume it’s suitable just because it contains seeds.
When should I bake a multigrain oven-baked loaf for dinner?
Follow the preparation instructions for the bread you buy and allow enough time to serve it. For its Korenlanders Rustic Oven-Baked Loaf, PLUS says to preheat the oven to 240 °C and bake the defrosted loaf for 10 minutes at 200 °C; don’t use these instructions for a different loaf.