Who are these options for?

If you’re putting together a sharing board for two

You’ll want bread that’s easy to share and top. A small loaf or individual rolls can be more practical if the board isn’t the whole meal.

If you’re keeping an eye on grains and fibre

Look beyond the word sourdough and compare the type of bread, its ingredients and the stated fibre content per 100 g.

If you need to check the label for a guest

Before buying, you’ll want to know which grains and allergens the bread contains. Whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed may also affect your choice.

What to look for in sourdough for two

First decide what part the bread will play in the meal, then choose the type and amount. Finally, check the label, especially if you need to take allergens into account.

What to consider What to check Who is this most important for?
Flavour and presentation Choose a type of bread that goes well with your toppings, and check when freshly baked bread is available in store. If I’m serving a selection of toppings, I want the bread to go well with them and be easy to serve. Around 33% of consumers put that combination of flavour and presentation first.
Wholemeal and fibre Read the product description and ingredients; where stated, compare the fibre content per 100 g. I’d rather make an informed choice between white and wholemeal than rely on the word sourdough. For around 25% of consumers, the type of bread and its nutritional value come first.
Amount for two Compare the weight and number of pieces with the part bread will play in the meal. If the bread is just for a sharing board, I don’t want to be left with a large whole loaf. The right amount is the main consideration for around 25% of consumers.
Allergens and salt Check the latest allergen information and, if needed, see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed. If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in the bread before I buy it. For around 17% of consumers, checking the label comes before other preferences.

Common mistakes when choosing bread

  • Assuming sourdough means wholemeal

    Sourdough doesn’t tell you which type of flour the bread is made with. PLUS lists wheat flour as the main ingredient in Korenlanders Desem Wit, while Albert Heijn lists wholemeal wheat flour for AH Liefde & Passie Nederlands desem volkoren.

    Check the product description and ingredients. If fibre matters to you, compare the nutritional information per 100 g too.

  • Expecting every sourdough loaf to contain iodised salt

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, the use of baker’s salt isn’t mandatory. So you can’t tell which salt has been used just from the word sourdough.

    Check the ingredients on the label to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed.

  • Buying a whole loaf without a plan for leftovers

    If bread is just a side dish at your meal, a whole loaf may be more than you need that evening. Albert Heijn lists a 115 g wholemeal sourdough roll, while PLUS lists a small 300 g brown multigrain sourdough loaf.

    Choose an amount that suits what you’re serving, and think ahead about whether you’ll use any leftover bread later.

  • Only checking allergens on packaged bread

    Unpackaged bread can also contain ingredients that matter to a guest. With multigrain bread, it’s especially important to check which grains and other ingredients have been used.

    Read the label on packaged bread, and ask for the latest allergen information before buying unpackaged bread.

Bread brands to consider

Albert Heijn

Its AH Liefde & Passie range includes products such as Nederlands desem volkoren and wholemeal sourdough rolls.

  • For Nederlands desem volkoren, Albert Heijn lists details including ingredients, allergens and nutritional information.
  • Check the packaging when you buy it: Albert Heijn says product information can change.

Jumbo

Describes a range of rustic sourdough loaves that are baked in store.

  • Jumbo says these loaves are made with fresh sourdough and have a proving time of more than 24 hours.
  • According to Jumbo, these loaves are only available in store and can’t be ordered online. Check availability if you have a particular loaf in mind.

PLUS

The Korenlanders range includes products such as Desem Wit and Kleintje desembrood bruin meergranen.

  • PLUS lists ingredients and nutritional information for these products, making it easier to compare the types of bread.
  • If ingredients or allergens are key to your choice, compare the current packaging with the product information.

Lidl

Its bread range includes a rustic wholemeal wheat sourdough loaf.

  • The product description makes it clear that this is a wholemeal wheat sourdough loaf.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens on the loaf you’re actually buying.

ALDI

Offers a range of freshly baked bread in stores with an in-store bakery.

  • An in-store bakery gives you the chance to look at the bread in person.
  • If you’re specifically looking for sourdough, check the product description for each loaf; the range name alone doesn’t confirm it.

Dirk

Lists sourdough as one of the types of bread in its range.

  • You can look specifically for sourdough when choosing your bread.
  • For a particular variety, check the latest details on the type of bread, ingredients and allergens.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does sourdough tell you how much fibre bread contains?

No. The word sourdough doesn’t tell you whether a loaf is white or wholemeal. Check the product description and ingredients to find out which grains it contains, and compare the stated fibre content per 100 g if that matters to your choice.

Is sourdough always gluten-free?

No. Sourdough can contain gluten-containing grains such as wheat or rye. Don’t rely on the way it’s made: check the gluten-free label and the latest allergen information for the specific loaf.

Does Dutch sourdough bread always contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that baker’s salt isn’t mandatory, so check the label to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt has been used.

How can I check allergens in unpackaged bread?

Before buying, ask for the latest allergen information for the bread you want to take home. For packaged bread, check the label; the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the allergen information shown there.