If you want to slice and share bread at the table, look for a wholemeal hearth loaf or sourdough loaf. If you’d rather serve it warm just before dinner, a wholemeal bake-at-home loaf may fit your plans better. Whichever you choose, check that it’s labelled wholemeal, consider the size, and read the latest ingredients and allergen information. A rustic appearance, seeds or the name ‘multigrain’ do not, by themselves, mean a loaf is wholemeal.
You can slice a whole or half hearth loaf yourself to share with everyone. If you prefer a firmer bite, wholemeal sourdough is another option: Albert Heijn describes this texture in its AH Liefde & Passie Nederlands desem volkoren.
A different shape or flavour shouldn’t make it less clear that you’re choosing wholemeal. Read the product description and, where available, compare the fibre and salt per 100 g of the loaves you’re considering.
Check the ingredients and allergens for your chosen loaf before buying. This is especially important when you’re shopping for several people who may not all be able to eat the same bread.
First, decide whether you want bread that’s easy to share, clearly labelled wholemeal or served warm. Then check the label. If you’re buying bake-at-home bread, allow time and space in the oven too.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance and texture | Choose a whole or half loaf that you can slice yourself, and think about whether a firmer bite will suit your guests. | If I want to share bread at the table, I look for a shape and texture that suit the meal. Around 40% of consumers prioritise presentation. |
| Wholemeal and nutritional information | Check that it’s labelled wholemeal and compare the stated fibre and salt per 100 g. | What matters most to me is that it’s clearly wholemeal, even if the loaf has a more celebratory shape. Around 30% of consumers give this clarity priority. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the latest ingredients list and allergen information for every loaf you plan to serve. | If a guest needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know which bread I can offer before dinner. This is the main priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Serving and storage | Check whether the bread needs baking and choose a size that lets you store any leftovers. | I want to serve warm bread at the right time without having more leftovers than I can use. This is the top priority for around 10% of consumers. |
A dark colour, seeds or an artisan-sounding name don’t, by themselves, tell you what flour has been used.
Look for the wholemeal label on the product, then check the ingredients and nutritional information for that particular loaf.
It can be difficult to find another loaf if the ingredients aren’t suitable for one of your guests.
Ask in advance which allergens are relevant and check the latest information for every loaf you plan to buy.
A large loaf can be handy for sharing, but you may have slices left over after dinner.
Choose a size that suits your group and freeze any portions you won’t use promptly.
Jumbo says that the Oerbrood Vloer Pompoen Volkoren included in this research is no longer part of its online range. Other varieties may also vary in availability from store to store.
Check that your chosen loaf is available before dinner, and decide which ready-to-eat wholemeal bread would make a suitable alternative.
These examples show the types of bread you can compare at different shops. Check the specific product and its availability before planning your dinner.
AH Liefde & Passie Nederlands desem volkoren is an option if you’re looking for wholemeal sourdough with a firmer bite.
Jumbo’s Oerbrood Vloer Pompoen Volkoren is an example of a wholemeal hearth loaf sold as a bake-at-home product.
Lidl describes a rustic wholemeal wheat sourdough loaf for anyone wanting to browse sourdough bread in store.
PLUS Korenlanders Rustiek Vloerbrood Volkoren 1/2 is a half loaf for when you don’t need a whole hearth loaf. PLUS also lists bake-at-home wholemeal sourdough rolls.
Dirk lists a whole wholemeal hearth loaf, which may suit you if you want to slice bread for everyone yourself.
ALDI Fijn Volkoren heel is a sliced option if serving bread straight away matters more to you than slicing a loaf at the table.
The two round loaves are for anyone who wants to bake wholemeal bread after defrosting it and share it at dinner. The Lebanese flatbread is a different style of bread: handy for sharing with dishes or dips, but not a round hearth loaf.
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An option if you want to share two round loaves and serve them warm. Defrosting and baking take a little preparation, so check the cooking time on the packaging. If any of your guests have questions about allergens, check the latest allergen information too.
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A single round loaf to slice and share at a family dinner. It needs to be defrosted and baked first; follow the cooking time on the packaging and check the latest allergen information.
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A different style of bread for sharing with dishes or dips, rather than slicing a round loaf for the table. Before serving, check the full ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.
No. The colour and the name ‘multigrain’ are no substitute for a wholemeal product description. Check the label and read the ingredients for the bread you plan to buy.
Ask in advance which ingredients are relevant to your guests, then check the latest allergen information for each loaf you’ve chosen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for unpackaged bread must also be available before purchase.
Freeze any portions you won’t eat soon. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s storage guide, wholemeal bread keeps for 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard and for 1 to 3 months in the freezer. Its quality may decline if it’s frozen for longer.
Yes, it’s useful for comparing loaves in advance, but check the current packaging or in-store information when you buy. Albert Heijn and PLUS note that product information and ingredients can change. PLUS also says that availability may vary from store to store.
