Which option is right for you?

Breakfast lovers who like generous toppings

If you top your bread with eggs, avocado, hummus or cheese, look at the actual slice: its size, crumb and crust are more useful things to assess than a label such as ‘thick cut’ alone.

Shoppers who prioritise wholemeal

If you’re keeping an eye on fibre, look for the wholemeal label first, then choose a finer or coarser loaf to suit your toppings. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholemeal bread as a type of bread that contains fibre.

Toast and toastie fans

If you usually make toast or a toastie, check that the slice fits in your toaster or sandwich press. For example, Jumbo stocks wholemeal toastie bread; check the ingredients on the packaging of the bread you choose.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide what matters most for your breakfast: a slice that can take generous toppings, the type of bread, or convenience when toasting and storing it. Then check the details of the bread itself.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this important for?
Sturdiness for generous toppings Check the actual slice, crumb and size, or ask the baker to cut it thicker. Names such as ‘rustic’ and ‘farmhouse loaf’ don’t indicate a standard slice thickness. With eggs or moist toppings, I want a slice that’s easy to hold and top. An estimated 42% of consumers prioritise suitability for generous toppings.
Wholemeal and fibre Look for the wholemeal label and compare the nutritional information per 100 g or per serving. Then choose the slice based on your toppings and preferred texture. If the type of bread matters more to me than a thick slice, I start by choosing from the wholemeal range. Around 33% of consumers give wholemeal and fibre top priority.
Toasting and storage Check that the slice fits in your appliance and follow the storage advice on the packaging; if you only use the bread occasionally, see whether you can freeze it in portions. On mornings when I make toast or a toastie, I want bread that fits in my appliance, so unused slices don’t get left behind. Around 25% of consumers prioritise this convenience.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘thick cut’ or ‘rustic’ means a standard slice thickness

    Ranges use names such as rustic, hearty, farmhouse loaf and toastie bread, but these don’t tell you what a slice of the bread you choose will actually look like.

    Look at a slice in the shop or ask the baker to cut it thicker. If you’re making toast or a toastie, also check there’s enough room in your appliance.

  • Confusing a dark colour or multigrain with wholemeal

    Appearance and the name of a loaf don’t, on their own, tell you whether the bread you’ve chosen is wholemeal. Choosing wholemeal and preferring thick slices are two separate things to check.

    Look for the wholemeal label and read the ingredients and nutritional information on the packaging.

  • Buying a whole loaf for the occasional breakfast

    If you only use a few slices, the rest may deteriorate before you get round to eating it.

    Check the storage advice and, if needed, freeze the bread in portions soon after buying it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends taking only the amount you need out of the freezer.

  • Checking for allergens only in speciality bread

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, cereals containing gluten are among the allergens. Other ingredients can vary from loaf to loaf.

    Check the current allergen information for every variety you choose, even if you switch between wholemeal, seeded and sourdough bread.

Brands to consider

Albert Heijn

A product page can help you compare the ingredients and nutritional information of a particular loaf.

  • The AH Liefde & Passie Petit wholemeal sliced bread page lists fibre and iodised salt, among other things.
  • Albert Heijn says product information may change. Check the packaging and don’t draw conclusions about other AH breads.

Jumbo

The wholemeal range includes options such as Round Coarse Wholemeal and Wholemeal Toastie Bread, giving you a starting point based on how you’ll use it.

  • You can search specifically for a coarser loaf or bread for toasties.
  • A category name doesn’t confirm a standard slice thickness or the ingredients of the bread you choose.

Lidl

Lidl describes a fibre scale on its packaged breads, which can be a useful extra detail on the label when comparing products.

  • The fibre information makes it easier to compare products.
  • Also check the ingredients, allergens and actual slice.

Aldi

ALDI Netherlands lists options such as fine wholemeal and wholemeal tiger bread in its fresh daily range.

  • The different bread names give you a starting point for comparing texture preferences.
  • The name of a product in the range doesn’t confirm that it’s thickly sliced.

PLUS

The wholemeal range includes different types of bread, as well as whole and half loaves.

  • As well as the type of bread, you can look for a loaf size that suits you.
  • To check the slice thickness, look at the product you’ve chosen or the bread in store.

Dirk

The bread range includes wholemeal, multigrain and sourdough, among other options.

  • The range helps you distinguish between types of bread before choosing a specific variety.
  • Information about the range doesn’t compare slice thickness or suitability for generous toppings.

Bread to slice yourself at Joybuy

These two pack options of round wholemeal bread are designed to be sliced after baking. That lets you choose the thickness you prefer, but check the size if you want to toast the bread or use it for a toastie.

Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal bread, 2 × 550 g

Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal bread, 2 × 550 g

For anyone who wants to slice their own wholemeal bread for a savoury breakfast; this option contains two 550 g loaves. The product information lists wholemeal wheat flour and wholemeal sourdough, and describes thawing, baking in a fan oven and cooling before slicing. Follow the packaging instructions for preparation and check that the sliced bread fits in your appliance.

View at Joybuy
Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal bread, 550 g

Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal bread, 550 g

For anyone who wants to bake a single round wholemeal loaf and slice it themselves; this option weighs 550 g. The product information lists wholemeal wheat flour and wholemeal sourdough, and describes thawing, baking in a fan oven and cooling before slicing. Follow the packaging instructions for preparation and check the size of the slices if you’re using a toaster or sandwich press.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does bread for a savoury breakfast have to be wholemeal?

Not necessarily. Choose wholemeal if you specifically want to focus on that type of bread and its fibre content, and assess the slice separately to make sure it suits your toppings. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says wholemeal bread contains fibre; the wholemeal label doesn’t tell you how thickly the bread is sliced.

How should I store opened wholemeal bread?

According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage guide, opened wholemeal bread keeps for 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1 to 3 months in the freezer; its quality may deteriorate while frozen. If needed, freeze it in portions soon after buying and follow the label on the bread you’ve chosen.

Should I check allergens in ordinary bread too?

Yes, if allergens are relevant to your choice: check the information on the specific bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists cereals containing gluten as allergens; other ingredients can vary between varieties.

Can I assume all bread contains iodised salt?

No. Don’t assume every loaf uses the same type of salt; read the ingredients list of the product you choose. For example, the product information for AH Liefde & Passie Petit wholemeal sliced bread lists iodised salt, but that doesn’t tell you anything about other breads.