For a generously topped thick slice mid-morning, choose a whole loaf you can slice yourself; a pack of toast pieces won’t give you the same format. A wholemeal cracker is a good choice if you’d rather have a crisp base without any slicing, while thin Melba toast and snack crackers are better suited to smaller bites or taking with you. Check the nutritional information and allergens for the option you choose, rather than relying on the word ‘toast’ alone.
If you want to top a slice with ingredients such as vegetables, cheese or a spread, a whole loaf lets you choose the thickness yourself. Jumbo uses thick-cut bread in one of its recipes for topped slices. Whether a particular slice will hold up under moist or heavy toppings depends on the bread and how it is prepared.
If you want to compare the fibre in bread, toast and crackers, check the nutritional information per 100 g. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists wholemeal bread as a type of bread that is high in fibre; also check the figures for the specific product.
If portability and small portions matter more to you than a thick slice, a snack cracker could be a good fit. Bolletje says its Ciabatta Snack Crackers are individually packed in pairs, making them handy for on the go or later in the day. If you want generous toppings, also consider the size and sturdiness of the cracker you choose.
First decide whether you need a thick slice you can cut yourself or a crisp snack base that’s ready to eat. Then compare the labels of products that suit the way you plan to use them.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Sturdiness for toppings | Check whether you can cut the bread thickly yourself and whether the slice is big enough for your toppings. | If I want to load up a slice with toppings, I want to choose the thickness myself rather than pick a thin piece of toast. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Fibre and nutritional information | Compare fibre, sugars, fat and salt per 100 g; check the ingredients too. | If fibre is my main concern, I need to compare the specific products, even if their portion sizes differ. This is the main consideration for around 29% of consumers. |
| Crispness and portability | Check the size and whether the packaging suits when you plan to eat the snack. | When I’m out and about, I want a crisp base I can take with me without having to slice bread first; a thick slice matters less. Around 21% of consumers put this convenience first. |
| Allergens and labelling | Read the allergen information; if needed, check the salt content and whether the bread label mentions baker’s salt. | If an ingredient is a deciding factor for me, I need to be able to check the information for that exact product before choosing. For around 14% of consumers, checking the label comes first. |
A small piece of toast or thin Melba toast isn’t the same shape as a thick slice you can load up with toppings. Van der Meulen describes Melba toast as thin and crisp.
Choose a whole loaf if you want to decide how thick to cut your slices; save thin toast pieces for smaller bites.
A product name won’t tell you how much fibre, sugar, fat or salt a particular option contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products on the same basis: per 100 g.
Read the nutritional information and ingredients list for the products you’re considering.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that baking bread with baker’s salt is not compulsory. So you can’t tell whether it has been used just from the product category.
Check the packaging or ask the baker if this information is relevant to your choice.
Ingredients vary between products and options. For example, Jumbo lists wheat, barley and soya in Van der Meulen Melba Toast Naturel, and says it may contain sesame.
Before buying, check the allergen information on the exact pack you’ve chosen.
A bread option for anyone who wants to cut their own thick slices.
A point of reference for both bread you can slice yourself and individual toast pieces.
A cracker option for when small portions and portability matter.
A thin-toast option for small, crisp bites.
A wholemeal cracker option for anyone looking for a crisp base.
Below is one whole loaf for anyone who wants to cut their own slices, followed by three crisp alternatives. The crackers and crispbread aren’t thick-cut slices of bread, so choose the format you want before comparing the options.
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A whole loaf to consider if you want to choose the thickness of your slices yourself. Check the preparation instructions and whether the finished slice will suit your toppings.
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A rye cracker for anyone looking for a crisp snack base rather than a thick slice of bread. Check the size if you want to add plenty of toppings, and read the allergen information on the pack.
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A wholegrain crispbread to compare if you’d rather have a crisp base than bread you slice yourself. For heavy or moist toppings, check whether the size and sturdiness suit the way you plan to use it.
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A wholemeal crispbread for a crisp snack instead of a thick slice of bread. Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check whether the cracker suits the toppings you have in mind.
No. Van der Meulen describes Melba toast as thin and crisp, not as a thick slice of bread. If you want to choose the thickness yourself for a topped snack, look for a whole loaf; Jumbo uses thick-cut bread in a recipe for topped slices.
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and check the ingredients list too. This lets you compare things such as fibre, sugars, fat and salt on the same basis, even when portion sizes differ. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends comparing products per 100 g.
According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information is shown on the label of pre-packed products. Check the information for the exact option you’re buying: ingredients and possible cross-contamination can vary from product to product.
No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that using baker’s salt when baking bread isn’t compulsory. Check the label or ask the baker which salt they use if this matters to your choice.
Follow the storage advice on the packaging for the option you’ve chosen. Check the use-by or best-before information too: the instructions for one pack of Melba toast may not be the same as those for another type of toast or cracker.
