Choose unsliced wholemeal bread if you want to cut your own thick slices for a student meal with toppings. If you want bread that’s ready to use, check the slices on pre-sliced varieties: words such as ‘coarse’ and ‘oven-bottom’ don’t specify a particular slice thickness. Also think about how much bread you’ll use, and freeze the rest in portions if needed.
Whether you’re making a toastie or a generously topped sandwich, you can choose the thickness yourself. An unsliced loaf, such as the variety listed in Albert Heijn’s wholemeal range, gives you that choice.
If you won’t get through a loaf quickly, you can divide it into portions after buying it. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months.
A dark colour or coarse appearance doesn’t tell you everything about a loaf. Check the product name, ingredients, nutritional information and allergens for the variety you want to buy.
When choosing wholemeal bread for a student meal, start by deciding whether you want to slice it yourself or use it straight away. Then consider how much you can store and whether the label matches what you’re looking for.
Choose this if: you want to cut your own thick slices for a toastie or generous toppings.
Bear in mind: you’ll need a bread knife and will have to cut the slices evenly yourself.
Choose this if: you want to use the bread without slicing it yourself.
Bear in mind: check the slices before buying; ‘coarse’ or ‘oven-bottom’ doesn’t confirm a particular slice thickness.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness | Look for ‘unsliced’ if you want to choose the thickness yourself. Check the slices on pre-sliced bread. | For a toastie or generous toppings, I want to choose how thick my slice is. Around 30% of consumers prioritise having control over the slice thickness. |
| Portions and storage | Choose an amount you can use, or divide the bread into portions after buying it and freeze them. | If I live alone and don’t eat bread every day, I want to avoid leaving some uneaten. Around 40% of consumers prioritise using up and storing bread. |
| Product information | Read the product name, ingredients, nutritional information and allergens for the exact loaf. | I want to know whether the variety I’ve chosen is wholemeal and what it contains, rather than judging by its colour. Around 30% of consumers put checking the label first. |
A name such as ‘coarse wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you how thick the individual slices are. A pre-sliced loaf may therefore not be quite right for the toastie or toppings you have in mind.
Choose unsliced bread if you want to decide the thickness yourself, or check the slices on the pre-sliced variety in the shop.
If you live alone, you may have bread left over. According to the Voedingscentrum’s Storage Guide, opened wholemeal bread keeps for 2 to 4 days in a kitchen cupboard.
Divide the bread into portions after buying it, and freeze any you won’t use within that time.
A dark colour or firm appearance doesn’t tell you which ingredients, nutritional values or allergens the variety contains.
Check the product name and label on the exact loaf, especially if particular ingredients matter to you.
Albert Heijn lists an unsliced petit wholemeal loaf among its wholemeal products.
Jumbo lists Rond Grof Volkoren among its bread products.
PLUS lists Grof volkoren heel among its wholemeal products.
Dirk lists a wholemeal oven-bottom loaf among its bread products.
These two Lekhaven Bakkerij varieties are suited to anyone who wants to slice the bread themselves after preparing it. Choose between a pack of two loaves and a single loaf, depending on how much you want to use. Remember to allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling.
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For anyone who wants to use two loaves and slice them themselves after preparation.
Pack size: 2 × 550 g. Allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling before slicing; check that the loaf size is right for the slices you want to make.
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For anyone who wants to prepare one loaf and then slice it themselves.
550 g loaf. Defrosting, baking and cooling all take a little preparation; check that the loaf size is right for the slices you want to make.
No, ‘coarse’ doesn’t specify the slice thickness. Check the slices on the loaf you want to buy, or choose an unsliced variety if you want to decide the thickness yourself.
Divide the bread into portions and freeze any you won’t use soon. The Voedingscentrum’s Storage Guide recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months.
No, the term ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t indicate the iodine content of an individual loaf. Check the label for information about the exact product rather than relying on the type of bread alone.
No. Ordinary wholemeal bread may contain gluten-containing grains. If you need gluten-free products, check the explicit gluten-free label, ingredients and allergens for the exact product.
