If you want to eat the bread soon, choose fresh wholemeal sourdough. For a holiday lasting several days, it’s more practical to choose a loaf you can freeze in portions straight away. Packaged part-baked rolls are a good fit for a stay with an oven, provided you can follow the storage instructions after opening. Whatever you choose, check that the bread is wholemeal, contains sourdough and has the salt and allergen profile you’re looking for.
If you’d rather not buy bread every day, consider portions for the freezer or part-baked rolls for a stay with an oven. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing wholemeal bread in portions as soon as you buy it. For part-baked rolls, follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
If you mainly want to eat the bread soon after buying it, take a look at the wholemeal sourdough option itself. A rustic appearance or the word ‘sourdough’ alone doesn’t tell you whether a loaf is wholemeal.
If you’re checking for iodised salt or allergens, look at the ingredients and allergen information for the specific bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt, so organic bread and sourdough don’t necessarily contain it.
First, decide when you want to eat the bread and what storage and cooking facilities you’ll have during your holiday. Then compare the wholemeal description, ingredients and information on the label.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage for your holiday | Read the storage and freezing instructions. Check whether you have freezer space or can bake the bread later. | If I’m taking bread for several days, I want to be able to store portions instead of buying more every day. Around 36% of consumers would consider this their main concern. |
| Both wholemeal and sourdough | Check that the product is described as wholemeal and that the ingredients list sourdough or leaven. | I’m specifically looking for bread that’s both wholemeal and sourdough, not just a dark or rustic-looking loaf. Around 29% of consumers would put this combination first. |
| Salt and allergens | Check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt has been used, and read the information about grains and allergens. | If the ingredients determine my choice of bread, I want to be able to see which salt and allergens are listed. This would be the main concern for around 21% of consumers. |
| Where to buy and how to prepare it | Check where the option you want is available and whether you’ll have an oven and enough storage space where you’re staying. | If I’m buying bread on the way or baking it at my destination, it needs to fit my travel plans. Around 14% of consumers would give this the most weight. |
Sourdough describes a fermented ingredient, not the proportion of wholemeal flour. A sourdough loaf may therefore have a different grain composition from the one you’re looking for.
Check both the wholemeal description and the ingredients list for sourdough or leaven.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. The descriptions ‘organic’ and ‘artisan’ don’t tell you either.
Check the ingredients on the packaging if you want to know whether baker’s salt or iodised salt has been used.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage guide, wholemeal bread usually keeps for 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard. That may be less time than you need for your holiday.
Freeze the bread in portions according to the product instructions, or choose part-baked rolls if you’ll have an oven where you’re staying. After opening, follow the storage instructions for the product you choose.
The sourdough wholemeal rolls listed by PLUS contain wheat and spelt, among other ingredients. The use of sourdough in a recipe doesn’t automatically make a product suitable for someone who needs to avoid gluten.
If you have a food allergy or coeliac disease, base your choice on the current ingredients and allergen information for the specific product.
An option if you want to buy a wholemeal sourdough loaf before you leave.
Worth considering if you want to eat freshly baked sourdough bread soon after buying it.
A shop to try if you’re specifically looking for wholemeal wheat sourdough bread.
Worth considering if you’re looking for a wholemeal sourdough baguette or part-baked wholemeal sourdough rolls.
An alternative to consider if wholemeal bread matters more to you than the use of sourdough.
A supermarket to consider if you’re buying local bread for your holiday.
These two options from Lekhaven Bakkerij are worth considering if you want to plan ahead and can bake the bread where you’re staying. Check the packaging to make sure the listed ingredients, storage instructions and preparation method meet your requirements for wholemeal sourdough.
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A pack containing two loaves, for anyone who can bake them where they’re staying. Check the defrosting and baking instructions on the packaging before planning how to prepare them. Also check the ingredients and allergens if they affect your choice.
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A single loaf to consider if you have an oven where you’re staying. Before you leave, read the storage, defrosting and baking instructions. Also check whether the ingredients meet your requirements for sourdough.
No. Sourdough refers to fermentation, while wholemeal describes the type of flour used. So check both descriptions for the specific loaf. For example, Jumbo lists several types of sourdough bread, including a wholemeal option.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients to find out which salt a loaf contains. For example, PLUS lists iodised salt in its organic wholemeal sourdough rolls.
If you won’t eat it within a few days, it’s best to freeze it in portions as soon as you buy it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage guide says wholemeal bread keeps for 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1 to 3 months in the freezer. Also follow the instructions for the specific product.
Not necessarily. The organic wholemeal sourdough rolls described by PLUS contain wheat and spelt, among other ingredients. If you have coeliac disease or a food allergy, always check the product’s current ingredients and allergen information.
