If you’re putting together a bread board
A rustic shape or visible seeds can help create an appealing bread board with generous toppings. Albert Heijn and Dirk highlight these features in their white multiseed and oven-bottom breads.
Which option is right for you?
If you’re serving lunch at a set time
Bread that you bake at home works well for a lunch when you can use the oven just before serving. Jumbo, Lidl and ALDI offer various white breads and rolls for this; cooking instructions vary by product.
If you’re catering for different guests
Soft slices, an alternative to white bread, or clear allergen information can all matter when guests have different preferences and dietary needs. Check the packaging of the bread you plan to serve.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by thinking about how you want to serve the bread: on a bread board, warm from the oven or as soft slices to go with a range of toppings. Then check the product information that matters to your guests.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation and toppings | Check the shape of the loaf and whether it’s sold whole or sliced. | For a bread board with generous toppings, I want slices that suit the way I plan to present them; around 36% of consumers put presentation and how well the bread holds toppings first. |
| Serving time | Check whether the bread is ready to serve or needs baking, and read the baking instructions. | If I want to put oven-fresh bread on the table, the preparation needs to fit into my lunch plans. Serving it warm is the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| A range of toppings | Compare soft slices, rolls and bread that you can share in pieces. | When serving both savoury and sweet toppings, I want a type of bread that lets guests help themselves; around 21% of consumers prioritise this versatility. |
| Nutritional information and ingredients | Check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and nutritional values per 100 g. | If a guest is keeping an eye on fibre or allergens, I want to know exactly what I’m serving; this information is the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming rustic or sourdough means wholemeal
White oven-bottom bread and white sourdough are still white bread. The Voedingscentrum recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible.
Choose white bread for the flavour or presentation you want, and serve wholemeal or brown bread too if that’s what your guests prefer.
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Assuming bakers’ salt contains iodine
Brood.net states that using bakers’ salt containing iodine is not a legal requirement. You can’t tell what salt a bread contains just from its type.
Check the ingredients of the specific product if bakers’ salt containing iodine is important to your choice.
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Choosing ready-to-bake bread without making time for the oven
Baking bread at home takes oven space and needs to be done just before the meal. Instructions vary by product.
Choose bread that’s ready to serve if you can’t set aside time for baking. Otherwise, check the storage and baking instructions on the packaging in advance.
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Treating old product information as definitive
PLUS warns that product ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information can change.
Check the current packaging when you buy, especially if a guest needs to avoid an allergen.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Liefde & Passie includes a white multiseed loaf, among other options, for anyone looking for a rustic-style loaf.
- Albert Heijn describes Liefde & Passie Meerzaden as a loaf baked on a stone oven floor and made with sourdough.
- Check the exact variety and current availability: a white organic sourdough product on another product page was listed as no longer in the range.
Jumbo
Offers white bread in different formats, including La Place Vloerbrood Wit, which you can bake at home.
- Jumbo says La Place Vloerbrood Wit can be frozen on the day of purchase.
- According to the product information, Jumbo Desem Breekbrood Wit is par-baked white wheat sourdough bread; sourdough does not mean it’s wholemeal.
Lidl
Offers white tin loaves and ciabatta that you can bake at home.
- Lidl lists its ciabatta as a product to finish baking in the oven at home.
- Check the packaging and availability at the store in question for your chosen loaf.
ALDI
Offers rustic white bread and white rolls to bake at home.
- ALDI describes Bakkersgoud rustic white bread as having a golden-brown crust and soft centre.
- According to ALDI, its freshly baked bread range is available in stores with a bakery section.
PLUS
Offers white oven-bottom bread and white sourdough baguettes, among other options.
- PLUS product information lists a white sourdough baguette as an alternative to pre-sliced bread.
- PLUS recommends checking the packaging, as ingredients, nutritional values and allergy information can change.
Dirk
Offers white oven-bottom bread with sunflower seeds from Bakker van der Akker.
- Dirk describes Vloerbrood zonnepit as white oven-bottom bread with sunflower seeds, suitable for breakfast or lunch.
- If you want to serve bread without seeds, check the variety and ingredients separately.
White bread for lunch at Joybuy
These baguettes are options for an Easter lunch where you want to serve white bread in pieces or add toppings. Choose according to how many loaves you need, and check the packaging for preparation instructions before planning when to serve them.
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g'woon rustic white baguette, 250 g
A rustic-style baguette for serving in pieces or making sandwiches for lunch.
Check the packaging to see whether the bread needs baking. If you have allergies, check the current allergen information.
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g'woon white baguettes, 2 pieces, 300 g
Two white baguettes to share with a group of guests.
Check the cooking instructions before planning to serve them warm, and read the packaging if you have allergies.
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g'woon white baguette, 220 g
A white baguette that you can share in pieces at lunchtime.
Check the baking instructions when planning when to serve it. Checking the packaging is especially important if you have allergies, as ingredient and allergen information can vary.
Frequently asked questions
Is bakers’ salt containing iodine compulsory in Dutch bread?
No. Brood.net states that using bakers’ salt containing iodine is not a legal requirement. If you want to know which salt has been used, check the ingredients of the bread you’ve chosen.
Is white sourdough the same as wholemeal bread?
No. Sourdough does not, in itself, mean that a loaf is wholemeal. Check the type of bread and the nutritional information on the packaging; the Voedingscentrum recommends replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible.
Can I freeze ready-to-bake oven-bottom bread in advance?
Jumbo says that La Place Vloerbrood Wit can be frozen on the day of purchase. Don’t assume the same applies to other ready-to-bake breads; follow their own storage instructions.
How do I plan ready-to-bake bread for Easter lunch?
Set aside time to use the oven just before serving and follow the instructions for your chosen product. ALDI, for example, gives a cooking time of 5–7 minutes for its white kaiser rolls; that timing won’t automatically apply to an oven-bottom loaf or baguette.
What should I check for allergies and white multiseed bread?
Check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the exact loaf. For Liefde & Passie Meerzaden, Albert Heijn lists sesame seeds among the ingredients; information about a different loaf or an older product description is no substitute for checking the packaging.