Choose a croissant based on its ingredients list: if sourdough is essential for you, it should be listed as an ingredient. PLUS Butter Croissants list wheat and spelt sourdough and 25% butter, as well as yeast; this doesn’t mean they’re made with sourdough alone or fermented for a long time. Then consider whether you want to eat the croissant straight away or bake it at home, and check the allergens and type of salt used if needed.
You want to see sourdough listed as an ingredient, and you also check for butter, yeast and other ingredients. PLUS product information lists wheat and spelt sourdough alongside 25% butter and yeast in its Butter Croissants.
You buy croissants in advance and can plan how to prepare them at home. Check each pack to see whether it’s a bake-at-home or frozen product: preparation and storage instructions vary by product.
You need to know before buying whether a product contains, for example, gluten-containing cereals, milk or egg, or want to check whether iodised salt has been used. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergen information must also be available for non-prepacked foods. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt.
First decide whether sourdough is a must-have or whether you’re mainly looking for a croissant you can eat straight away. Then compare how the specific product is prepared, its ingredients and its storage instructions.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough | Look for sourdough or sourdough starter in the ingredients list. If the method of proving or fermentation time matters to you, ask about it separately. | If I choose sourdough, I want to see it listed as an ingredient rather than rely on the product name; verifiable sourdough is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| When you’ll eat it | Check whether the croissant is ready to eat or needs baking first, and follow the time and temperature instructions. | If you want to eat a croissant straight away, you won’t want to defrost or bake it first; around 25% of consumers prioritise when they’ll eat it and the texture they want. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current label or ask for allergen information if you’re buying an individual croissant. Check the type of salt separately if it’s relevant to you. | If I have an allergy, I want to know before buying which cereals, milk or egg my croissant contains; for around 25% of consumers, checking this, and possibly the salt too, is the top priority. |
| Storage and baking | Compare the pack size, storage method and preparation steps, including any defrosting instructions. | If I’m buying croissants for several breakfasts, the storage method needs to suit my available space and plans; around 19% of consumers put storage and baking convenience first. |
Butter describes an ingredient, while freshly baked describes when it was prepared. Neither confirms that the dough contains sourdough.
Check the ingredients for sourdough or sourdough starter. If you’re buying an individual croissant, ask about the ingredients if sourdough is your main deciding factor.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell what type of salt has been used from the words ‘croissant’ or ‘sourdough’ alone.
For a packaged product, check whether iodised salt is listed. If you’re buying an individual croissant, ask which salt has been used.
A bake-at-home croissant and a frozen croissant don’t necessarily need the same preparation. According to the product information, defrosted PLUS small Butter Croissants must not be refrozen.
Choose a pack that suits the number of times you plan to eat them, and follow the preparation and storage instructions for that product.
If a pack can’t be refrozen once defrosted, you’ll need to plan what to do with the remaining croissants.
The product name doesn’t give you a complete picture of the ingredients or potential allergens. With an individual croissant, in particular, the information may not be available on a pack.
Ask for allergen information about the specific product before buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says this information must also be available for non-prepacked foods.
Compare croissants by product and variant: a brand name or range overview doesn’t in itself confirm that a croissant contains sourdough.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a packaged bake-at-home croissant whose ingredients you can check individually.
A starting point for comparing different types of croissant and how they’re prepared.
A starting point for browsing butter, mini, multiseed and filled croissants, among others.
Worth considering if you want to pick up an individual croissant from the in-store bakery.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a croissant from the regular store range.
No. On its own, this label only confirms that sourdough is present. The ingredients list for PLUS Butter Croissants includes both sourdough and yeast; if the proving method and fermentation time matter to your choice, ask about them.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For a packaged croissant, check whether iodised salt is listed. If you’re buying an individual croissant, ask which salt has been used.
Ask for allergen information about that croissant before buying. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says sellers must provide information about allergens present in non-prepacked foods too.
Follow the storage instructions for the specific product. The product information for PLUS small Butter Croissants expressly says that defrosted products must not be refrozen.
