Student who makes sandwiches every day
If you need to get breakfast or lunch ready quickly, sliced bread saves you having to cut it yourself. Check separately whether the slices are the thickness you prefer and whether you want wholemeal bread.
Who is this choice relevant to?
One-person household with varying bread consumption
If you don’t eat bread every day, a half loaf may suit your routine better. If you have freezer space, you can also keep a whole loaf in portions.
Shopper who reads labels carefully
Check the ingredients and allergens for the specific loaf. If baker’s salt matters to you, check whether it is listed on the label too; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t always use it.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the type of bread you want to use every day: sliced bread isn’t automatically cut to a medium thickness. Then choose an amount that suits your eating habits, and compare the nutritional information of the remaining options.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness | Does the packaging say ‘sliced’? Check the slices if their thickness matters for your toppings or toaster. | If I want to make a sandwich quickly before a lecture, I don’t want to have to slice the bread first. This convenience is a top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Quantity and storage | Would a half loaf suit how much bread you eat, or do you have room to freeze a whole loaf in portions? | When I eat bread irregularly, I don’t want the rest to sit around until it’s no longer usable. Minimising waste matters most to around 31% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal flour | Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and, if you wish, compare the fibre per 100 g on the labels of the specific products. | For my daily sandwiches, I want to make an informed choice between wholemeal and other types of bread. Around 23% of consumers give this choice top priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the allergen information and, if needed, check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed among the ingredients. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, the label on this particular loaf needs to give me a clear answer. Checking this is a top priority for around 15% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So the type of bread alone won’t tell you whether this product contains it.
Read the ingredients list, or ask when buying unpackaged bread if baker’s salt matters to you.
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Buying a whole loaf without a storage plan
A whole loaf may be too much for one person to eat in a short time. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days.
Consider buying a half loaf or freezing a whole loaf in portions as soon as you get it home.
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Assuming ‘sliced’ means ‘medium-sliced’
The label ‘sliced’ doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are. This can matter if you’re looking for a particular thickness for your toppings, toaster or lunchbox.
Check the bread or its packaging before buying several loaves of the same type.
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Treating wholemeal and brown bread as the same thing
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘wholemeal’ on bread means it is made from 100% wholemeal flour; brown bread may have a different composition.
Look specifically for ‘wholemeal’ if that type of flour is essential to you. Check the loaf size and how it is sliced separately.
Brands and shops to explore
These shops’ ranges give you a starting point for comparing types of bread. Check whether each specific product is sliced and how much you’re buying.
Albert Heijn
Its online range includes wholemeal, spelt and sliced sourdough bread.
- Product pages can help you compare the weight and nutritional information of a specific loaf.
- ‘Whole, sliced’ doesn’t confirm that the slices are medium thickness.
Jumbo
Its bread range includes whole and half loaves, as well as finely milled wholemeal bread.
- The choice between a half and a whole loaf is useful if you’re buying for one person.
- Check how the loaf you actually choose is sliced.
Lidl
Lists Knip wholemeal as sliced bread weighing 800 g.
- The product description confirms that this bread is sliced.
- The product page says it is sold in store; check the packaging and slice thickness there.
PLUS
For Rond fine wholemeal, sold as a whole loaf, it provides product information including ingredients and allergens.
- Product-specific information is useful if you want to compare labels.
- The word ‘whole’ doesn’t confirm that the loaf is sliced to a medium thickness.
Dirk
Its bread range includes half and whole loaves, including wholemeal bread.
- You can use the loaf size you want as a starting point for your search.
- Check whether each product is sliced and whether the loaf suits how much bread you eat.
Joybuy product related to this topic
If you’re looking for bread for everyday sandwiches, first check whether this Bolletje product’s shape and slicing style suit that purpose. The product name describes a bread bun, not a whole loaf cut to a medium thickness.
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Bolletje Rye Bread Bun 500 g
If you’re considering this product for sandwiches, check whether its shape is suitable.
The product name specifies rye and a 500 g pack. Don’t assume from the name that it contains pre-sliced pieces or slices of a medium thickness.
Check the current packaging for the ingredients, allergens and any mention of baker’s salt.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I keep opened wholemeal bread?
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days, or in the freezer for 1–3 months. Don’t eat bread if it has gone mouldy.
What should I do if a whole loaf is too much for me on my own?
Choose a half loaf or freeze a whole loaf in portions as soon as you buy it. That way, you can take out what you need each time. Bear in mind that bread may become drier if it is kept in the freezer for longer.
How can I recognise wholemeal bread?
Check whether the packaging says ‘wholemeal’. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, this label means bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour; check separately whether the loaf is sliced.
Does bread always contain baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t always use baker’s salt. Check the bread’s ingredients list or ask when buying unpackaged bread if this matters to you.
Where should I look if I need to avoid certain allergens?
Read the allergen information for the specific loaf, including any warnings about traces. The ingredients and allergens in one wholemeal loaf don’t automatically apply to other breads.