Who is this choice important for?

Barbecue hosts serving generous toppings

They want room for a larger or juicier topping. It’s particularly important for them not to mistake Melba toast explicitly described as ultra-thin for thick-cut toast just because of its name.

Hosts putting together sharing platters with light dips

They’re looking for small, crunchy bites to serve with spreads and dips. Jumbo describes Van der Meulen Melba Meergranen as ultra-thin toast designed for toppings or dipping.

Shoppers checking labels for their guests

They want to check the ingredients, allergens and nutritional information for each variant, rather than relying on terms such as plain or multigrain.

What should you look for when choosing?

First, consider how much room your toppings need: a small piece of toast for dipping calls for a different shape from a generously topped slice. Then compare the labels and pack sizes of the products you’re considering.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Room for generous toppings Check the size and whether the pack describes the product as ultra-thin. Don’t treat “thick cut” as a guaranteed measurement of thickness. For a generously topped or juicy bite, I want to know whether the base is large and sturdy enough. This would be the main deciding factor for around 33% of consumers.
Small nibbles and dips Check the shape and whether the description recommends the product for dipping or light toppings. When serving a selection of light bites, I prefer a small, crunchy size. This would be the top priority for around 27% of consumers.
Ingredients and nutritional information Read the current allergen information; if you wish, compare fibre and salt per 100 g. If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in each product. Checking the label would be the first priority for around 20% of consumers.
Pack size and availability Compare the pack weight with the amount you need and check current availability at your chosen shop. For a smaller group of guests, I don’t want to choose a pack based on its appearance alone. Around 20% of consumers would focus mainly on quantity and availability.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming “thick cut” is a standard description for Melba toast

    This could lead you to choose the wrong product for generous toppings: Jumbo describes Van der Meulen Melba Meergranen as ultra-thin.

    Go by the actual size and product description. If you want a thicker slice, consider bread that you can cut to your preferred thickness and toast yourself.

  • Assuming multigrain is suitable for every guest

    A multigrain variant may contain ingredients a guest needs to avoid; the name alone doesn’t tell you what’s in it.

    Read the current ingredients and allergen information for each variant before serving it to guests.

  • Leaving perishable toppings out of the fridge for too long

    Dry toast and chilled toppings need to be handled differently. According to the Voedingscentrum, perishable food should be thrown away if it has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours.

    Serve perishable toppings in small quantities and top them up from the fridge if needed.

Brands and ranges compared

Van der Meulen

Melba toast in several varieties, including plain, wholemeal and multigrain.

  • Jumbo describes the multigrain variety as ultra-thin toast for toppings or dipping.
  • That description doesn’t support treating it as a thick-cut or extra-sturdy base for generous toppings.

Jumbo

Supermarket offering Melba toast, small crackers and other toast shapes in its toast category.

  • The different shapes give you options to compare small party bites with larger pieces of toast.
  • Check the shape and current availability of each product you choose. A product being listed in the range doesn’t tell you how thick every variety is.

Albert Heijn

Supermarket offering its own Melba toast as well as varieties from Van der Meulen.

  • Plain and grain varieties give you a choice of different ingredient lists and toast shapes.
  • Albert Heijn notes that product information can change. Check the current pack, especially if you’re catering for guests with allergies.

Sun Snacks

ALDI lists Melba Toast Naturel as crunchy toasted bread in a 240 g pack.

  • The stated pack weight helps you work out how much you’ll need.
  • Check that the shape suits your toppings and that the product is available at your chosen shop.

Bolletje

Ciabatta Crackers Tomaat & Kruiden are an alternative to crackers, not Melba toast.

  • These crackers offer a different shape and flavour for a sharing platter.
  • Bolletje lists wheat and cereals containing gluten; also check the warning about possible traces of other allergens. The product description doesn’t show that these are a thick-cut toast base.

Related Joybuy products

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is Melba toast the same as thick-cut toast?

No, you can’t tell that from the product name. Jumbo describes Van der Meulen Melba Meergranen as ultra-thin, so check the size and product description if you want to serve generous toppings.

What should I check when buying toast for guests with an allergy?

Read the allergen information on the current pack of the specific product. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority refers to this label information for pre-packed products, so don’t rely on the name of the toast variety alone.

Does salt in toast mean it contains iodised baker’s salt?

No, simply seeing salt listed doesn’t confirm which type of salt was used in the toast. The Voedingscentrum explains the role of iodised baker’s salt in bread in the Netherlands. For an individual toast product, check the ingredients list rather than drawing conclusions about the whole bread category.

How should I serve chilled toppings with toast at a barbecue?

Serve perishable toppings in small quantities and take more portions out of the fridge as needed. The Voedingscentrum advises throwing away perishable food once it has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours.

Is multigrain toast automatically a better choice for a sharing platter?

No. Multigrain toast and bread toasted at home differ in shape and how they’re used. What’s more, the name multigrain doesn’t tell you whether a product suits your toppings or contains ingredients your guests need to avoid. Compare the packs of the specific products to find out.