If you want to pile on the toppings for Sinterklaas evening, first check whether the product description says the toast is suitable for toppings, then try it with the topping you plan to serve. ALDI describes its rectangular wheat toast as suitable for topped snacks, while the Jumbo product description for Haust Krokant Toast says it stays crisp for longer after being topped. Neither description proves that the slices are thick or can support heavy, moist toppings; Van der Meulen describes the Melba toast we looked at as very thin.
You want to top the toast in advance with something like a spread or salad. So look beyond the product name and check what the description says about toppings. If keeping it crisp matters, try one piece with your own topping.
You’re looking for small snacks guests can help themselves to throughout the evening. The shape of the toast and when you add the toppings will both affect how much serving you need to do during the evening.
If ingredients or allergens matter to your guests, read the packaging for each individual variety. Also check the label if you specifically want to know whether a product contains baker’s salt or iodised salt.
When choosing topped toast for Sinterklaas evening, it helps to prioritise one main consideration: keeping it crisp, serving it easily or checking the label information. A description such as ‘suitable for toppings’ does not, by itself, tell you anything about slice thickness or how much weight the toast can support.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Most relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Staying crisp under toppings | Look for a specific description of the toast as suitable for toppings. If in doubt, try one piece with the topping you plan to use. | If I top snacks in advance, I don’t want the toast to go soggy quickly under moist toppings. Staying crisp would be the main concern when buying for around 40% of consumers. |
| Easy serving | Compare the shape and decide whether you’ll top the toast in advance or just before serving. | I want to put out something guests can easily help themselves to while opening presents, without a lot of serving prep. Easy serving would be the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutritional information | Check the ingredients, allergens and any nutritional information you need on the current packaging for each variety. | When guests have different dietary requirements, I want to know what’s in each variety of toast before making the snacks. Label information would be the main concern when buying for around 20% of consumers. |
The Van der Meulen Melba varieties we looked at are described as very thin in the Jumbo product listings. So the word ‘toast’ in the name alone doesn’t make them a thick base for generous toppings.
Choose Melba toast for snacks where you’re after a thin slice of toast. If you want to add plenty of toppings, try the combination first to see if it works for when you plan to serve it.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t always use baker’s salt. So you can’t tell from the word ‘toast’ whether baker’s salt has been used.
Check the ingredients list for the specific product if you want to know whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed.
Ingredients and allergens vary between toast varieties. The Jumbo product information for the Van der Meulen Wholemeal Melba Toast we looked at, for example, lists sesame.
Read the current packaging for each variety before making snacks for guests with specific dietary requirements.
These brands offer options to consider for different types of toast. Their product descriptions don’t prove that a variety is thickly sliced or can support heavy toppings.
Jumbo’s toast range includes Knapperige Toast 100 g and several Melba varieties.
Melba toast for anyone looking for a thin, crisp base for light snacks or dips.
Haust Krokant Toast is worth considering if you want to top your toast before serving.
Van Vlegelaar Krokante Tarwe Toast is rectangular, oven-baked toast in a 250 g pack.
Lidl lists a 240 g Melba toast as a product available in store.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers don’t always use baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list on the toast you’re buying if you want to know whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed.
The Van der Meulen Melba varieties we looked at aren’t a proven choice for thick slices: the Jumbo product descriptions call them very thin. They may work well for light snacks, but the descriptions don’t show that they can support heavy or wet toppings.
Read the current ingredients and allergen information for each individual variety. The Jumbo product information for the Van der Meulen Wholemeal Melba Toast we looked at lists sesame, among other things; don’t assume other types of toast have the same ingredients.
If you want the toast to be crisp when served, it’s best to add moist toppings later and try the combination in advance with one piece. Laura's Bakery recommends small snacks that guests can help themselves to throughout the evening as a practical choice for Sinterklaas evening; this doesn’t tell you how long a particular type of toast will stay crisp under toppings.
