Which sourdough bread is right for you?

Brunch hosts looking for bread to share

If you’re serving a selection of dishes, tear-and-share bread can be handy for serving warm and passing around. If you’re buying par-baked bread, check the cooking instructions and allow space in the oven.

Shoppers comparing wholemeal bread and fibre

The word sourdough doesn’t tell you whether a loaf is wholemeal. Compare the product name, ingredients and fibre content per 100 g instead. Albert Heijn lists 6.5 g of fibre per 100 g for AH Liefde & Passie Nederlands desem volkoren.

Shoppers checking ingredients carefully

If your guests need to avoid certain grains or other allergens, check the information for the exact loaf. If you’re also checking whether baker’s salt has been used, read the packaging or ask about unwrapped bread.

What should you look for?

First, decide how you want to serve the bread: warm and easy to share, or as a whole loaf alongside the other brunch dishes. Then compare the grain type and ingredients of the products you can actually buy.

What to consider What to check Who it matters to
Serving warm and easy to share Check whether the bread is par-baked and how it needs to be prepared. If I want to serve warm bread just before brunch, it needs to be easy to share without awkward slicing. Around 27% of consumers prioritise this convenience.
Wholemeal, grains and fibre Read the ingredients and compare fibre per 100 g; sourdough doesn’t automatically mean wholemeal. When choosing bread, I want to know which grains have been used and whether it’s wholemeal. This is the most important consideration for around 27% of consumers.
Bread type and appearance Compare the listed grains, seeds and kernels, and check whether the bread is sold sliced. For a bread basket on the table, I’m mainly looking for a particular type or a rustic loaf. Around 20% of consumers say this is their top priority.
Availability Check what your local branch stocks and whether the variety you want is only available in store. If my brunch centres on one particular loaf, I want to know in good time whether my shop stocks it. Local availability is a priority for around 26% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming sourdough means wholemeal

    Sourdough doesn’t tell you which grains a loaf contains or how much fibre it has. Jumbo lists 3.4 g of fibre per 100 g for its white sourdough tear-and-share bread, compared with 6.5 g for AH Liefde & Passie Nederlands desem volkoren and 5.3 g for PLUS Korenlanders Kleintje desembrood bruin meergranen.

    Look for a wholemeal description and compare the ingredients and fibre per 100 g of the loaves you’re considering.

  • Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt. The organisation says its use is less common in organic bread.

    If you want to know whether a loaf has been made with baker’s salt, read the ingredients or ask the baker about unwrapped bread.

  • Confusing sourdough with gluten-free bread

    The sourdough products described from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS contain gluten-containing grains. The word sourdough doesn’t change the need to check the exact product.

    Check the latest ingredients and allergen information, including any warnings about possible traces, before choosing bread for your guests.

  • Expecting to find the same bread in every branch

    Lidl says its freshly baked range can vary by branch. ALDI offers freshly baked bread in shops with an in-store bakery, while Albert Heijn lists some special sourdough varieties as available in store only.

    Check your chosen shop in advance, and have another type of bread in mind if a particular variety is important for your brunch.

    Otherwise, you may need to make an extra trip to the shop.

Supermarket brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Has a sourdough bread range that includes wholemeal, spelt and organic varieties.

  • AH Liefde & Passie Nederlands desem volkoren lists 6.5 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • Some special varieties are listed as available in store only. Check the latest packaging for ingredients and allergens.

Jumbo

Its brunch range includes a 360 g par-baked white sourdough tear-and-share loaf.

  • The tear-and-share shape makes it well suited to serving warm and sharing.
  • This product contains wheat, spelt and gluten; check the full allergen information for the exact product too.

PLUS

Its range includes Korenlanders Kleintje desembrood bruin meergranen.

  • PLUS lists 27% wholemeal wheat flour, 9% sourdough and 5.3 g of fibre per 100 g for this loaf.
  • The product contains gluten-containing grains and soya, and may also contain milk, sesame and lupin.

Lidl

Its range includes a 600 g Bio rustiek meergranen desembrood with seeds and kernels.

  • The range includes a specific rustic multigrain loaf that you can compare with other products.
  • Lidl says its freshly baked range can vary by branch; check the information for your chosen loaf for ingredients and allergens.

ALDI

Offers rustic freshly baked loaves in shops with an in-store bakery, as well as bread to bake at home.

  • A shop with an in-store bakery may be a good option if you’re looking for freshly baked bread.
  • Check in store whether the loaf you want is actually a sourdough variety.

Dirk

Lists sourdough alongside white, wholemeal and multigrain breads in its bread range.

  • The range gives you a starting point for looking for sourdough locally.
  • For a specific loaf, check the ingredients, nutritional information and allergens in store.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is sourdough bread automatically wholemeal?

No. Sourdough describes the raising agent, not necessarily the grains used. For a wholemeal loaf, check the product name and ingredients, and compare the nutritional information of different loaves too.

Does Dutch sourdough bread always contain baker’s salt?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list or ask the baker whether it has been used in unwrapped bread.

How can I check for allergens in sourdough bread?

Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product, or ask for this information about unwrapped bread. The sourdough products mentioned from Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS contain gluten-containing grains; also check which other allergens may be present.

Can I buy the same sourdough bread at every branch?

Don’t assume so: Lidl says its freshly baked range can vary by branch, and ALDI’s freshly baked bread is only available in shops with an in-store bakery. Check with your shop before planning a particular loaf for brunch.

What should I do with leftover bread after brunch?

Freeze any bread you won’t use soon in suitable portions, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. For opened wholemeal bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends storing it in the freezer for 1 to 3 months.