If you’re making hot snacks
You’re looking for white bread for toasties, croques or French toast, and want to know whether the shape and slice thickness suit the way you plan to prepare it.
Who is this choice relevant to?
If you’re serving generously topped snacks
You want to check the crust, shape of the loaf and actual slice thickness before adding toppings, especially if you’re preparing several snacks.
If you’re comparing labels
As well as slice thickness, you’re checking fibre and salt per 100 g, and looking at the ingredients and allergen information for the bread you’re buying.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you need bread for hot snacks or topped bites. Then check the slice thickness, how much you’ll need and the label on the product you choose.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness and use | Check whether the bread is intended for toasties, and check the actual slice thickness if you want thick slices. | If I’m making hot or generously topped snacks, I want to know how thickly the bread is sliced before planning the toppings. Around 50% of consumers put this combination of slice thickness and suitability first. |
| Preparation | Choose the amount of bread you need, and read the storage instructions if you’re buying it in advance. | When I’m catering for several guests, I want to prepare the snacks without ending up with unnecessary leftovers. For around 33% of consumers, this convenience when preparing ahead matters most. |
| Label | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g, and read the up-to-date ingredients and allergen information. | If I’m taking guests’ needs into account or comparing nutritional values, I need to check the label for the exact bread I’m buying. Around 17% of consumers prioritise checking the label. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming toastie bread is thickly sliced
Albert Heijn and Jumbo sell white bread for toasties, but the term ‘toastie bread’ doesn’t specify how thick each slice is.
Are thick slices important for your snack? Check the packaging or the bread in store before choosing it.
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Confusing a whole loaf or firm crust with thick slices
PLUS’s whole white loaf and Dirk’s white batard with a firm crust have different features, but neither tells you how thick the slices are.
Assess the shape of the loaf and the crust separately from the slice thickness, and ask how a whole loaf can be sliced if needed.
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Guessing allergens from the type of bread
The name ‘white bread’ doesn’t tell your guests which ingredients or allergens are listed for a specific product.
If anyone has an allergy, read the up-to-date ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the bread you’re serving.
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Overlooking the fibre content
Choosing a white bread snack for its shape or slice thickness tells you nothing about its fibre content. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible.
If fibre matters to you, compare the nutritional information per 100 g and consider serving wholemeal or brown bread too.
Brands and ranges to consider
Albert Heijn
A good place to start if you’re looking for white bread intended for toasties.
- Albert Heijn describes AH Extra lang lekker tostibrood as white, square bread for toasties and French toast, among other things.
- Check the slice thickness and up-to-date allergen information on the packaging.
Jumbo
A good place to start for white toastie bread and other types of white bread.
- Jumbo offers white toastie bread and other types of white bread, including a square loaf.
- The shape of the loaf doesn’t confirm that it’s thickly sliced. Check the packaging if slice thickness or nutritional information matters to you.
PLUS
A good place to start if you want to buy a whole white loaf and plan ahead for storage.
- For Boeren wit heel, PLUS says you can freeze it at home on the day of purchase.
- A whole loaf doesn’t mean it’s thickly sliced, so check the slice thickness separately.
Dirk
A good place to start if the crust and shape of the loaf matter for how you present your snacks.
- Dirk describes Batard wit as bread with a firm crust.
- A firm crust doesn’t guarantee thick or evenly cut slices.
Lidl
An option if you want to look at white bread in store.
- Lidl lists an 800 g white loaf that’s only available in store.
- Check the slice thickness in store and read the label if those details will affect your choice.
Aldi
A range worth exploring if you’re choosing between fresh bread and bread to bake at home.
- Aldi’s bread range includes daily fresh bread and bread to bake at home.
- For a specific white bread, check its shape, slice thickness and packaging before choosing it for these snacks.
Related products at Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Which allergens should I check in white bread for guests?
Read the up-to-date ingredients and allergen information for the bread you’re buying. Don’t rely on the name ‘white bread’ alone: listed ingredients and potential allergens can vary from product to product.
Can I freeze white bread ahead of Sinterklaas Eve?
You can if the storage instructions for the product say so. PLUS says you can freeze Boeren wit heel at home on the day of purchase and use it within one month. For other bread, follow the instructions on its packaging.
How can I compare the fibre in white and wholemeal bread?
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the products you’re considering. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises replacing white bread with wholemeal or brown bread as much as possible; you can find the fibre content of a specific loaf on its packaging.
Does all white bread contain iodised baker’s salt?
You can’t tell from the type of bread alone. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that iodine compounds may be present in bread through baker’s salt; check the ingredients list for the bread you want to buy.