Choose sourdough bread to toast yourself if you want to serve larger pieces with generous toppings. Ready-made toast is more convenient for lots of small, uniform bites, with no slicing or toasting needed. Whichever you choose, check the label: sourdough alone tells you nothing about whether it’s wholemeal, which allergens it contains or whether iodised baker’s salt has been used.
Want to top larger pieces of bread with spread, radish, cress, egg or ham, for example? Slices of sourdough bread that you toast yourself are ideal for this style of serving. An Allerhande recipe uses toasted sourdough bread as a base for toppings.
With ready-made toast, there’s no need to slice and toast bread just before Easter brunch. Just check the size of the toast and choose toppings that will fit.
If wholemeal content, allergens or the type of salt used matter, check the specific bread or toast. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use iodised baker’s salt; the term ‘sourdough’ doesn’t tell you whether they have, either.
Choose this if: you want to make larger pieces of toast with generous toppings. Allerhande shows how to toast slices of sourdough bread for this.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to slice and toast the bread just before serving, and the slices may not all be the same size.
Choose this if: you want to serve lots of small, uniform bites without any extra toasting.
Bear in mind: thin toast is smaller, so there’s less room for generous or moist toppings.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Size and toppings | Check the size and thickness of the slices, and choose toppings to suit. | If I’m serving generous toppings, I want a piece of toast with enough room for everything, rather than having to make do with a tiny piece. Around 36% of consumers would put the combination of bread texture and toppings first. |
| Convenience and portions | Compare the shape of the toast and check how many bites you can make from a pack. | If I’m making a selection of little bites, I don’t want to be slicing and toasting bread just before serving. Around 29% of consumers prioritise ready-to-serve options and uniform portions. |
| Ingredients and labelling | Read the ingredients and allergen information. Check separately whether it’s labelled wholemeal and, if relevant, what type of baker’s salt it contains. | When I’m catering for guests with specific dietary requirements, I want to know what’s in their bread or toast. For around 21% of consumers, checking the label is the most important consideration. |
| How much you need | Plan how many bites you’ll serve and compare pack weights with the amount you need. | When there are several dishes on the table, I want to have enough toast without opening more packs than necessary. The quantity needed is the main consideration for around 14% of consumers. |
Sourdough refers to how the bread is made using a starter, not whether it’s wholemeal. So if you specifically want wholemeal bread, you can’t tell from the word ‘sourdough’ alone.
Check the product name and ingredients of the bread you choose.
According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For sourdough bread, too, you’ll need to check which salt has been used in each product.
Check the ingredients list or ask the baker which salt they’ve used.
A small, thin piece of toast offers less room for toppings than a larger slice of toasted bread. You’ll notice the difference particularly when you want to build up a bite with several ingredients.
Choose a size to suit the toppings and try the combination before preparing all your bites.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. That’s why Albert Heijn recommends checking the packaging. The Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel listed by Jumbo contains wheat, barley and soya, and may contain sesame.
For every guest with an allergy, check the current packaging of the exact product you’re going to serve.
The range includes Jos Poell Sourdough Toast. Allerhande also shows you how to toast sourdough bread yourself.
Jumbo stocks ready-made toast and describes a range of sourdough loaves baked fresh in store.
The Naturel version listed by Jumbo is a thin, crisp toast in a 120 g pack, designed as a base for little bites.
Bolletje offers rusks and crackers, among other things: alternative crisp bases for brunch compared with toasted sourdough bread.
These Joybuy products are Melba toast, suited to serving little ready-made bites. If you’d rather toast slices of sourdough bread yourself, choose a loaf whose product information and label match what you’re looking for. The toast below isn’t labelled as sourdough.
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An option for serving little brunch bites on Melba toast. The product name states that it comes in a 240 g pack. If you’re catering for guests with allergies, check the ingredients on the current packaging.
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Try the round Melba toast if you want to make individual little bites. The product name states that it’s 100 g. Check the packaging for the ingredients and allergens in this product.
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Melba toast for anyone putting together little brunch bites instead of toasting larger slices of bread. The product name states that it’s 100 g. Check the label if the ingredients or allergens will affect your choice.
No. Sourdough refers to how the bread is made using a starter, while wholemeal describes the bread’s ingredients. If you want to toast wholemeal bread, check the product name and ingredients.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For packaged bread, check the ingredients list or ask the baker which salt has been used.
Check the current packaging of the specific product you’re serving. For example, the Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel listed by Jumbo contains wheat, barley and soya, and may contain sesame. This information doesn’t automatically apply to other types of toast.
Yes, but check just before serving that the toast still has the texture you want. The Allerhande recipe toasts the slices before adding the toppings. If you want to keep them crisp, you can add the toppings just before serving.
Jumbo says its rustic sourdough loaves aren’t available to order online because they’re baked fresh in store. Check availability at the store where you plan to shop.
