Looking for a less coarse slice of bread to serve with coffee and cake for a fussy eater, but want it to be entirely wholemeal? Consider fine wholemeal bread and check the product description: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour. Bread made with a mix of white flour and wholemeal flour is a different choice. Also consider the texture, ingredients and quantity in each pack.
If coarse bran or grains aren’t appealing, fine wholemeal bread may be worth considering. The Dutch Bakery Centre describes finely milled bran as a way to change the texture of wholemeal bread. Taste preferences vary from one loaf to another and from person to person.
You don’t want to judge by the brown colour; you want to know which flour was used to make the bread. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour. Read the product description and ingredients for the loaf you choose.
Fibre, salt, ingredients or allergens may be the deciding factors for you. Compare nutritional information on the same basis, such as per 100 g, and check the current packaging of the specific loaf if you have an allergy.
First decide whether the bread must be entirely wholemeal. Then choose a texture that suits the person eating it, and finally check the nutritional information and how much bread you need.
A good fit if: you’re looking for a less coarse crumb and the packaging confirms that the bread is entirely wholemeal.
Bear in mind: finely milled flour doesn’t guarantee that every crust or flavour will appeal to a fussy eater.
A good fit if: entirely wholemeal bread is your priority and a finer crumb isn’t essential.
Bear in mind: texture and crust vary from loaf to loaf; consider these separately from whether the bread is wholemeal.
A good fit if: you’re happy with a mix of white flour and wholemeal flour.
Bear in mind: this isn’t the same as bread made from 100% wholemeal flour. The colour won’t tell you how much of each flour was used.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal status | Read the product description and ingredients; a dark colour or the name ‘multigrain’ isn’t enough. | I want to be sure the bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour, even if a brown flour mix looks appealing. This certainty is the deciding factor for around 31% of consumers. |
| Texture and taste | Look for descriptions such as ‘fine wholemeal’ and consider the crust too; texture can vary from loaf to loaf. | For a fussy eater, I’m mainly looking for a less coarse slice to serve with coffee and cake. Softness is the priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Nutritional information and ingredients | Compare fibre and salt per 100 g; check the ingredients and allergen information for details of the salt used and any allergens. | I want to compare the ingredients in two loaves or need to look out for a specific ingredient. This is the main concern for around 23% of consumers. |
| Quantity and storage | Check whether a half or whole loaf suits your needs, and follow the storage instructions on the packaging. | If I only serve bread occasionally with coffee, I don’t want to buy more than I can use or store. This matters most to around 15% of consumers. |
A dark crust, seeds or several types of grain don’t prove that a loaf is made from 100% wholemeal flour. You could end up choosing a flour mix when you meant to buy entirely wholemeal bread.
Check the product description and ingredients rather than judging by appearance alone.
A finer grind can change the texture, but it won’t tell you how soft the crust is or whether a particular person will enjoy the bread. The Dutch Bakery Centre describes fine wholemeal bread as an option for people who prefer soft bread, not as a guarantee of taste.
Also check that the bread really is wholemeal, and consider buying a smaller quantity if you’re unsure.
The amount of fibre or salt per slice isn’t directly comparable with a value per 100 g. A claim made about one variety doesn’t automatically apply to other wholemeal breads either.
Use the same unit and, when comparing products, read the current nutritional information on both packs.
If bread is only a small part of your coffee-and-cake spread, you may not get through a whole loaf before its quality starts to decline.
Choose a quantity that suits how you’ll use it, and check whether and how that particular loaf can be frozen.
Albert Heijn offers several wholemeal breads. The product page for AH Vloerbrood volkoren heel describes this variety as wholemeal wheat bread.
Lidl describes a kids’ wholemeal bread made with extra-finely milled wholemeal flour, alongside other wholemeal varieties.
ALDI lists fine wholemeal bread and a separate extra-high-fibre wholemeal variety in its bread range.
The product page for PLUS Boeren volkoren heel lists ingredients, allergens, nutritional values and freezing instructions.
Dirk offers different types of bread, including wholemeal bread and varieties with extra fibre.
This option contains wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour, and is designed to be finished baking at home. Check the packaging if entirely wholemeal bread or a soft crumb is essential to your choice.
Image unavailable
For anyone looking for bread made with both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour that can be finished baking at home.
The loaf weighs 550 g. Allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling. Check the packaging if the precise flour mix, crumb or salt used is important to you.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour. Brown bread also contains white flour, and multigrain bread may contain it too. So check the product description and ingredients, even if the bread is dark.
Yes, if you’re looking for a less coarse texture and the packaging confirms that the bread is wholemeal. The Dutch Bakery Centre describes finely milled bran as an option for people who prefer soft bread; taste and crust still vary from loaf to loaf.
Read the ingredients list for the specific loaf and look for mentions of iodised salt. For example, Albert Heijn lists reduced-sodium iodised sea salt in AH Vloerbrood volkoren heel. Don’t rely on the type of bread alone when checking its ingredients.
Check the current allergen information for the bread you want to buy. For example, the product information for PLUS Boeren volkoren heel lists wheat, barley and soya. Another loaf, or a revised recipe, may contain different ingredients.
Choose a smaller quantity if one is available, or check whether the packaging says the bread can be frozen. PLUS recommends freezing its Boeren volkoren heel on the day of purchase and using it within one month. Follow the storage instructions for any other loaf.
