If you want to cut generous slices for Christmas dinner, choose an unsliced white loaf and check whether its crust and crumb will work with your toppings. Pre-sliced white bread is more convenient for evenly sized portions, but check the actual slice thickness. A baguette or white rolls are better suited to individual bites than thick, square slices.
If you want to decide for yourself how large and thick each slice should be, an unsliced white loaf gives you that freedom. Take a look at the loaf before deciding whether its crust and crumb will work with your planned toppings.
If you’re making lots of similar bites, pre-sliced white bread can make portioning easier. Just check that the slices are the thickness you want.
Check the information for the exact bread variety if your guests have dietary requirements. Ordinary white bread isn’t automatically suitable for someone who needs to eat gluten-free.
First, decide how you want to serve it: slices you cut yourself, evenly sized pre-sliced pieces or individual bread bites. The shape of the loaf alone doesn’t tell you how well a piece of bread will hold your chosen toppings.
Choose this if: you want to cut your own generous slices for toast or sandwiches.
Bear in mind: slicing it yourself takes time to prepare and won’t automatically give you evenly sized portions.
Choose this if: evenly sized slices and quick portioning are your priorities.
Bear in mind: the thickness is fixed, so check the slices yourself, even with toastie bread or a square sandwich loaf.
Choose this if: you want to serve individual bites rather than topped, square slices.
Bear in mind: the shape and portion size will vary. If you’re using bake-at-home bread, follow the cooking instructions on the packaging.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| A base for generous toppings | Check the slice thickness and decide whether the crust and crumb will work with your planned toppings. With an unsliced loaf, you can choose the thickness yourself. | If I want to add several toppings to one slice, I want to judge for myself whether it will work. Around 46% of consumers put the base for their toppings first. |
| Portions and preparation | Compare sliced and unsliced bread, and check whether a whole or half loaf, or a pack of rolls, will suit the number of bites you’re making. | When I’m making lots of bites at once, I want to portion them evenly without too much slicing. For around 36% of consumers, portions and preparation are the main concern. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the label for your chosen variety or, if buying loose bread, ask for the allergen information. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to know exactly which bread I’m serving. This is the most important consideration for around 18% of consumers. |
The name of a loaf doesn’t tell you how thick each slice is. The pack may not be what you had in mind for your bites.
Check the slices or product information before buying. Choose unsliced bread if you need to control the thickness yourself.
Ordinary white bread isn’t automatically gluten-free. Voedingscentrum advises checking allergen information carefully when someone needs to avoid certain ingredients.
Check the claims and allergen information for the exact product. If you’re buying loose bread, ask for the relevant information and take care to avoid cross-contamination when preparing it.
If you buy more bread than you’ll use soon, its quality may deteriorate before you serve it.
Voedingscentrum recommends freezing bread in portions soon after purchase if you’re not going to use it straight away. Also follow the storage and preparation instructions on the packaging for your chosen variety.
Albert Heijn notes that some items are only available in store, while Lidl says its fresh bread range may vary by shop.
Check your chosen variety and the collection, delivery or in-store availability for your preferred date before planning your Christmas bites around it.
Albert Heijn’s white bread range includes various loaf styles, including white hearth-baked loaves and unsliced options.
Jumbo’s white bread range includes white toastie bread, square sandwich loaves and round loaves.
Lidl’s fresh-from-the-oven range also includes white rolls and bake-at-home options.
ALDI lists sliced white bread and also offers rolls.
PLUS’s white bread range includes square sandwich loaves, round loaves and toastie bread, in whole and half sizes.
Alongside white bread, Dirk offers other ways to serve bread, such as baguettes and white rolls.
This baguette and these rolls are suited to serving as individual bread bites. They aren’t pre-sliced white loaves with a set thick slice, so check that their shape and firmness will work with the toppings you want to use.
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A baguette is a good option if you want to serve individual pieces of bread rather than square slices. Check that the pieces will work with your toppings, and follow any preparation instructions on the packaging.
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The pack contains four white rolls with a total weight of 300 g, making it easy to plan the number of individual portions. These aren’t thick slices, so check they’ll work with your toppings. If you have dietary requirements, read the product label.
Check the slices of the exact variety in store or look at the product information. The terms ‘toastie bread’ and ‘square sandwich loaf’ don’t tell you the slice thickness on their own. With unsliced bread, you can decide how thick to cut it yourself.
Don’t assume that ordinary white bread is gluten-free. Follow Voedingscentrum’s advice and check the claims and allergen information for the specific product. Take care to avoid cross-contamination when preparing it.
If you’re not going to use the bread straight away, it’s best to freeze it in portions soon after purchase, as Voedingscentrum recommends. For white bread or a bake-at-home variety, also check the use-by date and the instructions on the packaging.
