Who is this toast guide for?

Hosts putting together an antipasti platter

You’re looking for a toast base for toppings such as tapenade or tomato, to serve as part of a starter or drinks platter. Albert Heijn gives antipasti and bruschetta as examples of Italian starters.

Anyone specifically looking for sourdough toast

You want to see sourdough mentioned in the product description and ingredients, rather than relying on a rustic appearance or Italian herbs. Albert Heijn’s product information lists wheat sourdough powder in Jos Poell Sourdough Toast.

Anyone checking labels for guests

You need to account for ingredients and allergens, which vary between types of toast. The products described contain ingredients including wheat, rye, sesame, egg or oats, so check the packaging of the toast you plan to serve.

What should you look for when choosing?

Start by thinking about what you want the toast to do: should sourdough contribute to the flavour, are you mainly looking for a base for toppings, or will ingredients and allergens determine your choice?

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Sourdough Look for sourdough to be explicitly mentioned in both the description and the ingredients. Check availability before planning your menu around a particular product. If I want the toast itself to add flavour, I don’t want to accidentally buy ordinary Italian toast. For around 50% of consumers, recognisable sourdough is the priority.
Toppings and shape Compare the shape with the toppings you plan to serve. If you’re serving salty toppings, check the salt content per 100 g too. For a platter with dips and tapenade, I mainly want toast that’s easy to top and serve; around 30% of consumers prioritise ease of serving.
Ingredients and nutritional information Read the current ingredients, allergen and may-contain information. Compare the nutritional values per 100 g if fibre or salt will influence your choice. If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to be able to check what’s suitable on each pack. For around 20% of consumers, label and dietary considerations are the biggest factors.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking Italian toast for sourdough

    Albert Heijn describes AH Scrocchi Sea Salt as Italian toast, but the listed ingredients don’t explicitly mention sourdough. So an Italian product name doesn’t necessarily mean it meets your requirements if you’re looking for sourdough.

    If sourdough is a must-have, check both the product description and the ingredients for a clear mention of it.

  • Assuming gluten-free means free from all allergens

    According to Jumbo’s product information, Gluten Free Bakery Holland Italian Herb Toasts contain egg and oats and may contain traces of ingredients including nuts and sesame.

    If you have an allergy, check both the ingredients and the may-contain information on the packaging.

  • Overlooking the salt content of toast

    The product information lists 2 g of salt per 100 g for AH Scrocchi Sea Salt and 6,6 g per 100 g for the Italian-herb gluten-free toasts described here. This difference matters if you’re serving salty toppings too.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and take the toppings into account when putting your platter together.

  • Treating a product page as up-to-date packaging information

    Albert Heijn’s website lists Jos Poell Sourdough Toast as discontinued. What’s more, the ingredients and allergen information on online product pages may differ from the packaging of a product you buy later.

    Before planning your drinks party, check that the product is available, and read the label again when you buy it.

Brands to consider

Jos Poell

Worth considering if you’re specifically looking for toast with sourdough mentioned in the product description.

  • For Jos Poell Sourdough Toast, Albert Heijn lists ingredients including wheat, rye and wheat sourdough powder.
  • This variety contains gluten-containing cereals. Albert Heijn’s website lists the product as discontinued, so check whether it’s available.

Albert Heijn

AH Scrocchi Sea Salt is an Italian toast for anyone looking for a base for dips or a drinks platter, without needing it to be sourdough.

  • The product page describes the scrocchi as oven-baked, square-shaped toast.
  • The listed ingredients include wheat, with no explicit mention of sourdough. The product information lists 2 g of salt per 100 g.

Van der Meulen Melba

The wholemeal melba toast described here is an option if you want to compare small toasts for a range of toppings.

  • For this wholemeal variety, Albert Heijn lists 9,7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The variety described contains ingredients including wheat, rye, sesame, soya and barley. Check the packaging if allergens are a concern for your guests.

Gluten Free Bakery Holland

The Italian-herb toasts are worth considering if you’re specifically looking for toast labelled gluten-free.

  • Jumbo labels this variety gluten-free and Italian-herb flavoured.
  • According to the product information, the variety contains egg and oats and may contain traces of nuts and sesame. It also lists 6,6 g of salt per 100 g.

Bolletje

A brand to explore if you’re considering crackers or ciabatta snack crackers as a base for your drinks party, without assuming they’re sourdough toast.

  • Bolletje’s range includes crackers and ciabatta snack crackers.
  • For any specific product, check separately whether sourdough is mentioned in the description and ingredients.

Joybuy products for your drinks party

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is sourdough toast automatically gluten-free?

No. The Jos Poell Sourdough Toast described by Albert Heijn contains wheat and rye. If you follow a gluten-free diet, check the claims, ingredients and allergens on the packaging of the product you’re buying.

Are gluten-free toasts suitable for every allergy?

No. According to Jumbo, Gluten Free Bakery Holland Italian Herb Toasts contain egg and oats and may contain traces of ingredients including nuts and sesame. Check the ingredients and may-contain information on the packaging against the allergy in question.

How can I keep toast crisp until serving?

Store the toast according to the instructions on the packaging and add moist toppings just before serving. Albert Heijn and Jumbo’s product information recommends storing it in a dry place in a sealed pack.

Does toast always contain iodised baker’s salt?

No, you can’t assume that all toast does. The Voedingscentrum says that bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. If the type of salt used matters to you, check the ingredients list on packaged toast.