If you’re putting together a sharing bread board
A whole loaf gives you slices to serve alongside soup, dips or salads. Think about whether the shape, crust and ease of slicing suit the way you’d like to share it at the table.
Which serving style works best for you?
If you’re catering for guests with allergies
Ask in advance which ingredients are relevant, and check the information for the bread you’ll actually be serving. Sesame and cereals containing gluten need particular attention in seeded bread, as the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority’s allergen information also highlights.
If you want to bake the bread just before dinner
Individual rolls or bake-at-home rolls let you serve separate portions. Just plan for oven space and preparation time, and follow the instructions on the packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you’d like to share slices or serve individual rolls. Then compare the ingredients, nutritional information and storage instructions for products that suit your plan.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Texture and presentation | Look at the shape of the loaf and check which seeds are actually listed as ingredients. | If you want to serve a loaf that’s easy to share, with visible seeds on the table, its shape and bite matter. For around 27% of consumers, this presentation is the top priority. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the latest allergen information, including any statement about possible traces; ask for details if the bread is sold loose. | If a guest has an allergy, you’ll want to know whether this particular bread is suitable for them. Checking allergens is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and nutritional information | Check the product description and ingredients; if you wish, compare fibre and salt per 100 g. | If you want to serve genuinely wholemeal bread, the label ‘multiseed’ alone isn’t enough. Around 27% of consumers put checking the type of bread and its nutritional information first. |
| Storage and serving | Read the storage and preparation instructions, and check whether baking it fits into your oven schedule. | If you’re buying ahead for dinner at a set time, the bread needs to be ready to serve on time. This planning is the main consideration for around 13% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multiseed’ means ‘wholemeal’
Seeds alone don’t tell you which flour has been used to make the bread. For example, PLUS Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half contains both 30% wholemeal wheat flour and 22% wheat flour.
If wholemeal is a must for you, check the description and ingredients of the specific loaf.
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Serving seeded bread without checking allergens
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists sesame seeds and cereals containing gluten among the allergens that consumers must be informed about. Ingredients vary from one loaf to another.
Ask guests about relevant allergies in advance and read the latest information on the packaging. If the bread is sold loose, ask for its allergen information.
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Looking only at the salt in the bread
When comparing nutritional information, the salt content of the bread doesn’t tell you how much salt is also in the toppings, dips or soup.
Compare the salt content of specific loaves per 100 g, and consider the rest of what you’re serving separately.
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Buying bread early without a serving plan
A whole loaf, individual rolls and bake-at-home bread each need a different plan for storage, defrosting or preparation.
Check the packaging before buying ahead, and plan the baking around dinner. Don’t serve bread with visible mould.
Bread that dries out or goes mouldy before dinner can end up being wasted.
Shops and brands to consider
Albert Heijn
The product information for AH Extra lang lekker Zaans volkoren heel is a useful example of a sliced wholemeal loaf.
- For this loaf, Albert Heijn lists the ingredients, allergens and storage information, as well as 6.9 g of fibre per 100 g.
- This example isn’t a seeded loaf. If that’s what you’re looking for, check another specific product.
Jumbo
Jumbo describes a multigrain wholemeal loaf containing, among other ingredients, oat flakes, linseed, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds.
- The listed ingredients can help you find a loaf with visible seeds.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the product you ultimately choose.
Lidl
Lidl offers both wholemeal bake-at-home rolls and a wholemeal round loaf which, according to its product description, contains seeds and kernels.
- Individual rolls work well for a dinner where you want to have separate portions ready to serve.
- According to Lidl, the wholemeal round loaf described is only available in store. Check the latest product information there.
Aldi
Aldi describes Boeren volkoren meergranen heel as a loaf containing grains and seeds.
- A whole loaf is a good option if you’d like to serve slices on a sharing board.
- Before serving, check the latest ingredients and allergens for this loaf, especially if any guests have an allergy.
Plus
PLUS Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half is a half-sized, round multigrain loaf with seeds.
- For this product, PLUS lists ingredient percentages as well as nutritional and allergen information.
- According to the ingredients list, the loaf contains 30% wholemeal wheat flour as well as wheat flour. Don’t take ‘multiseed’ as confirmation that it’s entirely wholemeal.
Dirk
Dirk offers a whole wholemeal stone-baked loaf that you can slice and serve at the table.
- A whole stone-baked loaf makes a good choice for a sharing board.
- Check separately whether the loaf you choose contains seeds and which allergens are listed.
Multigrain bread and rolls at Joybuy
These multigrain products give you a choice of baguettes, a round loaf and individual rolls for dinner. For each product, check that the current packaging meets your requirements for wholemeal flour and seeds, as well as your guests’ needs.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Rustic Baguette, 4 × 135 g
The four baguettes are a good fit for a dinner where you want to serve separate portions. Before buying, check the current packaging for wholemeal status and allergen information. Follow the instructions on the packaging when baking.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Multigrain Country Bread Round, 550 g
The round loaf is a good fit for a sharing bread board. Check whether the current product description lists wholemeal flour, and read the allergen and baking instructions on the packaging.
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g'woon Multigrain Rolls, 4 pieces
Four individual rolls make it easy to have separate portions ready to serve. Check the wholemeal status and latest allergen information, including any mention of sesame. Check the packaging before serving the rolls warm.
Frequently asked questions
Is multiseed bread always wholemeal?
No. The name ‘multiseed’ doesn’t confirm that a loaf is entirely wholemeal. For example, PLUS lists 30% wholemeal wheat flour and 22% wheat flour for Korenlanders Rond licht meerzaden half. If wholemeal is a must for you, read the product description and ingredients.
Which allergens should I check in seeded bread?
Check the allergen information for the specific loaf, paying particular attention to cereals containing gluten and sesame seeds. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority lists both among the allergens that consumers must be informed about. Check for any other listed allergens too, and if the bread is sold loose, ask for the information before buying.
Does all bread contain iodine?
You can’t tell from the name of the bread. Check the ingredients of the specific product for iodised salt or baker’s salt. For example, Albert Heijn lists iodised salt in AH Extra lang lekker Zaans volkoren heel.
How far in advance can I buy bread for dinner?
It depends on the bread and its packaging. For opened soft wholemeal rolls, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s Storage Guide recommends 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard or 1–3 months in the freezer. Follow the storage and preparation instructions for the bread you buy, and don’t serve bread with mould.