Who is this choice right for?

Stocking up and looking for thick slices

You buy several loaves at once and want to cut thicker slices for generous toppings or toasties. Freezing portions suits the way you use your stock.

Comparing food labels

You’re looking for wholemeal bread and also want to compare ingredients, allergens, fibre and salt per 100 g, rather than judging by the colour or name alone.

Looking for minimal preparation

You’d rather take a slice straight from a sliced loaf, even if that means you can’t choose how thick the slices are.

What should you look for?

First decide whether slicing the bread yourself matters more than convenience. Then compare the label and choose a format you can store in useful portions.

Whole or unsliced loaf

Choose this if: you want to cut a thicker slice for a filling snack.

Bear in mind: you’ll need to slice it yourself; the words ‘whole’ and ‘coarse’ don’t, on their own, specify how thick the slices are.

Pre-sliced bread

Choose this if: you want to take individual slices without having to cut the bread.

Bear in mind: the slices are a fixed thickness, which may not suit the snack you want to make.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Cutting thick slices yourself Check whether the loaf is whole or unsliced. Try one loaf to see if you can cut the slices to the thickness you want. For a toastie or generous toppings, I want to be able to choose how thick to cut a slice. Around 42% of consumers put this ability to control the cut first.
Label and ingredients Check the wholemeal description, read the ingredients and allergen information, and compare fibre and salt per 100 g. When I’m comparing loaves, I want to know what’s in them rather than judge by colour. Around 33% of consumers prioritise checking the label.
Convenience when stocking up Check whether the bread is sliced and what storage and preparation advice applies to that product. I want to be able to take bread in portions without having to slice or bake it each time. For around 25% of consumers, convenience matters most.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming ‘coarse’ means a reliably thick slice

    A whole or coarse loaf doesn’t automatically tell you how thick the slices will be. This matters most when you need the bread to suit a particular snack.

    Try one loaf first and cut a slice to the thickness you want before buying more.

  • Freezing your entire stock in one portion

    You’ll have to take more bread out of the freezer than you need at the time. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions as soon as you buy it.

    Divide bread that can be frozen according to the product advice into portions that suit the way you use it. If the bread still needs to be baked, check its storage and preparation instructions separately.

  • Judging by the brown colour or product name alone

    Colour and words such as ‘multigrain’ don’t replace the wholemeal description or the information on the label. Ingredients and allergens can also vary from one loaf to another.

    Read the product description, ingredients list and allergen information. Compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g.

  • Assuming every loaf contains iodised salt

    That assumption doesn’t tell you for certain what’s in the bread you actually buy.

    If the type of salt used matters to your choice, check the ingredients list for the specific product.

Brands to compare

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn offers various wholemeal loaves, including whole loaves you could consider if you want to slice the bread yourself.

  • With a whole loaf, you can check whether its shape suits the slices you want to cut.
  • Check the packaging and storage advice for each product; features of one loaf don’t necessarily apply to every variety.

Jumbo

Jumbo is worth considering if you want to compare fine and coarse wholemeal varieties.

  • You can weigh up a pre-sliced loaf against one where slicing it yourself is the priority.
  • The word ‘coarse’ doesn’t, on its own, tell you how thick a slice will be.

Lidl

Lidl lists a whole tiger wholemeal hearth loaf as an in-store product.

  • A whole loaf is a good option when you want to choose the slice thickness yourself.
  • Check the current range and the loaf’s label in store.

ALDI

ALDI describes its fine wholemeal bread as pre-sliced for convenience, and also lists a whole, extra-high-fibre wholemeal loaf.

  • The two formats make the choice between convenience and slicing it yourself clear.
  • Claims about the extra-high-fibre loaf apply to that specific product; check the current packaging.

PLUS

PLUS Boeren volkoren heel is an example of a whole loaf with its own freezing advice.

  • For this loaf, PLUS advises freezing it on the day of purchase and using it within one month.
  • Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for this product too.

Dirk

Dirk lists a wholemeal hearth loaf that’s worth considering if you want to cut your own slices.

  • A whole loaf suits you if you want to choose the slice thickness yourself.
  • Check the label if ingredients, allergens, fibre or salt will influence your choice.

Bread to bake and slice yourself

These Joybuy products are round loaves to bake at home and slice yourself afterwards. That gives you the chance to try cutting a slice to your preferred thickness, but it takes more preparation than a loaf that’s already baked and sliced. Always follow the storage and baking instructions for the product you choose.

Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, two 550 g loaves

Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 2 × 550 g

For anyone who wants to store several round loaves and slice them after baking. The pack contains two 550 g loaves. Defrost, bake and leave the bread to cool before slicing; the stated freezing advice applies to the bread before baking. Check the packaging for the Dutch product description, nutritional information and allergens.

View at Joybuy
Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g

Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g

For anyone who wants to bake one round loaf and then slice it themselves. The loaf weighs 550 g and must be defrosted, baked and left to cool before slicing. Follow the baking instructions on the packaging, and check the Dutch product description, nutritional information and allergens there too; the stated freezing advice applies to the bread before baking.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

How can I get thicker slices for toasties or generous toppings?

Choose a whole or unsliced loaf and cut a test slice to the thickness you want. Don’t rely on the word ‘coarse’ alone: also check whether the bread needs baking first and how to slice it afterwards.

How should I freeze wholemeal bread to stock up?

For bread that you can freeze after buying it, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends dividing it into portions straight away and only taking out what you need. If the bread still needs to be baked at home, follow the separate storage and preparation advice on the packaging.

How can I compare the fibre and salt in two loaves?

Compare the nutritional values per 100 g so differences in portion size don’t skew the comparison. Also read the ingredients list and allergen information for each loaf separately.