If you’re serving bread as part of the meal
With soup, a main course or a cheeseboard, you can slice a whole hearth loaf to suit. Albert Heijn describes its white hearth loaf as a whole loaf with a firmer texture and crisp crust.
Which serving style works best for you?
If you’re sharing the oven with other dishes
A bake-at-home baguette or part-baked loaf needs time in the oven just before serving. Compare the instructions for your chosen product with the cooking times for your other Christmas dishes before finalising the menu.
If you’re buying bread for guests with allergies
Check the allergens in the exact bread you’re buying, not just the type of bread. The white breads we looked at vary in their ingredients and in the information they provide about possible allergens.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want to slice the bread without using the oven or bake it just before serving. Then choose the shape and quantity that suit the role of bread in your dinner.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation and crust | Compare the shape of the bread and check whether you can slice a whole loaf yourself. | If the bread will be on display at the table, I want to slice it to suit the dishes. Presentation and crust are the top priorities for around 33% of consumers. |
| When to serve it | For bake-at-home bread, check the temperature and cooking time on the packaging, and set aside oven space. | I want to serve the bread warm, but I also need the oven for other dishes. Timing is the top priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current label or ask about allergens if the bread is unpackaged. Check the ingredients if the use of iodised salt matters to you. | When I’m buying for guests with an allergy, I need to know which ingredients and allergens are relevant to them. This is the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Size and portions | Compare the weight and number of pieces with the number of guests and the role of bread in the menu. | If bread is a side dish, I want to choose how much to serve at a time. Size is the deciding factor for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘premium’ is a specific type of bread
Words such as ‘rustic’, ‘sourdough’ and ‘fresh from the oven’ don’t tell you by themselves how the bread should be served or what ingredients it contains.
First choose between a whole, ready-to-serve loaf and a bake-at-home product. Then compare the product information that matters for your dinner.
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Buying bake-at-home bread without making time for the oven
Baking the bread needs to fit around the other dishes that require the oven close to serving time.
Plan around the temperature and cooking time on the packaging of your chosen bread. If the oven won’t be available, consider a ready-to-serve loaf instead.
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Assuming all white bread contains iodised salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt. The type of bread alone won’t tell you which salt has been used.
Read the ingredients list or, for unpackaged bread, ask which salt the baker uses.
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Only checking for wheat when catering for allergies
Product information may also list other ingredients or mention the possible presence of allergens. This varies between breads.
Check the up-to-date allergen information for the exact product every time you buy it, and ask your guests what information they need.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Worth considering if you want to slice a whole white hearth loaf or are looking for a part-baked hearth loaf.
- Albert Heijn describes its whole white hearth loaf as baked directly on the oven floor, with a firmer texture and crisp crust.
- Its part-baked pavé took 8–10 minutes at 200 °C, but was listed as discontinued when we checked. Check what’s currently available.
Jumbo
Worth considering for bake-at-home baguettes and individual rolls.
- The range includes white piccolo rolls, Kaiser rolls and white sourdough rolls.
- The rustic white bake-at-home baguette we looked at lists wheat and rye, and may contain other allergens. Check the label of the product you choose.
Lidl
Worth considering if you’d like to pick up freshly baked bread in store without having to schedule oven time at home.
- Lidl says that bread is freshly baked in its stores and provides ingredients and allergen information for its oven-fresh range.
- Check which breads are available at your local store and what information applies to the specific loaf.
ALDI
Worth considering for white baguettes to bake at home and bread baked in store.
- ALDI lists a pack of two white baguettes for baking at home.
- The shape or name alone won’t tell you about allergens or the crust you can expect. Check the information for the bread you choose.
PLUS
Worth considering if you want to compare white sourdough baguettes with whole white hearth loaves.
- PLUS lists a baking time of 8–10 minutes at 220 °C for its white sourdough baguette.
- PLUS recommends checking the packaging, as ingredients, nutritional information and allergen information may change.
Dirk
Worth considering for white baguettes and rustic white bake-at-home baguettes to serve with a meal.
- Dirk lists a 250 g rustic white bake-at-home baguette and also offers other types of bread.
- Don’t choose based on the word ‘rustic’ alone: check the cooking instructions and ingredients for the specific product.
White baguettes and loaves on Joybuy
These white baguettes and loaves are options to serve at Christmas dinner. Check whether your chosen product is ready to serve or needs baking, and only schedule any oven time once you’ve checked the instructions on the packaging.
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G'woon white rustic baguette, 250 g
A baguette-style loaf for serving with a meal. Before planning your dinner, check whether it needs baking and read the allergen information on the packaging.
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g'woon white baguette, 220 g
A white baguette to serve with a meal. Check the packaging to see how it should be prepared, and check the allergens before buying it for guests.
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g'woon white baguettes, 2 pieces, 300 g
Two individual baguettes with a total weight of 300 g, handy if you’d like to serve the bread in two portions. Check the cooking instructions and allergen information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Does all white bread contain iodised baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread doesn’t have to be made with baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list or, for unpackaged bread, ask which salt has been used.
How can I check white bread for a guest with an allergy?
Check the allergen information for the exact product before buying it. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, this information is on the label of prepacked products; for unpackaged bread, ask what allergen information is available.
How do I fit bake-at-home bread in around other Christmas dishes?
Set aside time in the oven according to the instructions for the bread you buy. Albert Heijn listed 8–10 minutes at 200 °C for its part-baked white pavé, while PLUS lists 8–10 minutes at 220 °C for its white sourdough baguette. So don’t use the settings for one loaf for another.
What does the nutritional value of white bread mean for my Christmas dinner choice?
Nutritional value doesn’t tell you how the bread will fit into your dinner. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that white bread contains fewer nutrients than wholemeal bread and isn’t included in the Netherlands’ Wheel of Five. If nutritional value is a factor in your choice, compare the nutritional information per 100 g on the packaging.