Anyone who wants to serve bread at the Christmas table
If the bread will be on display and you want to share it with dips, cheese or soup, choosing between a whole loaf and pre-sliced bread makes a difference when it comes to serving.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Anyone who reads labels carefully
A dark colour or a multigrain name isn’t enough if you’re specifically looking for wholemeal bread. Check that it’s labelled wholemeal, and read the nutritional information, ingredients and allergen details for the bread you choose.
Anyone buying bread for a group
If you’re serving it at a set time, ease of slicing and availability in time both matter. Check whether you can order the option you want or buy it at your chosen shop, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
What should you look for when choosing?
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who might find this important? |
|---|---|---|
| Shape and presentation | Check whether the bread is whole or sliced, and think about how you want to serve it at the table. | If I want to put bread on the table for everyone to slice or share, its shape matters more than having evenly sized slices. Presentation is the deciding factor for around 27% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and nutritional information | Check that it’s labelled wholemeal, and look at the fibre per 100 g, ingredients and allergens on the current label. | I want to know exactly what bread I’m buying and what’s in it, rather than judging by its colour. An estimated 33% of consumers put these label checks first. |
| Crust, crumb and sourdough | Choose a bread texture that suits the dish; if you’re considering sourdough or seeded bread, check separately that it’s labelled wholemeal. | For a festive meal, I mainly want a bread texture that goes with what I’m serving. This preference matters most to around 20% of consumers. |
| Availability and preparation | Check your chosen shop or ordering option, and see whether the bread needs any preparation before serving. | If the bread needs to be ready for a group at a particular time, I want to know when and where I can get it. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this planning. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming rustic or dark bread is automatically wholemeal
Its appearance and a name such as sourdough or multigrain don’t tell you how much wholemeal flour the bread contains.
Use the wholemeal label as your first check, then choose based on shape, crust and seeds. Albert Heijn explains that, for bread, this label means it is made with 100% wholemeal flour.
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Assuming every loaf is made with iodised baker’s salt
According to the Voedingscentrum, using baker’s salt when baking bread isn’t compulsory.
Check the ingredients list if this matters to your choice, or ask the baker which salt was used.
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Choosing a whole loaf without planning how to slice it
You can share a whole loaf at the table, but it takes more slicing if you want to make lots of evenly topped bites.
Choose sliced bread for quick, uniform portions. If you want to serve a whole loaf, make sure you can slice it when it’s time to eat.
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Expecting the same bakery selection in every shop
At Lidl and ALDI, some freshly baked products depend on the bakery facilities available at each branch.
Check your chosen shop and the option you want in advance. If you buy the bread earlier, follow the storage instructions for that specific product.
Brands with relevant bread options
Albert Heijn
A good starting point if you want to compare sourdough breads with standard wholemeal bread.
- Albert Heijn stocks Liefde & Passie sourdough breads.
- Check the wholemeal label and current packaging for each option; not all sourdough bread is automatically wholemeal.
Jumbo
A relevant choice if you’re looking for sliced wholemeal bread and want to plan your shopping in advance.
- Jumbo lets you choose a delivery or collection time for wholemeal bread.
- Check the product page and packaging for the exact option you want to buy.
Lidl
Worth considering if you’re looking at the bake-off selection at a particular branch.
- Lidl says that bread rolls are baked in many of its branches.
- Check the facilities at your local branch and whether the specific bread is labelled wholemeal.
ALDI
An option for comparing fresh wholemeal bread with bread from a bakery section.
- ALDI describes its fresh wholemeal breads as made with 100% wholemeal flour.
- According to ALDI, its range of freshly baked bread is available in shops with a bakery section.
PLUS
A relevant option if you want to look at Korenlanders sourdough bread alongside standard wholemeal options.
- PLUS includes Korenlanders sourdough bread in its bread range.
- Check whether the option you choose is labelled wholemeal and how it should be stored.
Dirk
A shop to consider if you want to pick up a wholemeal loaf for your meal in person.
- Dirk’s bread range includes options such as a wholemeal batard.
- Dirk doesn’t offer delivery, so plan a visit to the shop for the bread you want.
Bread to share at the table
These Joybuy products are flatbreads and round loaves that you can share with a meal. Their English-language description, ‘whole wheat’, isn’t a reason to assume that all the flour used is wholemeal without checking the label.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 pieces
Flatbread is a good option for sharing with dips. Check the packaging for ingredients and allergens, and for the proportion of wholemeal flour if that’s important to your choice.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 2 × 550 g
The round shape makes this loaf ideal for slicing and sharing. Allow time to defrost and bake it, then leave it to cool for 30 minutes before slicing, as instructed on the product. Check the current label for ingredients and allergens.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g
This round loaf is designed to be sliced after preparation. Allow time for defrosting and baking, then leave it to cool for 30 minutes before slicing. Check the current label if its ingredients or allergens affect your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is dark, multigrain or sourdough bread always wholemeal?
No, those characteristics alone don’t prove that a bread is wholemeal. Albert Heijn explains that the label ‘wholemeal’ on bread means it is made with 100% wholemeal flour, so check the label on the bread you choose.
Does Dutch bread have to be made with iodised baker’s salt?
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, using baker’s salt isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients list for the specific bread or ask the baker which salt was used.
Can I freeze wholemeal bread ahead of a Christmas meal?
You can, as long as the storage instructions for that bread allow it. PLUS says its Boeren volkoren can be frozen at home on the day of purchase; for any other bread, follow the instructions on its packaging.
Where can I check allergens in bread for guests?
Read the current allergen information for the exact option you’ve chosen, even if you’re familiar with a similar bread. For unpackaged bread, ask the seller for product information before serving it.