Choose a soft, medium-sliced white loaf if you want to prepare plenty of evenly sized sandwiches or toasties for a summer barbecue. Be sure to check the slice thickness of the specific loaf: you can’t assume it from the words ‘white bread’. For small bites to serve with drinks, sliced party bread is a better fit; if you want to bake the bread just before serving, look for bake-at-home rolls or baguettes and make sure you have enough oven space.
If you’re making lots of filled sandwiches or toasties in advance, evenly sliced bread makes them quicker to prepare. If you’re choosing a soft white sandwich loaf, check separately that it’s actually medium-sliced.
For small bites with dips or toppings, consider sliced party bread or small rolls instead of large slices of bread. Check whether your chosen product needs to be baked before serving.
If you want to bake the rolls around the time of the barbecue, set aside time to use the oven. Bake-at-home rolls are a different serving option from pre-filled, medium-sliced sandwiches.
First decide whether you want to serve full slices with fillings, small bites to go with drinks or freshly baked bread. Then check the slice thickness, portion size and any preparation instructions for each product.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Evenly sized slices | Check whether the loaf is medium-sliced and whether you’re buying a whole or half loaf. | If I’m making lots of sandwiches in advance, I want slices I can portion without having to cut them up; around 38% of consumers prioritise this preparation. |
| Small bites to serve with drinks | Check whether the bread is already sliced, how much is in the pack and whether it needs to be baked. | For dips and shared toppings, I want to serve small pieces rather than full sandwiches. This is a priority for around 37% of consumers. |
| Serving warm | Check the baking time and oven temperature, and make sure the oven will be free around serving time. | If the bread won’t be served until mealtime, I want to be able to bake it shortly beforehand; serving warm is the main priority for around 25% of consumers. |
A whole loaf or bread cut to a different thickness may not be convenient if you want to make lots of similar sandwiches in advance. The type of bread alone doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are.
Check the packaging or ask at the bakery counter about the slice thickness before buying.
Party bread and bake-at-home rolls may need to be prepared before serving. If you also need the oven for side dishes, you’ll need to decide when the bread can go in.
Read the preparation instructions before the barbecue, and choose bread that’s ready to serve if you don’t have oven space.
Ingredients can vary from one product to another. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre stresses that checking the label is important if you have a food allergy; information about another loaf is no substitute.
Read the current label on the bread you’re buying and check all ingredients and allergen information if you have a relevant allergy.
The shops listed offer different types of white bread. Check the slice thickness and preparation method for each product: a range overview doesn’t confirm these details for every loaf.
Albert Heijn has an online range overview for white bread.
Jumbo has an online white bread category, with delivery and collection options.
Lidl offers oven-fresh bread, among other products, as well as a white loaf shown as an in-store product.
ALDI lists both a whole white loaf and white Kaiser rolls to bake at home.
PLUS lists products including sliced white party bread, white baguettes and white rolls.
Dirk describes Bakker van der Akker Casino white half loaf as soft bread for sandwiches and toasties, among other uses.
These white baguettes are options if you’d like to serve baguette at your barbecue or use it as a base for sandwiches. If you specifically need medium-sliced bread, check the slice thickness; check the packaging for any baking instructions.
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A white baguette to serve alongside barbecue dishes instead of medium-sliced bread. The pack contains 220 g; check the packaging for the slice thickness and any baking instructions.
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A rustic white baguette to consider as a base for sandwiches or to serve with a meal. The pack contains 250 g; check whether the bread is sliced and whether it needs to be prepared before serving.
Choose it if you want to make lots of sandwiches or toasties with evenly sized slices in advance. Check the slice thickness of the specific loaf; small bites to serve with drinks or bread you’ll bake just before eating call for different types of bread.
Yes. If you have a relevant allergy, check the label on the exact bread you’re serving. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread usually contains wheat, and added ingredients may introduce other allergens. Don’t rely on information about a similar product.
Yes, as long as you store and prepare them according to the instructions on the packaging. ALDI gives a baking time of 5–7 minutes for its white Kaiser rolls; the time and temperature may differ for another product.
Don’t assume that it does. In 2024, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) reported that the use of iodised baker’s salt is encouraged through an agreement; the bread industry says its use is not required by law. Check the ingredients of the bread you’re buying if this matters to your choice.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends taking meat, fish and salads out of the fridge in small amounts, ready to use straight away. It advises throwing food away if it has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours.
