The quick evening snacker
You want to make a sandwich, toast or toastie without much preparation. A soft, pre-sliced loaf is handy for this. If you don’t eat bread often, freezing it in portions is also worth considering.
Which bread is right for you?
The label checker
You want to know whether the bread is genuinely wholemeal, and compare fibre and salt on a like-for-like basis: per 100 g. A dark colour or a distinctive name isn’t enough to tell you.
The snack platter sharer
You’re looking for bread to serve with toppings or dips. The shape, crust and ease of sharing matter more to you than how quickly you can grab a slice.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide how you want to eat the bread late in the evening. Then compare the nutritional information and storage instructions for loaves suited to that use.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quick to use and store | Check whether the bread is sliced and how you can store or freeze it. | If I want to make a toastie late at night, I want to be able to grab a soft slice straight away. This convenience comes first for around 45% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and nutritional information | Read the product description and compare fibre and salt per 100 g. | When comparing loaves, I want to know whether they’re wholemeal and what the nutritional information says. Around 33% of consumers give checking the label top priority. |
| Shape and ease of sharing | Check whether the shape works for sharing, toppings or dips, and read the allergen information. | For a snack platter with others, I’d rather have bread I can share than a slice I can grab quickly. Around 22% of consumers prioritise this use. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming dark-coloured or multigrain bread is wholemeal
The colour, seeds and shape of a loaf don’t tell you how much fibre it contains. And multigrain doesn’t automatically mean the bread is wholemeal.
Read the product description and ingredients list. Only compare fibre when the values are given for the same quantity, such as per 100 g.
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Looking only at fibre
Two wholemeal loaves can differ in their salt content and allergens. A fibre figure doesn’t give you the full picture.
Also compare salt per 100 g and read the latest allergen information for the bread you’re buying.
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Buying a whole loaf for the occasional late-night snack
If you only use a few slices, you’ll need to store the rest before the bread dries out or goes mouldy.
Choose an amount that suits how much you eat, or freeze the bread in portions after buying it. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months.
Brands to compare
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn describes AH Extra lang lekker Zaans volkoren heel as a soft, light loaf in a sandwich-bread shape.
- The product information also lists ingredients, allergens and instructions to freeze on the day of purchase.
- Check the current packaging, as product information can change.
Jumbo
Jumbo Grof Volkorenbrood Heel is one option to consider if you’re looking for a coarser loaf.
- For this specific loaf, Jumbo lists 7,8 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Check which coarse wholemeal varieties are available when you shop.
Lidl
Lidl lists fine wholemeal bread among the products in its stores.
- The Fijn volkoren product listing gives a pack size of 800 g.
- To compare fibre, salt and allergens, check the information for the specific loaf in store.
ALDI
Alongside its regular wholemeal loaves, ALDI lists an extra-high-fibre wholemeal variety.
- According to ALDI, its wholemeal loaves are made with 100% wholemeal flour.
- Compare the nutritional information on the packaging of the variety you choose.
PLUS
At PLUS, you can compare options such as Boeren volkoren and the round or hearth-baked loaves in the Korenlanders range.
- PLUS lists 6,7 g of fibre and 1,03 g of salt per 100 g for Boeren volkoren heel.
- The nutritional information for Boeren volkoren won’t necessarily apply to other loaf shapes, so check their individual labels.
Dirk
Dirk lists a wholemeal hearth-baked loaf, a shape to consider for a snack to share.
- A hearth-baked loaf makes for a different presentation from a standard sandwich loaf.
- Check the label on the loaf you choose for nutritional values and allergens.
Wholemeal bread on Joybuy
These breads suit different kinds of late-night snacking: flatbread for sharing, a rye bread option and a round loaf that needs time to prepare. If you’re looking for a ready-to-eat, pre-sliced sandwich loaf, check the product’s shape before buying.
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Souq Lebanese Bread Whole Wheat, 6 P
For a late-night snack with dips or to share. This is flatbread, not a whole sliced loaf. Check the current packaging for ingredients, allergens and storage instructions.
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Bolletje Rye Bread Bun, 500 g
For a bread-based snack when you fancy rye bread. The product title says bun, while the description refers to sliced rye bread. If the shape matters for your snack, check the packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g
For sharing when you have time to prepare ahead. According to the product information, this round loaf needs to be defrosted and baked, then left to cool. Follow the preparation instructions on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Is dark bread or multigrain bread always wholemeal?
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, multigrain tells you that different types of grain have been used; it doesn’t automatically mean they’re all wholegrain. Check the product description and ingredients for the bread you’re considering.
Does Dutch wholemeal bread always contain iodised salt?
No, don’t assume that every loaf does. Check the ingredients list for the specific product to see whether iodised salt is listed. For example, Albert Heijn mentions it for AH Extra lang lekker Zaans volkoren heel.
How should I store bread if I only snack late occasionally?
Freeze portions if you don’t expect to eat the bread quickly. The Voedingscentrum recommends keeping wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months. Take out only the portions you need.
Where can I find allergen information on packaged bread?
Read the packaging label before buying or eating the bread. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergen information for prepacked products must appear on the label. Check the information for the specific variety.