Who is each type of toast for?

Before you do your shopping, think about whether the toast is mainly there to carry toppings, add its own flavour or meet a specific dietary requirement.

Holiday-home cooks with plenty of toppings

If you’re serving fish, cheese, charcuterie or spreads, the base’s shape and flavour matter. Plain melba toast lets the toppings take centre stage; for a more generous bite, consider a larger size.

Hosts creating a sharing board with extra flavour

On a simple sharing board, a toast flavoured with, for example, truffle or herbs can become part of the overall flavour combination. Match its flavour to the toppings so the result isn’t too busy.

Hosts checking ingredients and allergens

If a guest needs to eat gluten-free or avoids certain allergens, start by checking the current packaging. Gluten-free scrocchi, for example, may still contain soya; check each variety individually.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, decide what role the toast will play on the table. Then compare its size, ingredients and packaging with the number of occasions you’re planning to serve it at in your holiday home.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Flavour to suit the menu Compare plain varieties with flavours such as truffle or tomato and basil, and read the ingredients. With delicate toppings, I want to taste the topping; for a simple drinks board, the toast can add flavour. This flavour combination is the top priority for around 33% of consumers.
Size for toppings Check the shape and size: small melba toast for bite-sized snacks, or a larger base for more generous toppings. If I’m making lots of bites that all look the same, I’ll choose differently than if I want to serve one toast with a more generous topping. Having enough room for toppings matters most to around 27% of consumers.
Gluten and allergens Read the current allergen information. If you need a gluten-free option, look for one that is explicitly labelled gluten-free and check for other allergens too. If a guest has a dietary requirement, I need to know which ingredients are in that particular variety before serving it. Around 20% of consumers make this their top priority.
Packaging and storage Compare the quantity and any individual packs; once opened, follow the storage advice on the label. When I’m hosting guests on different days, I don’t want to have to open all the toast at once. For around 20% of consumers, managing stock and storage is the first consideration.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming all toast tastes plain

    Truffle, tomato and basil, and other strong flavours all play a part in the dish. That may be just what you want on a drinks board, but they might not work as well with delicate toppings.

    Choose plain toast if you’re serving a variety of toppings. Go for a flavoured variety when its taste is a deliberate match for the menu.

  • Confusing gluten-free with allergen-free

    Gluten-free toast may contain other allergens. For example, the gluten-free Laurieri scrocchi sold by Albert Heijn is made with soya and chickpea flour.

    For every pack, check both the gluten-free label and the ingredients and allergen information. Keep an alternative separate and clearly identifiable when guests need different products.

  • Opening every pack straight away

    If you’re serving toast over several days, it’s important to follow the storage instructions for opened packs. Smaller individual packs mean you can open only the amount you need.

    Check the storage advice and open only what you need for each occasion; reseal an opened pack as instructed.

  • Taking ‘premium’ to mean more nutritious

    A luxurious look or distinctive flavour doesn’t tell you how much salt, sugar, fat or fibre a toast contains.

    To compare nutritional value, check the nutrition information per 100 g and the ingredients of the specific varieties, rather than relying on the name.

Brands and retailers to explore

These brands and retailers offer a range of crisp bread products. Always check the specific variety: a brand name alone doesn’t tell you about its size, ingredients or suitability for your toppings.

Van der Meulen

Melba toast in plain, multigrain and premium varieties, among others, for small bites at lunch or with drinks.

  • Jumbo describes its multigrain melba toast as a base for toppings or dips.
  • Check the allergens on each pack of premium and multigrain varieties; ingredients differ between products.

Fratelli Laurieri / Laurieri

Scrocchi for anyone looking for a larger piece of toast or an extra flavour on their drinks board.

  • Albert Heijn describes the Grande size with sea salt as a base for toppings.
  • The gluten-free sea salt variety is not allergen-free: according to Albert Heijn, it contains soya.

Panetteria di Sergio

Italian scrocchi with bold flavours, including truffle, for drinks occasions where you want the toast itself to add flavour.

  • The truffle variety is a specific option when that flavour works with the rest of the board.
  • With delicate toppings, a strongly flavoured toast can change the flavour combination you’re aiming for; check the allergens too.

Albert Heijn

A retailer offering plain melba toast and various types of premium toast, among other products.

  • AH Melba toast naturel is sold in a 240 g pack containing twelve packs of six pieces of toast.
  • Albert Heijn notes that ingredients and allergen information may change; check the packaging when you buy.

Jumbo

A place to look for melba toast, including a multigrain variety from Van der Meulen.

  • The multigrain variety has a different flavour and ingredients from plain melba toast.
  • Check whether your chosen flavour is available shortly before buying: Jumbo listed a tomato and basil variety as no longer available.

ALDI / Sun Snacks

A place to look for melba toast and other toast varieties when you’re shopping for several guests.

  • ALDI lists Sun Snacks Melba Toast Naturel in a 240 g pack.
  • Before you set off, check whether your chosen variety is available at the store where you’ll be shopping.

Lidl

A place to look for melba toast and plain toast for drinks, among other products.

  • Lidl lists 240 g packs of melba toast and 125 g packs of plain toast for drinks as in-store products.
  • Check the packaging of your chosen variety in store for ingredients and allergens.

Bolletje

An alternative if other crisp bread products would also suit the occasion you have planned.

  • Bolletje lists crackers, rusks, crispbread and ciabatta snack crackers, among other products.
  • Crackers or rusks don’t necessarily have the same shape for serving as thin melba toast; compare the product with your toppings.

Toast products at Joybuy

These two Danish Toast varieties are suitable for breakfast at your holiday home. Don’t automatically choose them as a replacement for thin melba toast or large, crunchy scrocchi: first compare the flavour you want and the shape that will work for your toppings.

Thinmax Golden Danish Toast, four 85 g packs

Thinmax Golden Danish Toast, 4 × 85 g

An option for a holiday breakfast where you want the toast itself to add flavour. The four 85 g portions are useful if you plan to serve toast at different times; before use, check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and storage instructions for opened packs.

If you want to serve generous toppings, first compare the size and sturdiness with what you need.

View at Joybuy
Thinmax Xinmaichao New Mak Chiu-Golden Danish Toast, 85 g

Thinmax Xinmaichao New Mak Chiu-Golden Danish Toast, 85 g

A smaller pack for breakfast or a snack at your holiday home. Check the packaging for ingredients, allergens and storage instructions for opened packs.

If you need the toast as a base for generous toppings, check before buying that its shape will work.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Which toast should I choose for snacks with plenty of toppings?

Choose a size with enough room for the toppings you want to serve: melba toast works well for bite-sized snacks, while Albert Heijn describes Fratelli Laurieri Scrocchi Grande as a larger base. Choose plain toast when you want the toppings to take centre stage, and add them shortly before serving.

Does truffle-flavoured toast go with every drinks board?

No. Truffle works best when you deliberately pair it with the other items on the board. If you’re serving a variety of delicate toppings, plain toast gives you more freedom to let the toppings provide the flavour.

Do I need to check for other allergens in gluten-free toast?

Yes. The gluten-free Laurieri Scrocchi sea salt sold by Albert Heijn is made with soya flour. So, for every pack, check the current ingredients and allergen information as well as the gluten-free label.

How do I keep toast fresh between different occasions?

Once opened, follow the storage instructions on the packaging and seal the toast securely. If you’re making snacks over several days, individual packs can help you avoid opening everything at once.

Can I rely on the online range when shopping for a holiday home?

Use the online range to choose products, but check that your preferred variety is available at the store where you’ll be shopping. Lidl lists the toast mentioned as an in-store product; Jumbo listed a tomato and basil variety as no longer available.