If you’re looking for small toasts to serve with drinks
Sesame Melba toast is a small toast that works well with toppings. Check the size if you want the toasts to fit on a sharing platter.
Who might these products suit?
If you’re paying attention to the grain base and fibre
A toast cracker made with wholemeal flour and seeds is a different type of product from Melba toast. If this is a key factor in your choice, compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g.
If you need to check allergens
The sesame products mentioned contain sesame and ingredients from cereals containing gluten; some also list soya. Check the information on the specific pack before buying.
What should you look for when choosing?
Sesame Melba toast
Best for: small, crunchy toasts with toppings on a sharing platter.
Things to consider: the varieties mentioned contain sesame and ingredients from cereals containing gluten. Check the label of your chosen variety for fibre and salt.
Toast cracker with linseed and sesame
Best for: anyone who prefers a cracker whose ingredients list includes wholemeal flour.
Things to consider: Albert Heijn also lists 19 g of fat and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g for AH Scrocchi Sesame Linseed. A wholegrain base doesn’t make those figures any less relevant.
First decide whether you want small Melba toast or a toast cracker. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional values of the varieties that suit your needs.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal flour and fibre | Check which types of flour are listed in the ingredients and compare fibre per 100 g. | If I mainly want a wholegrain base, visible seeds alone aren’t enough to help me choose. This nutritional priority comes first for around 40% of consumers. |
| Shape and how you’ll use it | Check whether the product is small Melba toast or a toast cracker, and look at the size on the pack. | For a sharing platter, I’m looking for small toasts that suit my toppings; this is the deciding factor for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and salt | Read the latest allergen information and, if salt matters to you, compare the salt content per 100 g. | I want to know whether I can eat sesame and the other listed ingredients, as well as how much salt the toast contains. This check matters most to around 30% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming seeds mean a wholegrain base
Sesame or linseed in toast doesn’t tell you which flour has been used as the grain base. You could end up choosing a product that doesn’t match your preference for wholemeal flour.
Look for wholemeal flour in the ingredients list and compare fibre per 100 g.
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Skipping the allergen information
Sesame toast contains sesame; the varieties mentioned also list ingredients from cereals containing gluten, and sometimes soya. The exact ingredients vary by product.
Check the label on your chosen pack every time you buy, including any warnings about traces of allergens.
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Assuming more fibre means less salt
Albert Heijn lists 7 g of fibre and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g for AH Scrocchi Sesame Linseed. The sesame Melba toasts mentioned have different values, so one nutritional feature doesn’t tell you the whole story.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and decide which features matter most to you.
Brands to consider
Van der Meulen / Melba Toast
Van der Meulen Melba Toast Sesame is a small toast for serving with toppings.
- Albert Heijn lists 7% sesame and 5 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
- The ingredients include wheat, sesame, barley and soya; check the label if you need to avoid any of these.
Albert Heijn
The range includes organic sesame Melba toast and AH Scrocchi Sesame Linseed, a toast cracker.
- Albert Heijn lists 7% sesame and 5.2 g of fibre per 100 g for its organic Melba toast. The Scrocchi variety lists wholemeal wheat and rye flour, and 7 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Albert Heijn also lists 19 g of fat and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g for the Scrocchi variety. So it’s worth comparing more than just the fibre.
Jumbo
Jumbo lists 150 g packs of Party Toast with Sesame and 120 g packs of Van der Meulen Melba Toast Sesame.
- These products offer two types of toast to compare by size and use.
- Before choosing Jumbo’s own-brand variety based on these features, check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the pack.
Bolletje
Bolletje Sesame Crispbread is crispbread, not small toast to serve with drinks.
- It’s another option to consider if you’re looking for a crispbread-style product with sesame.
- Compare the size and nutritional information separately: crispbread and Melba toast are different product categories.
ALDI / Sun Snacks
ALDI lists 240 g packs of Sun Snacks Plain Melba Toast and 100 g packs of Plain Toast Cups.
- These plain products offer different toast shapes to consider for serving with toppings.
- Plain doesn’t mean it’s a seeded variety. Check the label if sesame, fibre or a particular grain base matters to you.
Toast-style products at Joybuy
If you’re looking for a sesame cracker rather than small Melba toast, this toast-style option is worth considering for its shape and ingredients.
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Wasa Thin Crisp Sesame 190 g
A sesame cracker to consider if you’re looking for something to add toppings to, rather than small Melba toast specifically.
Pack size: 190 g. If you have allergies, check the latest ingredients and allergen information. If you’re choosing based on fibre or salt, compare the nutritional information per 100 g.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose sesame toast if I need to avoid sesame?
If you need to avoid sesame, don’t choose toast that lists sesame as an ingredient. Also check the other ingredients and any warnings about traces on the latest packaging; the products mentioned also list ingredients from cereals containing gluten and, sometimes, soya.
Does ‘with seeds’ mean that toast contains more fibre?
No. Seeds in a product name don’t tell you anything about its fibre content. Albert Heijn lists 7 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Scrocchi Sesame Linseed and 5.2 g per 100 g for AH Organic Melba Toast with Sesame Seeds. Check the grain base in the ingredients list too.
How do I compare the salt content of different toasts?
Compare the salt content per 100 g so that different portion sizes don’t skew the comparison. The seeded varieties mentioned list between 1.1 and 1.5 g of salt per 100 g; check the latest nutritional information on the relevant pack before choosing.
How can I keep opened Melba toast crunchy?
Follow the storage advice on the pack and seal the toast well after opening. The Melba toast mentioned should be stored in a cool, dry place; add toppings just before serving.
Do all Dutch toasts contain the same amount of iodine?
No, don’t assume that every toast product contains a standard amount of iodine. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may only be present in bread, bread substitutes and other baked goods in the Netherlands when they’ve been added as part of baker’s salt. Check the product ingredients if this is relevant to your choice.