Choose half a white loaf if bread is just a small addition to Christmas dinner, or a whole loaf if more guests will be having some. A baguette is a good choice when its shape, crust or warmth matters; if you opt for a bake-at-home version, check how much preparation it needs. Compare the quantity in each pack and always check the latest ingredients and allergen information for your guests.
If bread is a side, you’ll want enough for your guests without ending up with lots left over. The number of diners and courses will help you decide whether half a loaf, a whole loaf or a baguette is most practical.
With soup, salad or a cheeseboard, the way the bread is served may matter more than sliced bread. Check whether your chosen loaf is ready to serve or needs baking first.
If your guests need to avoid certain ingredients, always check the information on the current packaging. If you’re also checking for baker’s salt, look at the ingredients list: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, not all bread is made with it.
First, decide how much bread you’d like to serve alongside the other dishes. Then choose between bread that’s ready to serve and a version that needs preparing. Finally, check the label for your guests.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Compare the weight of half and whole loaves, and consider how many guests will be eating bread. | If bread is served alongside several courses, I want to have enough without ending up with lots left over. Getting the quantity right is the top priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Serving time | Check whether the bread is ready to serve or needs baking, and make room in the oven if necessary. | With soup or a cheeseboard, I want to know when the bread needs to be ready. Around 30% of consumers say serving time is their top priority. |
| Ingredients | Read the latest allergen information and, if relevant, check whether baker’s salt is listed in the ingredients. | When I’m taking into account ingredients my guests avoid, the label matters more than the type of bread. For around 20% of consumers, checking this is their main concern. |
| Leftovers | Choose a suitable size and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. | If there’s bread left after dinner, I want to be able to store and use it easily. Dealing with leftovers is the biggest consideration for around 10% of consumers. |
Pack sizes can vary considerably. Dirk, for example, lists a 220 g bake-at-home baguette and a 440 g white wheat baguette.
Check the weight and think about how much bread your guests will eat alongside the other courses.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread does not have to be made with baker’s salt. A loaf’s name or colour won’t tell you whether it contains it.
If it’s relevant to your choice, check the ingredients list for baker’s salt.
Ingredients vary from product to product: PLUS, for example, lists wheat, soya and milk in its Boeren wit half loaf. Bake-at-home bread also needs preparing before you serve it.
Read the latest allergen information and preparation instructions before choosing bread for dinner.
If you’re serving bake-at-home bread, remember to allow for oven space and preparation time just before serving.
These supermarket chains offer options to explore for different types of bread and product information. Check the range and the label on the bread you actually choose.
A useful reference for white bread that you bake at home for a celebratory meal.
A useful reference if you’d like to compare half and whole white loaves.
A useful reference if you’re choosing between oven-fresh bread and packaged white bread.
A useful reference for a whole white tin loaf to serve in a bread basket with sliced bread.
A useful reference for a half white loaf with ingredient information available online.
A useful reference if you’re weighing up white tiger bread and different baguette sizes.
These white baguettes make a handy bread accompaniment to Christmas dinner. Pack sizes vary; if you want to serve yours warm, check the packaging for each product to see whether it needs preparing.
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A single baguette to serve alongside your meal. The pack contains 220 g; check the preparation instructions and allergen label before serving.
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Four individual baguettes, ideal for placing bread in several spots around the table. The pack is listed as 4 x 135 g; follow the preparation instructions on the packaging before serving.
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Two baguettes to share as a side. The total pack weight is 300 g; check the packaging to see whether they need baking before serving, and read the allergen information.
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A single white baguette to accompany dinner. The pack contains 250 g; check the preparation instructions and latest ingredient information before serving.
Half a loaf is practical if you want to offer sliced bread to a small group; a baguette works well when you’re serving pieces of bread alongside a dish. Compare the pack weight with the number of guests and check whether the baguette needs baking first.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread does not have to be made with baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for the loaf you choose to see whether it’s included.
Check the allergen information for the specific loaf, as ingredients vary. PLUS, for example, lists wheat, soya and milk in its Boeren wit half loaf; the latest packaging is the definitive guide to what you serve your guests.
For everyday bread, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with brown or wholemeal bread as much as possible. If you choose white bread for Christmas dinner, that’s a separate occasion from the bread you usually eat.
