For meals for one, a smaller white sourdough loaf is handy if you’re unlikely to finish a whole loaf quickly. If you’d rather buy a larger loaf with a rustic crust, you can freeze it in meal-sized portions straight away. Whichever you choose, check the ingredients and allergens for the exact product: white sourdough bread can also contain rye or seeds, and the name doesn’t tell you whether baker’s salt has been used.
If you only eat a few slices with each meal, the loaf size and whether you can freeze portions will determine how much bread you need to store at once. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises freezing bread in portions if it’s unlikely to be eaten quickly.
If you’re serving bread with soup or as part of a lunch, you might want to consider the crust, the texture of the loaf and the stated proving method. Jumbo describes its rustic sourdough loaves as having been proved for more than 24 hours; this information about its range doesn’t tell you how an individual loaf will taste to you.
The description ‘white sourdough’ doesn’t tell you which grains, seeds or type of salt the exact product contains. For example, PLUS’s Kleintje Desem Wit Zonnepit loaf also contains rye and sunflower seeds. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says you can check the label to see whether baker’s salt has been used.
First, work out how much bread you use with each meal and whether you want to freeze the rest. Then compare the type of bread you want with the label of the product you’re buying.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Portion size and storage | Check the weight, whether the loaf is sliced and the storage instructions. Consider whether you can freeze the rest in portions straight away. | If I only need a few slices, I don’t want to keep a whole opened loaf for too long. Portion size is the most important factor for around 45% of consumers. |
| Crust and sourdough | Read the product description and ingredients. For a specific product, check whether the baker provides information about the proving method. | For a meal where the bread itself plays a key part, I’d rather choose based on the crust and sourdough flavour I want than on the smallest size. Around 33% of consumers give these qualities priority. |
| Ingredients and baker’s salt | Read the ingredients and allergen information for the exact product. Check whether baker’s salt is listed if it’s relevant to your diet. | If I want to avoid certain ingredients or find out which type of salt has been used, I need the label to help me make an informed choice. Checking ingredients comes first for around 22% of consumers. |
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread isn’t always baked with baker’s salt. The name ‘sourdough’ doesn’t tell you whether it has been used.
Look for baker’s salt on the label, or ask which type of salt has been used if you’re buying unpackaged bread.
If you only eat bread occasionally, you may end up keeping a whole loaf open for longer than you’d like. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also lists bread as one of the foods that is often wasted.
Choose a smaller loaf or freeze a larger one in meal-sized portions after buying it.
PLUS describes its Korenlanders Kleintje Desem Wit Zonnepit as white wheat and rye sourdough bread with sunflower seeds. So the colour and product name don’t give you the full ingredients list.
Compare the ingredients and allergens for the exact product, especially if you need to avoid something.
Jumbo says its rustic sourdough loaves are sold in store and can’t be ordered online. Lidl describes its Rustiek wit desembrood as available in store only.
Before planning a meal, check the latest product information and availability at the branch you want to visit.
A place to compare different Liefde & Passie OerDesem varieties, including organic OerDesem blond.
A good option if you’re looking for rustic sourdough and want to choose your loaf in store.
A specific smaller loaf to compare for portion size and ingredients: Korenlanders Kleintje Desem Wit Zonnepit, 300 g.
An in-store option if you’re looking for a product described as white wheat sourdough bread.
Check the ingredients on the label, or ask which type of salt has been used if you’re buying unpackaged bread. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that not all bread is baked with baker’s salt, so the description ‘white sourdough’ doesn’t guarantee that it has been used.
Ideally, freeze the bread in portions soon after buying it and take out what you need. Follow the storage instructions for your loaf: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s recommended periods of 2–4 days in a kitchen cupboard and 1–3 months in the freezer apply to the opened wholemeal sourdough bread described there, not automatically to every white variety.
Yes, it depends on the product. PLUS describes its 300 g Korenlanders Kleintje Desem Wit Zonnepit as white wheat and rye sourdough bread with sunflower seeds, so check the ingredients and allergens for the product you choose.
