If you’d like to share bread at the table
Planning to serve bread with soup, dips, cheese or salad and slice it at the table? Look for a whole or half hearth-baked loaf, and decide in advance how much you’ll need.
Which option is right for you?
If you want to compare nutritional information
Want to make sure you’re choosing wholemeal bread and compare its fibre or salt content? Read the product description and compare nutritional values on the same basis, such as per 100 g.
If you need to consider allergens
If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, the up-to-date label matters more than the crust or how you plan to serve the bread. Check both the listed ingredients and any warnings about possible traces.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide how you’d like to serve the bread. Then compare the wholemeal label, nutritional information and ingredients of the products that suit your plans.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Presentation and sharing | Check whether the loaf is whole or half, and whether its stated crust and shape are suitable for serving at the table. | I want to slice and share the bread during dinner rather than put out pre-sliced bread. For around 29% of consumers, this way of serving comes first. |
| Wholemeal and nutritional value | Check that it’s labelled wholemeal, and compare fibre and salt on the same basis, such as per 100 g. | A dark colour isn’t enough to convince me; I want to know what’s in the bread and be able to compare the nutritional information. Around 29% of consumers give this the highest priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read both the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the current label. | If a guest needs to avoid an ingredient, I don’t want to choose based on the bread’s name alone. This check matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Size and leftovers | Check the pack size and availability, and think about what you’ll do with any bread you don’t use. | For two people, I don’t want to open more bread than we can use or store. Around 21% of consumers prioritise size and practicality. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking dark or multigrain bread for wholemeal
The colour and a rustic-sounding name don’t tell you on their own whether a loaf is wholemeal. For example, the Voedingscentrum describes brown bread as bread made from a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour.
Choose bread that’s explicitly labelled wholemeal, then check the ingredients and nutritional information.
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Checking allergens only once you’re at the table
The hearth-baked loaves mentioned vary in their grains, seeds and allergen information. An appealing crust says nothing about whether a loaf is suitable for a guest who needs to avoid certain ingredients.
Before buying, check the latest ingredients and ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ information for the specific loaf.
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Buying a whole loaf without a plan for leftovers
For dinner for two, a half loaf may be a better fit for the amount you want to serve.
Choose a suitable size or freeze any portions you won’t use straight after buying, as the Voedingscentrum advises for bread.
Bread left for too long may lose quality or end up being thrown away.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
AH Vloerbrood volkoren heel is an option if you’d like to slice a whole loaf at the table.
- Albert Heijn describes this product as having a crisp crust and lists 6.3 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Check the latest ingredients and allergen information for this loaf before serving it to your guests.
Jumbo
Jumbo Fijn Volkorenbrood is worth considering if you’d like to compare the nutritional values of a fine-textured wholemeal bread.
- Jumbo lists 7.6 g of fibre and 1.0 g of salt per 100 g for this product.
- Its fine-textured loaf offers a different way to serve bread from a whole hearth-baked loaf that you slice at the table.
Lidl
Lidl offers an 800 g Fijn volkoren product and a range of freshly baked bread.
- The listed pack size for Fijn volkoren gives you a specific quantity to plan around.
- Lidl says its fresh range may vary by store, so check the product and label in store.
Aldi
Aldi lists both Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood and sliced Fijn volkorenbrood.
- The sliced fine-textured wholemeal option is served differently from a loaf you slice at the table.
- For the extra-high-fibre option, compare the latest nutritional information; the product name alone doesn’t tell you how it compares with other breads.
Plus
The PLUS Korenlanders range includes a rustic wholemeal hearth-baked loaf made with wheat and rye, as well as an extra-dark wholemeal hearth-baked half loaf.
- PLUS lists the extra-dark half loaf as weighing 400 g.
- Check the grains and allergens for each option, and see which half loaves are available at your local store.
Dirk
Dirk lists a Vloerbrood volkoren heel and a dark wholemeal whole loaf.
- The word ‘whole’ makes it clear which loaf to look at if you plan to slice it at the table.
- Check the current packaging for the ingredients and allergens in the loaf you choose.
Wholemeal products on Joybuy
For bread to serve with a meal you’ll share, you’ll find round loaves, Lebanese flatbread and a rye product here. Choose based on shape and pack size; check the packaging for how to serve the rye product.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal country loaf 550 g
A round loaf for anyone who’d like to slice and share bread during dinner.
The product name lists a weight of 550 g. Allow for defrosting and baking when planning, and check the latest ingredients and allergen information on the packaging for your guests.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round wholemeal country loaves, 2 × 550 g
Two round loaves are a good fit if you also have a plan for any portions you don’t use.
The product name lists two loaves, each weighing 550 g. Allow for defrosting and baking, and check the latest allergen information before buying.
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Souq Lebanese wholemeal bread, 6 pieces
A flatbread option if you’d like to serve bread with dips rather than slice a whole hearth-baked loaf at the table.
The product name lists six pieces. Check the full ingredients and allergen information on the current packaging.
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Bolletje Rye Bread Bun 500 g
A rye option to consider if you’re looking at a different grain composition alongside wholemeal wheat bread.
The product name lists a weight of 500 g. If the way it’s served matters, check the packaging: the product name and description don’t make this clear.
Frequently asked questions
Is dark or multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. The colour or the word ‘multigrain’ isn’t enough. Choose bread that’s explicitly labelled wholemeal and check the ingredients; for example, the Voedingscentrum describes brown bread as a mixture of wholemeal flour and white flour.
Can I serve a hearth-baked loaf to someone with an allergy?
That depends on the latest allergen information for the specific loaf and what the guest needs to avoid. The hearth-baked loaves mentioned vary in their grains and other listed allergens, so check both ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ on the packaging before serving.
Does all wholemeal bread contain iodised salt?
Don’t assume so. Albert Heijn lists iodised sea salt in its Vloerbrood volkoren, but check the current ingredients list for each loaf separately if the type of salt matters to you.
What should I do with leftover bread after dinner?
If you won’t use the portions soon, it’s best to freeze them straight after buying. This follows the Voedingscentrum’s storage advice; also follow the instructions on the packaging for your loaf.