Which type of bread is right for you?

For sandwiches and toast

For sandwiches or toast, look for slices that suit what you’re making. Jumbo and PLUS offer options including casino-style bread and toast bread, but check the slice thickness on the specific pack you choose.

For bread served with a meal

If you’re serving bread with soup or appetisers, you could also consider tiger bread, round loaves or free-form loaves. Albert Heijn describes its tiger white bread as light with an extra-crisp crust. For other types, check that the crust and size will work with your meal.

For shoppers who want to check the label

If ingredients, allergens, salt or the use of baker’s salt matter to your choice, compare the current labels on the specific loaves. According to the Voedingscentrum, using baker’s salt is not compulsory, and the label will tell you whether it has been used.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want neat, evenly sliced bread for sandwiches or whether you’ll be serving it as part of the meal. Then check the slice thickness and choose an amount that suits your dinner.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Soft, even slices For casino-style, regular white or toast bread, check whether the packaging explicitly says it is medium sliced. If I’m making neat sandwiches or toast, I want slices that are easy to top. This is the main priority for around 33% of consumers.
Crust and presentation For tiger bread, round loaves or free-form loaves, check the crust and decide whether you need the bread pre-sliced. For bake-at-home bread, check the preparation instructions. If the bread is being served alongside the meal, I care more about the crust and when it’s served than about uniform slices. Around 27% of consumers give this the most consideration.
Getting the right amount Compare half and whole loaves, or choose smaller rolls depending on what you plan to serve. For dinner for two, I don’t want to buy more bread than I expect to use. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers.
Ingredients and nutritional information Check the label for allergens, salt per 100 g and, if relevant, baker’s salt or iodised salt. When ingredients or nutritional information influence my choice, I want to be able to check the label on the exact loaf I’m buying. This is the main priority for around 20% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing ‘half’ with ‘medium sliced’

    ‘Half’ describes the loaf size or pack, not the thickness of the slices. So a half loaf may not have the slices you had in mind for sandwiches.

    Look for ‘medium sliced’ on the packaging or ask at the bakery counter.

  • Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt

    The Voedingscentrum says that using baker’s salt is not compulsory. If this ingredient matters to your choice, you can’t tell whether it’s included from the type of bread alone.

    Check the ingredients list for baker’s salt or iodised salt; if the bread is unwrapped, ask about its ingredients.

  • Choosing based on the type of bread alone

    A name such as tiger white or toast bread doesn’t tell you everything about the ingredients and nutritional value. Albert Heijn’s product information for AH Tijger wit half and PLUS’s information for Goedhart Tostibrood wit half list wheat and gluten.

    Check the current label on the version you’re buying if allergens or salt matter to your choice.

  • Assuming online availability reflects in-store stock

    If you’re picking up bread shortly before dinner, what’s available at your local branch at the time makes a difference. Lidl says its fresh bread selection can vary by branch.

    Check what’s available at your local branch before planning your menu around a specific type of bread.

Brands and shops to consider

The ranges listed include several types of white bread. Before choosing a specific loaf, check its slice thickness, size and label.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers options including regular white bread, free-form loaves and tiger bread.

  • Whole and half white loaves are available, so you can choose an amount that suits your dinner.
  • Check the slice thickness and current product information for the specific loaf you choose.

Jumbo

Jumbo offers options including casino-style bread, regular white bread and toast bread.

  • Choosing between a half and a whole loaf helps you decide how much to buy.
  • The type of bread or the word ‘half’ doesn’t confirm that the slices are medium thickness.

PLUS

PLUS stocks options including casino white, tiger white and toast bread.

  • PLUS provides ingredients, allergen and nutritional information for Goedhart Tostibrood wit half.
  • Check the slice thickness and label on the pack you actually choose.

ALDI

ALDI offers fresh white bread in half and whole sizes, as well as other bread options.

  • A half loaf may be a better fit for a small dinner than a whole loaf.
  • Check in store whether the white bread you choose is medium sliced.

Lidl

Lidl’s fresh-from-the-oven range includes white rolls and bake-at-home options.

  • These options suit plans to bake or pick up bread just before serving.
  • Lidl says its fresh selection can vary by branch; ingredients and allergens are listed on the packaging.

Dirk

Dirk offers options including casino-style, round and farmhouse white bread, as well as smaller white rolls.

  • You can choose a loaf size to suit the role bread will play in your meal.
  • Check the slice thickness and product information for each loaf you choose.

Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a half loaf of white bread the same as medium-sliced bread?

No. ‘Half’ refers to the size of the loaf or pack, not the slice thickness. For sandwiches or toast, check explicitly whether the version you choose is medium sliced.

When should I choose soft white bread and when tiger white?

Soft white bread is a good choice if you want to make evenly sliced sandwiches; tiger white is an option if the crust matters more when serving. Albert Heijn describes its tiger white bread as having an extra-crisp crust. For either type, check the slice thickness if you need medium-sliced bread.

Does white bread always contain baker’s salt?

No. According to the Voedingscentrum, using baker’s salt in bread is not compulsory. Check the label to see whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients, and ask if the bread is unwrapped.

How much bread should I buy for two people?

Choose an amount that suits what you plan to serve alongside the rest of your dinner. A half loaf or smaller rolls may be a good fit if you only need a few slices. Also check that the size you choose has the slice thickness you want.