BBQ hosts serving generously topped snacks
If you want to make thicker slices for generously topped sandwiches, start with unsliced bread or a confirmed slicing option. Check the slice itself before assuming it will suit your toppings.
Who is this for?
Shoppers looking to pick up supermarket bread quickly
Pre-sliced bread can save you time when preparing food. Just check the actual slice, the information on the packaging and whether the bread you’ve chosen will be available when you need it.
Shoppers comparing nutritional information
If you’re serving wholemeal bread at a BBQ, check the product description, ingredients, allergens and nutritional information per 100 g. The colour or a rustic-sounding name won’t tell you what a specific loaf contains.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether control over slice thickness is your priority, or whether you’d rather buy bread that’s ready to top. A whole loaf may already be sliced, so check this separately.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness | Is the bread unsliced, or is the slice thickness stated in millimetres? If not, ask what slicing options are available. | If you want to cut a topped slice to your preferred thickness, control over the slice matters more than convenience. This would be the top priority for around 33% of shoppers. |
| Wholemeal and labelling | Check the product description, ingredients, allergens and nutritional information per 100 g. | If the bread also needs to suit your guests’ preferences, you’ll want to know what the product you choose contains. This information would come first for around 25% of shoppers. |
| Convenience and availability | Check whether the bread is pre-sliced and how and when you can buy it. | If you need to prepare food quickly, bread that’s readily available may matter more than a confirmed thick slice. This would be the main consideration for around 25% of shoppers. |
| Quantity and storage | Choose an amount that suits the number of people eating, and read the storage and freezing advice on the packaging. | If you expect to have slices left over, you’ll want to know in advance what to do with them. This would be the first thing to consider for around 17% of shoppers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming a style of bread guarantees thick slices
Hearth, farmhouse and tiger loaves don’t specify slice thickness. So a pre-sliced loaf may not be what you had in mind for topped snacks.
Ask for unsliced bread or a specific slicing option, and, where possible, look at the pre-sliced loaf before buying.
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Assuming every loaf contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread is not compulsory. So the type of bread alone won’t tell you which salt was used in that particular product.
Check the ingredients for baker’s salt or iodised salt if this is important to your choice.
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Buying a whole loaf without a plan for leftovers
You may have slices left over after a single BBQ, particularly if there’s other food on the table too.
Choose an amount that suits your guests and follow the storage or freezing advice for the product you’ve chosen.
Bread that isn’t used or stored in time may go to waste.
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Leaving perishable toppings out beside the bread
At a BBQ, chilled toppings and contact with raw meat or fish need separate attention; toasting the bread doesn’t remove the need to take care.
Keep perishable toppings chilled, put out small portions and use separate, clean serving utensils. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises throwing food away if it has been out of the fridge for more than two hours.
Brands to consider
You can compare wholemeal bread options from these brands, but always check the slice thickness and product information for the loaf you actually choose.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists products including AH Wholemeal Whole Loaf and AH Wholemeal Hearth Loaf.
- For AH Wholemeal Whole Loaf, you can check the ingredients, allergens, nutritional information and storage advice.
- Ask about the slice thickness if it’s a deciding factor for your BBQ snacks.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers several styles of wholemeal bread in its online range.
- You can compare different styles of bread.
- A name such as hearty or coarse doesn’t confirm how thick the slices are.
Lidl
Lidl has listed a wholemeal tiger hearth loaf as an in-store product.
- This option may suit you if you’re specifically looking for a tiger or hearth-style loaf.
- Check current availability in store and look at the slice before buying.
ALDI
ALDI describes its Boeren tiger wholemeal whole loaf as pre-sliced.
- Pre-sliced bread can save you time when preparing for a BBQ.
- Pre-sliced doesn’t tell you how thick each slice is; check local availability too.
PLUS
PLUS describes PLUS Boeren Wholemeal Whole Loaf as a whole wholemeal wheat loaf.
- You can check nutritional information and allergens for this product, among other details.
- Check the current packaging and the slice if you’re looking for thicker pieces.
Dirk
Wholemeal hearth loaf is a style of bread you can ask about at Dirk.
- In store, you can ask which wholemeal breads and slicing options are available.
- Judge the actual slice rather than relying on the name ‘hearth loaf’.
Wholemeal bread to slice yourself
These round loaves are options for anyone who wants to choose their own slice thickness when preparing BBQ snacks. Before buying, check whether your chosen option is supplied unsliced; this doesn’t guarantee a particular slice thickness or that the bread will be firm enough for generous toppings.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g × 2
The pack of two loaves may suit you if you want to prepare several slices. Allow time to defrost, bake and cool the bread before slicing; also check whether the loaves are unsliced and read the allergen information on the packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g
This single-loaf option may suit you if you want to work out how much bread you need per loaf. Allow time to defrost, bake and cool the bread before slicing; check whether the loaf is unsliced and read the allergen information on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Does ‘wholemeal whole loaf’ mean the slices are thick?
No, ‘whole loaf’ doesn’t confirm the slice thickness. Check whether the bread is unsliced or ask for a specific thick-slicing option if you want to choose the thickness of the slices for your BBQ snacks.
What thickness might a baker mean by ‘thickly sliced’?
For a specific wholemeal loaf, Bakkerij Lamers gives 11,5 mm as the standard slice thickness and 14,5 mm as the thick-sliced option. Ask another bakery or retailer what measurements they use for a different loaf; these sizes aren’t a general standard.
Does Dutch wholemeal bread always contain baker’s salt?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread is not compulsory. Check the ingredients of the specific loaf if you want to know whether it has been used.
How do I check for allergens when guests are coming round?
Read the allergen information on the current packaging of the bread you’re serving. Check the toppings and other ingredients in your BBQ snack too; don’t rely on the name of the bread alone.
How should I handle bread and perishable toppings on a hot day?
Keep perishable toppings chilled and only take small amounts outside at a time. Use separate serving utensils for raw products and food that’s ready to serve; according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, food should be thrown away if it has been out of the fridge for more than two hours.