When choosing a croissant for a premium breakfast, start with the ingredients list: a mention of sourdough is something you can verify, but it doesn’t prove that the dough was risen using a starter alone. Also compare the butter, preparation method and allergen information with what matters for your serving plans. For example, the ingredients list for PLUS butter croissants names both sourdough and yeast.
You’re looking for a croissant with a verifiable mention of sourdough, rather than relying solely on a premium-sounding product name or packaging. Check whether yeast is also listed in the ingredients before drawing conclusions about the rising method.
You want to time the baking to suit when you’re serving them. So compare the preparation and storage instructions for fresh, ready-to-bake and frozen croissants.
Before buying, check the current allergen information and, if relevant to you, whether iodised salt is listed. Base your decision on the product you’ve chosen, not on the croissant category as a whole.
Decide what matters most for your breakfast: verifiable sourdough, when to bake the croissants, or the information on the label.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough and rising method | Look for sourdough or starter in the ingredients list, and check separately whether yeast is also listed. If it’s important that only a starter is used, ask about the rising method. | I want to be able to point to the basis for the sourdough claim, without making claims about the preparation that aren’t supported by the label. For around 42% of consumers, a verifiable mention of sourdough comes first. |
| Serving time and butter | Compare the stated butter content and preparation instructions; for frozen products, check whether they need to be thawed. | For a planned brunch, I want to know whether baking fits into my oven schedule and when I can serve the croissants. For around 33% of consumers, serving time is the most important factor. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, including any ‘may contain’ statements. Check the label separately for iodised salt if that’s relevant to you. | If I need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to check the packaging of the exact croissant I’m considering. For around 25% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority. |
A croissant can contain both ingredients: PLUS lists both sourdough and yeast in its butter croissants. The mention of sourdough alone also tells you nothing about the fermentation time.
If you want to be able to explain the rising method, ask the supplier about the use of yeast, the amount of sourdough and the fermentation time.
A mention of butter and a mention of sourdough describe different product features. A premium-sounding name or stated butter percentage doesn’t tell you which raising agent was used.
Check both features separately in the ingredients list for the specific croissant.
The ingredients list for PLUS butter croissants includes iodised salt, but that doesn’t automatically apply to other products. Brood.net says that using baker’s salt containing iodine isn’t a legal requirement.
If the salt information matters to your choice, check the packaging of the croissant you’re planning to buy.
The preparation method needs to fit your serving plans. PLUS gives a baking time of 4–6 minutes at 200 °C for its butter croissants and says that thawed products must not be refrozen.
Before buying, check how long they need in the oven and how to store the product you’ve chosen.
The product information for PLUS butter croissants offers a practical example of how to compare sourdough, butter and baking instructions.
The croissant range distinguishes between fresh, ready-to-bake and frozen products, making it possible to compare preparation methods.
Jumbo provides information about its sourdough breads, but that description shouldn’t be applied to its croissants.
Lidl provides information about oven-fresh bread and a spelt sourdough loaf, which can help you know what to ask in store.
ALDI lists both a fresh butter croissant and croissants in its range for baking at home.
If you’re comparing croissants for breakfast, this pack is one to consider: its product name states the number of pieces and the weight. Check the current packaging if sourdough, allergens or baking instructions will influence your choice.
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A pack to compare if you’re looking for croissants for breakfast. The product name states that it contains four pieces and weighs 180 g; check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and any preparation instructions before deciding whether it suits your sourdough or baking requirements.
No. Sourdough and yeast can both appear in the same ingredients list. PLUS lists both in its butter croissants; if using a starter alone is essential to you, ask about the rising method used.
No. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that adding iodine to bakery products through baker’s salt is permitted, up to a maximum of 65 mg of iodine per kg of salt. Brood.net says that using baker’s salt containing iodine isn’t a legal requirement. Check the label of the specific croissant to see whether iodised salt is listed.
Check the allergen information on the current packaging, including any ‘may contain’ statements. The product information for PLUS butter croissants lists wheat, spelt and milk; don’t use this as an allergen list for other croissants.
Follow the preparation and storage instructions for the croissant you’ve chosen. PLUS gives a baking time of 4–6 minutes at 200 °C for its butter croissants and notes that preparation times may vary by appliance; plan your serving time accordingly.
