Anyone serving bread at a King’s Day gathering
Pull-apart bread or a baguette is ideal for a get-together. Choose between baking it at home and buying fresh bread shortly before serving, depending on how much time and preparation space you have.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone who needs to check ingredients carefully
Wheat, other allergens and the type of salt used can all matter when choosing white sourdough bread. Check the latest packaging or ask for the information before buying bread sold loose.
Anyone buying for a small group
Compare the size with how much you actually want to serve. You can store bread you don’t need straight away according to the product’s storage instructions, or freeze it in portions.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you can buy the bread just before serving or would rather bake it at home. Then compare the size and read the label, especially if ingredients or allergens are a deciding factor for you.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Serving time and crust | Check whether the bread needs baking and whether you have the time and a suitable appliance. If you don’t want to bake it at home, buy fresh bread from the shop shortly before serving. | If I can bake the bread at home before the gathering, I want to decide for myself when it goes on the table. For around 45% of consumers, serving time is the most important factor. |
| Size and where to buy | Compare a whole loaf, baguette or pull-apart bread with the size of your group. If you’re buying fresh bread, check whether it’s available at the shop you plan to visit. | For a small group, I don’t want to buy more bread than we need, and I need to be able to pick it up in time. Size and when to buy come first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredient and allergen information. Check separately for added yeast and any mention of bakers’ salt or iodised salt. | If I need to watch out for an ingredient or allergen, I want to know what’s in the bread before I buy it. For around 22% of consumers, this check is the top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming sourdough means yeast-free or gluten-free
The product information for PLUS’s white sourdough baguette and Jumbo’s white sourdough pull-apart bread lists both sourdough and yeast. The white sourdough products reviewed also contain wheat.
Don’t rely on the word sourdough if you need to avoid an ingredient or allergen. Check the latest ingredient and allergen information for the specific bread.
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Assuming all sourdough bread contains bakers’ salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use bakers’ salt. So the type of raising agent won’t tell you what kind of salt has been added to the bread.
If you want to know whether bakers’ salt or iodised salt has been used, read the ingredients list or ask when buying bread sold loose.
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Treating fresh shop-bought bread like an online order
Jumbo says its rustic sourdough loaves, baked in store, can’t be ordered online. Lidl describes its rustic white sourdough bread as an in-store product.
Before your celebration, check whether the bread you want is available at your shop. If you don’t want to rely on a trip to the shops, compare a bake-at-home option too.
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Buying more bread than your group needs
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bread is among the foods that are often wasted. Choosing the right size is especially important if you’re serving other snacks as well.
Start with the amount you want to serve and store any leftover bread according to the instructions on the packaging. Freeze it in portions if needed.
Brands to compare
Jumbo
Jumbo lists both rustic sourdough loaves baked in store and white sourdough products to bake at home, including pull-apart bread and baguettes.
- If you want to serve the bread straight away or bake it yourself, these different product types are worth comparing.
- Jumbo says its rustic in-store loaves can’t be ordered online. The white pull-apart bread reviewed lists wheat and yeast; check the latest packaging when you buy it.
PLUS Korenlanders
PLUS lists a whole white sourdough loaf and a white sourdough baguette as separate products.
- According to the product pages, Korenlanders Desem Wit contains 8% sourdough, while the white sourdough baguette contains 11%. The size and preparation differ, so compare the products with your planned serving time in mind.
- The baguette lists wheat and may contain traces of other allergens. Read the latest allergen information for the variant you choose.
Lidl
Lidl describes its rustic white sourdough bread as a white wheat sourdough loaf available in store only.
- This is an in-store option to consider if you want to buy the bread shortly before serving.
- Check the ingredient and allergen information in store if it matters to your choice.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn has a product page for AH Liefde & Passie Biologisch OerDesem blond gesneden.
- Sliced bread may be a good fit for a shared lunch, rather than a loaf to bake for a get-together.
- Don’t assume that organic or OerDesem means anything specific about yeast, allergens or added salt. Check the latest product information before choosing this variant.
Joybuy products related to this topic
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Frequently asked questions
Is white sourdough bread always made without added yeast?
No. PLUS’s white sourdough baguette and Jumbo’s white sourdough pull-apart bread both list sourdough and yeast. If you want to avoid yeast, check the ingredients list for the specific bread.
Does all bread in the Netherlands contain bakers’ salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, bakers aren’t required to use bakers’ salt. Check whether the bread you want to buy lists bakers’ salt or iodised salt, or ask when buying bread sold loose.
Can I rely on the word sourdough if I have a gluten allergy?
No. The white sourdough products from PLUS and Jumbo discussed here list wheat; sourdough on its own doesn’t mean that bread is gluten-free. Check the allergen information for the exact product before buying it.
How can I reduce bread waste after King’s Day?
Buy a size that suits your group and the other snacks you’re serving. Store any leftovers according to the product instructions, and freeze bread in portions if you want to use it later.
Where can I find allergen information for bread sold loose?
Ask for the allergen information for the bread you want to take home before you buy it. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority emphasises that consumers must be able to get this information before purchase.