Which type of toast is right for you?

For hot snacks with generous toppings

If you want to make a larger snack in the oven or a toastie maker, soft toastie bread is a good base to toast yourself. Just check that the slices and toppings will fit in your appliance.

For bites you can serve straight away

If you want small party bites without toasting the bread first, you can choose crisp toast or Melba toast. With crisp bread, consider how much topping you’re adding and how wet it is.

For anyone who needs to check ingredients first

If you have dietary restrictions or preferences relating to allergens, fibre or salt, the product category alone isn’t enough. Compare the nutritional information and check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you’re using.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want to make a hot snack yourself or serve small bites straight away. If ingredients or allergens are important to your choice, check the specific product before planning your toppings.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Base for hot snacks Check whether it’s soft, sliced toastie bread and whether the slices with toppings will fit in your oven or toastie maker. If I want to make a larger hot snack with several layers, I need bread I can toast myself. Around 45% of consumers prioritise this kind of base for hot snacks.
Serving straight away Compare the shape and portion size of crisp toast, toast cups and Melba toast; add wet toppings just before serving. For a platter of small bites, I don’t want to bake the bread first, and the base needs to be practical to top. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this.
Ingredients and nutritional information Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings about traces; compare fibre and salt per 100 g. If I need to take ingredients or allergens into account, the specific pack must meet my requirements. Around 19% of consumers prioritise these checks.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘thick cut’ means every type of toast

    Soft toastie bread, small crisp toast and Melba toast are designed for different uses. The term ‘thick cut’ alone doesn’t tell you how large or thick a slice is in a particular pack.

    First decide between a hot snack you’ll prepare yourself and a small bite you can serve straight away. Then check the product image, the number of slices or portions, and the dimensions you need.

  • Stopping at ‘wholemeal’ or ‘gluten-free’

    The Jumbo toastie breads reviewed contain wheat and gluten. The Céréal gluten-free toast bread reviewed also warns that other allergens may be present.

    Read the full ingredients and allergen information on the current pack. Compare nutritional values, such as fibre and salt, on the same per-100 g basis.

  • Assuming all toast contains a particular type of salt

    You can’t tell which type of salt is used in a specific product from the word ‘bread’ or ‘toast’ in its name.

    If iodised salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients list for a reference to baker’s salt or iodised salt.

  • Topping crisp bites with wet ingredients too early

    Small, crisp toast may be less practical with wet or heavy toppings. A product description saying it stays crisp for longer doesn’t guarantee this with every type of topping.

    Keep wet ingredients separate and finish assembling the bites shortly before serving. If in doubt, try topping one piece of toast first.

Brands to compare

These brands offer product ranges that could suit different types of party snacks; always check the details of the product you choose.

Jumbo

Among the products reviewed, Jumbo offers both soft toastie bread and crisp toast: two different bases for hot snacks and bites you can serve straight away.

  • According to Jumbo’s product pages, the wholemeal toastie bread reviewed contains 6,4 g of fibre per 100 g, while the white variety contains 2,3 g per 100 g.
  • Both toastie breads reviewed contain wheat and gluten; these nutritional values don’t apply to the entire range.

Haust

Haust Krokant Toast is a small, twice-baked toast for party bites, not soft bread for a larger hot snack.

  • According to Haust’s product description, this toast stays crisp for extra long after being topped; this isn’t guaranteed with every topping.
  • The product reviewed lists 1,6 g of salt per 100 g and several allergens or possible traces.

JP by Jos Poell

JP by Jos Poell’s Toast Naturel is a small, crisp base for a sharing platter with sweet or savoury toppings.

  • Jumbo’s product description suggests both sweet and savoury toppings for this variety.
  • The product reviewed contains wheat and gluten; the label also warns that egg, milk and sesame may be present.

Bolletje

Bolletje rusks are a different type of bread for small bites, not a like-for-like replacement for soft toastie bread.

  • Bolletje offers, among other products, wholemeal rusks and a grains-and-seeds variety.
  • If you want to make a hot snack with generous toppings, bear in mind that rusks are brittle.

Céréal

The Céréal wholemeal toast bread reviewed is explicitly gluten-free and lactose-free.

  • The product page lists 14 g of fibre per 100 g for this variety.
  • Gluten-free doesn’t mean free from all allergens: the product information warns that egg, milk, mustard, sesame and soya, among others, may be present.

Joybuy products to help you choose

Matching products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does ‘thick cut’ tell you how thick a slice of toast is?

Not in the product descriptions mentioned: they don’t specify a standard slice thickness for ‘thick cut’. Check whether you’re buying soft toastie bread or small crisp toast, and check the dimensions if the bread needs to fit in a toaster or toastie maker.

Which type of toast can I top in advance?

Crisp toast or toast cups are an option for small bites you’ll serve shortly afterwards. If possible, keep wet or hot toppings separate until just before serving; Haust’s claim that its toast stays crisp for longer isn’t a guarantee for all toppings.

How do I check for allergens when serving guests?

Read the ingredients, allergen information and any warnings about traces on the exact pack you’re going to serve. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says allergens must be listed on the label of prepacked foods; ingredients vary between toast and bread products.

What’s the difference between the white and wholemeal toastie bread reviewed?

According to Jumbo, the wholemeal toastie bread reviewed contains 6,4 g of fibre per 100 g, while the white variety contains 2,3 g per 100 g. Both contain wheat and gluten; don’t choose based on fibre content alone, but check the other ingredients and nutritional information too.

How can I tell whether toast contains iodised salt?

Check the ingredients list for the specific product for a reference to baker’s salt or iodised salt. Don’t rely on the word ‘bread’ or ‘toast’ in the product name alone.