Choose a whole, unsliced loaf if you want to decide how thick to cut the slices for generous toppings. Jumbo uses thick slices cut by hand in a recipe for topped oven-baked bread. If you’d rather bake the bread just before serving, part-baked baguettes are another option. You’ll need suitable equipment and time, and you’ll still need to think separately about the thickness of the slices you want.
If you’re planning to serve generous slices topped with things like cheese, avocado or tomato, a whole loaf lets you choose how thick to cut them. Jumbo specifically uses thick slices cut by hand for topped oven-baked bread.
With an oven or a suitable air fryer, you can include part-baked bread in your plans. PLUS and ALDI provide baking instructions for the baguette varieties mentioned here; always follow the instructions on the packaging of the bread you buy.
If you want to choose wholemeal bread or need to take guests’ allergies into account, check the label for the exact variety. Ingredients and allergen information can vary between products and may change.
First, decide whether choosing the slice thickness yourself or baking the bread just before your get-together matters more to you. Then check the ingredients, number of portions and preparation instructions for the specific bread.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness | Choose a whole or unsliced loaf if you want to cut thick slices yourself; also check the size to make sure it suits your toppings. | When serving generous toppings, I want to decide how large and thick the slices should be. For around 36% of consumers, having that freedom would be the top priority. |
| Baking at home | Read the instructions for the exact variety and check that you have the necessary equipment and time to prepare it. | If I want to bake the bread just before my get-together, I need to fit it into my plans. For around 29% of consumers, having bread ready to bake before serving would be the priority. |
| Ingredients | Read the latest ingredient and allergen information; check whether it’s wholemeal separately from your preferred slice thickness. | If guests have ingredient or allergy requirements, I want to know exactly which bread I’m serving. For around 21% of consumers, checking this would be their first priority. |
| Portions | Choose the size and number of loaves to suit your group, and think about what you’ll do with any leftover bread. | For a small get-together, I don’t want to set out more bread than we need. Suitable portions and avoiding leftovers would matter most to around 14% of consumers. |
A product name or general bread category won’t tell you how thick each slice is. When you’re serving generous toppings, that thickness could make all the difference to your choice.
Choose a whole or unsliced loaf if you want to decide the thickness yourself, and check before buying that its size will suit your snacks.
Part-baked bread needs to be baked before serving. The time and equipment required vary by product.
Read the baking instructions on the packaging and plan to bake the bread before serving.
Labels such as ‘white’, ‘brown’ or ‘multigrain’ don’t give you a complete picture of the ingredients or potential allergens.
If a guest has an allergy or dietary requirement, check the latest label for the exact bread you’re serving.
A large loaf may leave you with more than you need for a small get-together. Voedingscentrum advises freezing bread in portions and taking out only what you need.
Choose a size that suits the number of guests, and divide any bread you want to keep into portions in good time.
The online bread range includes whole farmhouse loaves and sliced bread.
The bread range includes several types of bread. A Jumbo recipe uses thick slices cut by hand for topped oven-baked bread.
Lidl offers a fresh-from-the-oven bread range and says that almost all its stores have bake-off bread.
The De Afbakker range includes baguettes and other part-baked breads.
For the white part-baked baguette reviewed, PLUS provides preparation instructions and product information.
The bread category includes whole loaves, baguettes and part-baked baguettes.
These breads offer two options for your get-together: round loaves to slice yourself after baking, and baguettes to bake and serve in portions. For the round loaves, check that the slices will suit your chosen toppings once you’ve cut them.
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A round loaf for anyone who wants to slice their own bread for a get-together after baking it.
Contents: 550 g. Defrost and bake the loaf according to the preparation instructions, then leave it to cool before slicing. Check the baking time on the packaging, along with the ingredients and allergens if they’re relevant to your guests.
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A round multigrain loaf for anyone who wants to slice their own bread and can plan ahead to bake it.
Contents: 550 g. Defrost and bake the loaf according to the preparation instructions, then slice it once it has cooled. Check the baking time and latest allergen information on the packaging; you can decide for yourself whether the slice thickness will suit your toppings.
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Four baguettes for anyone who’d rather bake individual loaves for a get-together than cut slices from one round loaf.
Pack: 4 × 135 g. Defrost the baguettes according to the instructions, then bake them in the oven. Check the baking time and allergen information on the packaging; these baguettes aren’t described as thick-sliced bread.
No. With a whole or unsliced loaf, you can choose the thickness yourself. In a recipe for topped oven-baked bread, Jumbo uses thick slices cut by hand. Just make sure the loaf is the right size for your toppings.
It depends on the exact variety. PLUS gives a baking time of 8–10 minutes at 220 °C for its white part-baked baguette; ALDI gives 8–10 minutes for its multigrain baguettes. Follow the instructions on the packaging you buy.
If you want to keep the bread, it’s best to freeze it in portions and take out only what you need, as Voedingscentrum advises. Check the label for storage instructions for a specific pack.
Yes. Check the latest label for the exact variety every time you buy it, especially if a guest needs to avoid certain allergens. PLUS says that ingredient and allergen information can change.
