If you want thick slices for weekend breakfast toast, look for wholemeal sourdough and compare the fibre content per 100 g. If a freshly baked crust matters more to you, rustic sourdough from the in-store bakery is another option, although you may need to visit a shop. Melba toast is made up of small, crisp pieces and isn’t the same as sourdough bread; check the current ingredients and nutritional information for each product.
If you’re looking for slices with a distinctive crust and crumb, compare the description of the specific sourdough product. Jumbo describes its freshly baked sourdough loaves as having a crisp crust, while Albert Heijn describes its OerDesem wholemeal Allinson bread as having an open texture and crisp crust.
If you want wholemeal bread for your breakfast toast, look beyond the word ‘sourdough’. Two wholemeal sourdough loaves from Albert Heijn list 6.3 and 6.5 g of fibre per 100 g respectively. Compare the current nutritional information for the bread you plan to buy.
If gluten, sesame, salt, baker’s yeast or iodised salt matter to your choice, check the label of the individual product. The Voedingscentrum points out that bread doesn’t have to be made with iodised baker’s salt, so the term ‘sourdough’ doesn’t tell you whether it is used.
First decide whether you want slices of bread for breakfast toast or small pieces of toast to top. Then compare the type of bread, nutritional information and how you can buy it.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and crust | Read the product-specific description of the crust and crumb; check whether you’re buying a whole or sliced loaf. | If the bread itself is the star of my breakfast, I’m mainly looking for a crust and crumb that go well with my toppings. For an estimated 25% of these consumers, that flavour preference is the deciding factor. |
| Wholemeal and fibre | Check that ‘wholemeal’ appears on the product and compare the fibre content per 100 g in the nutritional information. | If I want slices of wholemeal toast as the main part of my breakfast, I won’t choose based on the word ‘sourdough’ alone. An estimated 31% of these consumers prioritise wholemeal bread and fibre. |
| Availability | Check whether the bread can be ordered online or is only available in store, and whether the range varies by branch. | If I want to shop in advance, I need to fit the purchase around my weekend plans. This is estimated to be the main concern for 25% of these consumers. |
| Ingredients and salt | Check the current label for ingredients, allergens, salt per 100 g and whether iodised salt is used. | If I need to know which ingredients or type of salt have been used, the information for that specific loaf is what matters. An estimated 19% of these consumers make this their priority. |
The term ‘sourdough’ doesn’t tell you how much wholemeal flour or fibre a loaf contains. You could end up choosing a bread that doesn’t suit your preference for wholemeal breakfast toast.
Look separately for ‘wholemeal’ and compare the fibre content per 100 g on the current label.
According to the Voedingscentrum, using iodised baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. So the term ‘sourdough bread’ doesn’t tell you which type of salt has been used.
Check the ingredients list for iodised salt, or ask the baker if this matters to your choice.
Jumbo says its freshly baked sourdough loaves can’t be ordered online. Lidl only sells its rustic wholemeal sourdough in store and notes that its fresh bread range may vary by branch.
Check what’s available at your branch before planning a visit. If you want to shop in advance, check the product information to see whether the bread can be frozen at home.
You’ll need to visit a shop to buy these in-store loaves.
Melba toast consists of small, thin, crisp pieces of toast. The ingredients for Van der Meulen Melba Wholemeal Toast list yeast, but not sourdough.
Choose Melba toast for small topped bites or dips; if you’re looking for a sourdough base for breakfast toast, choose slices of sourdough bread.
An option for comparing product information for individual wholemeal sourdough loaves.
An in-store option for freshly baked sourdough when the crust and crumb matter for your breakfast toast.
An in-store option if you’re specifically looking for rustic wholemeal sourdough.
A different type of product for anyone who wants small, crisp pieces of Melba toast rather than slices of sourdough bread.
No. ‘Sourdough’ tells you something about the raising agent, not how much wholemeal flour the bread contains. Check that ‘wholemeal’ appears on the specific loaf, and read the ingredients and fibre content per 100 g on the packaging.
No. The Voedingscentrum says that bread doesn’t have to be made with iodised baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list or ask the baker; the two wholemeal sourdough loaves mentioned from Albert Heijn list iodised salt.
No, you can’t tell from the name alone. AH OerDesem wholemeal Allinson lists baker’s yeast as well as wholemeal wheat sourdough, so check the current ingredients list for the loaf you choose.
For AH OerDesem wholemeal Allinson and AH Liefde & Passie Nederlands desem volkoren, Albert Heijn says you can freeze the bread at home on the day you buy it. If you want a freshly baked sourdough loaf from Jumbo, you’ll need to visit a shop: Jumbo says these loaves can’t be ordered online.
No. Van der Meulen Melba Wholemeal Toast consists of thin, crisp pieces of toast for small topped bites or dips; the ingredients list yeast, but no sourdough. If you want slices of sourdough for breakfast toast, look for a sourdough loaf.
