If you’re making sandwiches for guests
You’ll want even slices that are easy to top and serve. Consider the slice thickness and firmness alongside the toppings you have planned; the word ‘wholemeal’ alone doesn’t tell you either.
Who should consider how the bread is sliced?
If you’re looking for wholemeal bread for everyone
You’ll want to check the wholemeal label and nutritional information, without assuming that all wholemeal bread has the same crust or texture. It’s also worth comparing how each loaf is sliced.
If you need to consider dietary requirements or allergens
You’ll need clear information about the ingredients in your chosen bread before you buy. If a guest needs to avoid wheat or another allergen, always check the latest product information.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the slice you need for your toppings. Then check the wholemeal label and nutritional information for that particular loaf, and ask your guests about any allergens before you buy.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who should pay particular attention? |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness and firmness | Look at the actual slices or ask how thickly the bread is cut. If you want a medium-thick slice, don’t rely on ‘fine’ or ‘sliced’. | When I’m making sandwiches for several guests, I want slices that work with the toppings and are easy to handle. Slice thickness is the biggest factor for around 42% of consumers planning this kind of lunch. |
| Wholemeal and nutritional value | Check the product name and ingredients list. Compare fibre and salt per 100 g using the nutritional information for the loaves you’re considering. | If you mainly want to know what’s in the bread, look beyond the colour of the crust. For around 33% of consumers, checking the wholemeal label and nutritional value comes first. |
| Ingredients and allergens | For packaged bread, read the current label; for unpackaged bread, ask for allergen information. Don’t choose ordinary wholemeal wheat bread if a gluten-free option is essential. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I need to be able to check before the bread is served. This is the main purchasing concern for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking brown or multigrain bread for wholemeal
The colour and visible seeds don’t tell you whether all the grain ingredient is wholemeal flour. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be labelled wholemeal if its grain ingredient consists of 100% wholemeal flour.
Check the wholemeal label and read the ingredients list rather than judging by appearance alone.
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Assuming ‘sliced’ means ‘medium-sliced’
‘Sliced’, ‘fine’, ‘whole’ and ‘half’ don’t all mean the same thing: ‘whole’ and ‘half’ refer to the size of the loaf, while ‘sliced’ doesn’t specify an exact thickness. So a pre-sliced loaf may not be quite what you expect for sandwiches.
Check the slices on the packaging or in store. If even slices are essential for making lots of sandwiches, try one loaf first before buying more.
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Leaving allergen checks until the bread is on the table
A wholemeal label doesn’t tell you whether the bread is suitable for a guest with an allergy or who needs to follow a gluten-free diet. Ingredients and allergens can vary from one product to another.
Ask your guests in advance what they need to avoid, then check the label before buying or, for unpackaged bread, ask for the available allergen information.
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Buying bread well before lunch without a storage plan
How long bread keeps and its quality matter if there are several days between buying it and Easter lunch. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months.
Follow the storage instructions on the packaging and, if needed, freeze bread you won’t use soon in portions. Defrost only what you need for lunch.
Brands to compare
These brands offer a range of wholemeal breads to explore. Always compare the individual loaf: a ‘sliced’ or ‘fine’ label doesn’t confirm that the slices are medium-thick.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn offers products including AH OerDesem wholemeal Allinson, whole loaf, sliced. It’s an option to consider if you’re looking for a different type of bread from a finely sliced loaf for lunch.
- Ingredients and allergens are included in the product information for this specific OerDesem loaf.
- ‘Whole loaf, sliced’ describes the size and how it’s cut, not a confirmed medium-thick slice.
ALDI
ALDI offers fine wholemeal bread in half and whole loaf sizes, as well as a variety called extra-fibre wholemeal.
- The ‘sliced’ label on fine wholemeal bread is useful if you’re looking for a loaf that doesn’t need slicing at home.
- Check the slices themselves if thickness matters for your toppings; ‘fine’ doesn’t specify an exact slice thickness.
PLUS
At PLUS, you can compare Rond fijn volkoren in whole and half loaf sizes with other wholemeal and sourdough breads.
- The different loaf sizes let you choose how much bread to buy for lunch.
- Check the slice thickness of each loaf; ‘half’ or ‘whole’ refers to the loaf size, not the thickness of the slices.
Dirk
Dirk’s range includes boeren volkoren and casino volkoren in half-loaf sizes.
- These different loaf styles give you a starting point when choosing bread for sandwiches.
- Check how your chosen loaf is sliced and its nutritional information; the name alone doesn’t give you the full picture.
Lidl
Lidl is worth considering if you’d also like to look at freshly baked bread and check its ingredients and allergens.
- Lidl provides an ingredients and allergen overview for its freshly baked range.
- For the bread you choose, ask for the latest information on how it’s sliced and its allergens.
Breads for a rustic Easter lunch
These round loaves are a good fit for an Easter lunch where you want to slice the bread yourself. They aren’t confirmed as a choice for pre-sliced, medium-thick sandwiches, so allow time to defrost, bake and cool them before slicing.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round loaf, 550 g × 2
Worth considering if you want to choose the slice size yourself for a rustic lunch. The pack contains two round loaves weighing 550 g each. According to the product description, they need to be defrosted, baked and cooled first; follow the packaging for the baking time. The listed ingredients include both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour. Check the current wholemeal label and full allergen information, especially if a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij round loaf, 550 g
An option if you’d like to slice one round loaf yourself for lunch. This loaf weighs 550 g and isn’t pre-sliced to a medium thickness. The product description says to defrost, bake and cool it before slicing; check the packaging for the baking time. As the ingredients list includes both wholemeal wheat flour and wheat flour, it’s important to check the current wholemeal label and allergen information before buying.
Frequently asked questions
How can I identify wholemeal bread?
Check whether the bread is labelled wholemeal and read the ingredients list. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be labelled this way if its grain ingredient consists of 100% wholemeal flour. The label doesn’t tell you how thick or soft the slices are.
Can I serve ordinary wholemeal wheat bread if someone needs to eat gluten-free?
No. Ordinary wholemeal wheat bread isn’t a substitute for a product suitable for a gluten-free diet. If someone needs to eat gluten-free, check the current packaging of the bread you plan to serve.
Where can I find allergen information for bread?
For packaged bread, allergen information is shown on the label, as the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains. For unpackaged bread, ask for information about the specific product before you buy it.
How should I store wholemeal bread until Easter lunch?
Plan when to buy and store the bread according to the day you’ll serve it. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2–4 days or in the freezer for 1–3 months; also follow the storage instructions on your bread’s packaging. Freezing it in portions makes it easier to defrost only what you need.