If you’re serving a variety of toppings on Sinterklaas Eve, plain melba toast gives them the most room to shine. Sesame or wholemeal varieties are a better choice if you want the toast itself to add flavour. For every option, check the ingredients, allergens and pack size before serving it to your guests.
If you’re serving a variety of toppings, use plain toast as a base and offer a sesame or grain variety alongside it. The products reviewed differ in their ingredients and allergens, so don’t just consider which toppings taste good with them.
Check the packaging of the exact variety you plan to serve. The melba toasts described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo include cereals containing gluten; some varieties also contain soya or sesame. Any separately sold alternative needs the same checks.
Match the pack size to the number of guests and the other snacks you’re serving. The packs described vary in size: Jumbo, for example, lists 120 g melba toast, while ALDI Nederland lists a 240 g pack of Sun Snacks. The weight alone won’t tell you how many pieces of toast you’ll want to serve.
First decide whether the toast should be a neutral base or add flavour of its own. Then check that the pack you choose is suitable for your guests and contains the quantity you need.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour with your toppings | Check whether ingredients such as sesame, herbs or grains give the toast a distinctive flavour. Choose plain toast if you want the toppings to take centre stage. | I want to offer a variety of toppings without the toast dictating the flavour each time. For around 25% of consumers, how well it goes with the topping comes first. |
| Allergens and dietary requirements | Read the current ingredients list and allergen statement on every pack. Check any separate alternative before serving it, too. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to check the toast as well as the toppings. Suitability for that guest is the main concern for around 31% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g. Consider an organic certification separately from the nutritional information and the mention of salt in the ingredients list. | I want to know what’s in the toast, even when the packaging highlights wholemeal or organic credentials. Around 19% of consumers prioritise this label information. |
| Pack size | Compare the pack weight and, where stated, the number of pieces with your number of guests and other snacks. | When sharing a platter, I want to avoid running short because I’ve bought one small pack. Having enough toast for the group is the top consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
A luxurious look, organic certification or grain variety doesn’t automatically mean the toast is right for your toppings and guests.
Decide what you’re looking for: a neutral base, a distinctive flavour or a specific certification. Then compare the ingredients and nutritional information of the varieties you’re considering.
Regular melba toast can itself contain cereals containing gluten, soya or sesame. Choosing a topping without these ingredients doesn’t change what’s in the toast.
Read the current statement on every pack. Serve any necessary alternative separately, taking care with how you prepare and lay it out.
In 2008, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport described an agreement encouraging the use of iodised salt in bread and bread substitutes. This doesn’t guarantee the ingredients of every toast product.
If the type of salt matters to you, check the ingredients list on the pack rather than making assumptions based on the toast category.
The melba toasts described by Jumbo include plain, wholemeal and organic sesame varieties.
Albert Heijn describes an organic melba toast with sesame for anyone who wants to add that flavour to their platter.
At Jumbo, you can compare the described Van der Meulen varieties with a separately sold gluten-free toast.
Jumbo sells this brand’s Toastjes Italiaans Gekruid as a gluten-free product.
ALDI Nederland describes Sun Snacks Melba Toast Naturel in a 240 g pack.
These products include melba toast for toppings, a larger pack of melba toast and a rice toast to consider separately. Don’t choose based on a premium-sounding name alone: check that the flavour, pack size and current ingredients suit your party platter.
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Consider this round melba toast if you want to combine a variety of toppings on a small platter.
Before serving it to guests with allergies, check the current packaging for wheat and barley, and for the possible presence of sesame, soya and mustard.
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This classic melba toast is an option if you’re looking for one variety to serve with a mix of savoury and sweet toppings.
If you’re serving guests with allergies, read the current label even when you choose plain toast.
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The larger pack could be a good option if you’re serving toast to several guests. Consider how its flavour will work with your chosen toppings.
The allergen information for this product is contradictory. Check the current packaging before serving it to anyone with an allergy.
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Consider this rice toast if you want to offer a separate type of toast alongside melba toast. Match the quantity to the number of guests.
For specific dietary requirements, check the current packaging. The available information about sesame and soya is inconsistent, so the product name alone doesn’t confirm whether it’s suitable.
Don’t assume it does. In 2008, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport described an agreement encouraging the use of iodised salt in bread and bread substitutes; this doesn’t tell you which salt is used in an individual pack of toast. Check the ingredients list if the type of salt matters to you.
At the very least, check the label of the variety you’ve chosen for cereals containing gluten, soya and sesame. The products described by Albert Heijn and Jumbo differ in this respect. Also check the current packaging for any warnings about the possible presence of allergens.
Store toast according to the instructions on the packaging and wait until just before serving to pair it with moist toppings. The product information reviewed recommends storing it in a dry place and, for one variety once opened, keeping it in a sealed tin. You can also serve the toast and toppings separately.
No. Organic certification doesn’t tell you how much salt the toast contains. The organic sesame toast from Van der Meulen reviewed here lists 2.1 g of salt per 100 g, while AH Biologisch’s lists 1.1 g per 100 g. Compare the nutritional information for the products you’re actually considering.
