Hosts serving generously topped bites
If you’re serving crispbread as a finger food, its shape and portion size matter. Choose a size that suits your topping, and try heavier or moist toppings on a piece beforehand to see if it stays intact.
Who is this choice important for?
Households keeping an eye on fibre
Compare the nutritional information per 100 g if you’re planning to serve wholegrain crispbread. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholegrain products provide fibre. Crispbread is one option among the other foods you serve.
Hosts catering for guests with allergies
For guests with an allergy, the current packaging is what counts. Check which cereals containing gluten and other allergens are listed, including sesame, and read any warnings about possible traces.
What should you look for when choosing?
Decide what toppings you want to serve and how many pieces you’ll need. Then compare the labels of varieties in a suitable size.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Shape and topping | Check the shape and size of each piece. Try heavier or moist toppings on a piece beforehand. | I want to serve bites without the topping sliding off the base or the crispbread breaking. For around 33% of consumers, choosing a suitable base for serving comes first. |
| Wholegrain and fibre | Look for wholegrain labelling on the pack and compare fibre and salt per 100 g. | I want to know whether my choice is genuinely wholegrain and how much fibre each portion on the table provides. This is a priority for around 27% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the current ingredients list and allergen information, including warnings about possible traces. | If guests have an allergy, I don’t want to serve a product without checking the label first. This is the main concern for roughly 20% of consumers. |
| Pack size and storage | Compare the number of pieces or portions, and follow the storage advice after opening. | I want to make enough bites without being left with a large surplus that loses its crunch. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a brown colour or a multigrain name means wholegrain
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, a cracker’s colour alone doesn’t tell you whether it’s wholegrain. There are requirements for the flour used before a product can be labelled wholegrain.
Look for the word wholegrain on the pack, then check the nutritional information per 100 g.
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Comparing fibre content alone
Crispbread can also vary in salt content and ingredients that may matter to guests with allergies. Fibre figures also won’t tell you whether a piece is suitable for the topping you have planned.
Compare fibre, salt and allergens, and assess the size separately.
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Opening a large pack without a storage plan
You may not use every piece at a dinner party. Product information from retailers including Albert Heijn recommends storing crispbread in a dry place to keep it crunchy.
Work out how many bites you want to make, then seal any leftover crispbread according to the storage advice.
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Assuming all crispbread contains iodine
Iodine may be present in bakery products through baker’s salt, but that doesn’t mean every type of crispbread contains it.
If iodine is important to your choice of product, check the packaging or ask the manufacturer.
Brands to consider
Wasa (Wasabröd)
The Wasa varieties reviewed include different types of wholegrain rye crispbread, including a thin rye variety for light toppings.
- Albert Heijn lists Wasa Wholegrain as made with 100% wholegrain rye and three ingredients.
- The rye varieties reviewed contain gluten. The thin variety also contains sesame, and warnings about possible traces of other allergens are relevant.
Bolletje
The Bolletje products reviewed include a wholegrain crispbread and a round variety made with several grains and sesame.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, the high-fibre variety contains 14 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Check the cereals containing gluten and sesame for each variety; the ingredients aren’t the same across all Bolletje products.
Albert Heijn
The AH wholegrain crispbread reviewed comes in a 375 g pack, with 25 listed portions of 15 g.
- The listed portions can help you plan how many bites to make.
- Check the current packaging for wheat, rye, sesame and warnings about possible traces of other allergens.
Jumbo
The Jumbo wholegrain variety reviewed is packed as five packs of five pieces.
- For this variety, Jumbo lists 10,9 g of fibre and 0,71 g of salt per 100 g.
- The variety contains wheat and rye. If you’re catering for allergies, check the other information on the pack too.
Ryvita
On its UK product page, Ryvita International describes Original Crispbread as crispbread made with wholegrain rye flour.
- This product description can help you identify the UK variety in question.
- Don’t rely on the UK ingredients for a pack bought in the Netherlands; check its label instead.
Crispbread on Joybuy
These products are crispbread options for topped bites. Compare the size and packaging information with your serving plans; the varieties listed haven’t been tested against one another for sturdiness.
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Wasa Sourdough Rye crispbread, 235 g
A rye variety to consider if you want to serve topped crispbread. The pack contains 235 g; check how many pieces it includes, and try heavier or moist toppings beforehand. If you have allergies, check the label, including for warnings about sesame or milk.
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Bolletje wholegrain crispbread, 265 g
A wholegrain option if you want to compare the nutritional information on different packs. The pack contains 265 g; check the number of pieces when planning your bites. If you have allergies, read the current information about cereals containing gluten, sesame and possible traces of lupin.
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Wasa Rustic crispbread, 215 g
A variety to consider if you’re looking for rye crispbread for topped bites. The pack contains 215 g; check the fibre per 100 g and the number of pieces if these will influence your choice. If you have allergies, check the packaging for rye and warnings about milk or sesame.
Frequently asked questions
How can I identify wholegrain crispbread?
Check whether the packaging says wholegrain. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, crackers can only be labelled wholegrain if they’re made entirely from wholegrain flour; a brown colour or multigrain name isn’t enough.
Can I serve wholegrain crispbread to guests who eat gluten-free?
Don’t assume it’s suitable: the Wasa, Bolletje, Albert Heijn and Jumbo varieties discussed here contain cereals with gluten. For a guest who needs to eat gluten-free, choose a separate product whose current packaging confirms that it’s suitable, and check the allergen information.
Can I top the bites well before the dinner party?
It’s best to store crispbread in a dry place and add the toppings shortly before serving if you want to keep it crunchy. This is especially worth bearing in mind with moist toppings; try one bite first. Product information from retailers including Albert Heijn recommends storing crispbread in a dry place.
Does all crispbread contain iodine from baker’s salt?
No, you can’t assume that every product does. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that iodine compounds may be present in bread substitutes and other bakery products through baker’s salt. For a specific pack, check the ingredients information or ask the manufacturer.
How can I compare the fibre in crispbread for my drinks party?
First compare the fibre per 100 g, then consider how much crispbread you’ll actually serve. For the wholegrain variety reviewed, Jumbo lists 10,9 g of fibre per 100 g; the Wasa Thin Rye Wholegrain variety reviewed lists 21 g per 100 g. These figures are for different products and don’t, on their own, tell you how well each will hold toppings.