Who is this bread for?

Hosts serving generous toppings

You want to serve bread with meat, gravy, cheese or spreads, and choose a slice thickness to suit the toppings. Slicing it yourself or asking your baker for thicker slices gives you that flexibility.

Wholemeal fans at the dinner table

You’re looking for wholemeal bread for Sunday lunch, but you’ll need to check the slice thickness separately: the word ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you how thick a slice is.

People keeping an eye on carbohydrates

You want to compare a lower-carb loaf with regular bread. Be sure to check the serving size and allergens for the specific product too.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide how you want to serve bread with Sunday roast. Then check the nutritional information and ingredients of the loaf you’re actually buying.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Slice thickness and toppings Ask whether you can slice the loaf yourself or have it cut thicker. Consider whether the slice will suit moist or generous toppings. If I’m serving bread with meat and gravy, I want to choose the slice thickness myself. This would be the top priority for around 50% of consumers at this meal.
Wholemeal and fibre Check that the bread is labelled wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g on the label; assess the slice thickness separately. For Sunday lunch, I choose bread primarily for its type and fibre content. That would be the main consideration for around 33% of consumers.
Lower carbohydrates Compare carbohydrate content on the same basis, such as per 100 g, and check the allergens for the specific loaf. For me, a lower-carb loaf is the main consideration, as long as the ingredients are suitable for everyone eating. Around 17% of consumers would make this their first buying criterion.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming wholemeal, free-form or sourdough describes the slice thickness

    Those names don’t tell you how thick the slices are. Albert Heijn describes its OerDesem wholemeal Allinson as sliced bread, but doesn’t specify a particular slice thickness.

    If you’re serving generous toppings, ask before you buy whether the loaf is available unsliced or can be cut to your preferred thickness.

  • Assuming every loaf contains iodised salt

    A mention of baker’s salt on one loaf tells you nothing about the salt in another.

    Check the ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt, or ask the baker which salt has been used.

  • Assuming lower-carb bread is suitable for all your guests

    Jumbo lists wheat, barley, soya and egg among the ingredients in its half-size lower-carb wholemeal loaf. Choosing a loaf for its carbohydrate content doesn’t remove the need to check allergens.

    Read the packaging for the specific loaf and check with your guests if they have any relevant allergies or intolerances.

  • Buying bread early without planning how to store it

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage guide, wholemeal bread can be kept in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days and in the freezer for 1–3 months.

    If you buy it well before Sunday, freeze it in portions and take out what you need for the meal.

    Bread can become drier if it’s kept in the freezer for longer.

Brands compared

Albert Heijn

Worth considering if you want to compare standard wholemeal bread with wholemeal sourdough.

  • Albert Heijn says its AH OerDesem wholemeal Allinson is sliced and contains more than 6 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • Check the slice thickness and the current label if you plan to serve the bread with generous toppings.

Jumbo

Worth considering if you want to compare regular wholemeal bread with a specific lower-carb wholemeal loaf.

  • Jumbo lists 7.8 g of fibre per 100 g for its Grof Volkoren loaf.
  • The half-size lower-carb wholemeal loaf contains wheat, barley, soya and egg, among other ingredients. Check the slice thickness for each product too.

Lidl

Worth considering if you want to see a whole free-form loaf in store.

  • Lidl has listed a whole Tiger Wholemeal free-form loaf as an in-store product.
  • Check the nutritional information in store and ask how the loaf can be sliced.

ALDI

Worth considering if you want to compare sliced wholemeal bread with a whole wholemeal loaf.

  • ALDI describes Fijn Volkoren as sliced bread and Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood as a whole loaf.
  • Check the slice thickness you want separately; a product name doesn’t guarantee thick slices.

PLUS

Worth considering if you want to choose bread for delivery or collection in store.

  • PLUS offers an online bread range with delivery and collection options.
  • Ask your chosen store whether your preferred loaf is available unsliced or cut into thicker slices.

Bread to slice yourself on Joybuy

These round loaves suit a serving plan where you slice them yourself once they’re ready. Check that the thickness and firmness of the slices will work with your toppings.

Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal country loaf 550 g

Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal country loaf 550 g

A wholemeal option if you want to slice the bread yourself for your meal. Once thawed and baked, let the loaf cool before slicing. When serving, check that the slices are suitable for moist or generous toppings.

If iodised salt is important to your choice, check the packaging to see which salt has been used.

View on Joybuy
Lekhaven Bakkerij round multigrain country loaf 550 g

Lekhaven Bakkerij round multigrain country loaf 550 g

A multigrain loaf you can slice yourself once it’s thawed, baked and cooled. When serving, check that the slices are firm enough for your chosen toppings.

Follow the baking instructions on the packaging, and check the ingredients there too if they’re important to your choice.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is wholemeal bread automatically thick enough for generous toppings?

No. Wholemeal describes the bread, not the slice thickness. Choose a loaf you can slice yourself or ask your baker for thicker slices. Then check whether a slice will suit the toppings you want to serve.

Should I check allergens in lower-carb bread too?

Yes. Check the allergens for the specific product, even if its carbohydrate content is your main reason for choosing it. Jumbo lists barley, egg, soya and wheat among the ingredients in its half-size lower-carb wholemeal loaf.

How should I store wholemeal bread if I buy it before Sunday?

If you buy it well in advance, you can freeze it in portions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage guide recommends keeping wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months. Bread may gradually become drier in the freezer.

Does bread made with baker’s salt always contain iodine?

Don’t assume you know which salt has been used based on the type of bread alone. For packaged bread, check the ingredients list for iodised salt or baker’s salt. For unpackaged bread, ask the baker.