If you want to cut thick slices for a picnic, choose a loaf that you can confirm is supplied unsliced; ‘whole’ on its own tells you nothing about whether it has been sliced. Check the wholemeal description, ingredients and allergens for the exact variant, too. If your fillings need to be kept chilled, follow their storage instructions as well as those for the bread.
If you’re taking sandwiches with fillings such as hummus, cheese, egg or vegetables, you might want to decide for yourself how thick to slice the bread. First check that the loaf is unsliced, then see at home which slice works best with your filling.
A dark colour isn’t enough to tell you that bread is wholemeal. The product description and ingredients list can help you check the type of grain; fibre and salt per 100 g make it easier to compare the nutritional information for different variants.
If someone in your group needs to avoid certain ingredients, check the allergen information for the exact loaf. For variants with added grains, kernels or seeds, it’s also worth checking the information about possible traces.
First decide whether you want to choose the slice thickness yourself. Then compare the bread’s label and plan how to transport it based on the fillings you’re taking.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing the slice thickness yourself | Confirm that the loaf is supplied unsliced. ‘Whole’ can refer only to the size of the loaf. | With generous fillings, I want to cut a slice that suits my sandwich; around 36% of consumers prioritise being able to choose how their bread is sliced. |
| Wholemeal bread and nutritional information | Check the product description and ingredients list. Compare the fibre and salt per 100 g for the exact variants. | I want to know whether the bread is genuinely wholemeal and be able to compare the nutritional information; this is a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the allergen statement for your chosen variant, including any information about traces. | If someone in my picnic group needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in the bread beforehand; around 21% of consumers prioritise this check. |
| Storage and transport | Follow the storage instructions for the bread and for any fillings that need to be kept chilled. | I want to take sandwiches with me without overlooking the storage instructions for the fillings; around 14% of consumers prioritise this planning. |
A whole loaf can still be pre-sliced. The name also doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are.
Before buying, ask whether the loaf is supplied unsliced if you want to cut thick slices yourself. Wait until you have the bread to check how well it holds up with your chosen filling.
‘Dark’, ‘multigrain’ and names of bread styles don’t, by themselves, confirm that a variant is wholemeal. Breads with added grains or seeds may also contain different allergens.
Compare the product description, ingredients, allergens and nutritional information on the packaging of the variant you’re buying.
According to the Voedingscentrum, using baker’s salt when baking isn’t compulsory. This means the use of iodised salt varies from one loaf to another.
If this information matters to your choice, check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed in the ingredients, or ask the baker.
Fillings that need to be kept chilled have different storage requirements from bread. You need to take both into account when making a sandwich.
Check the instructions for every ingredient and keep chilled fillings at an appropriate temperature during transport. Also check the date label on the packaging.
These brands give you a starting point for comparing wholemeal loaves. Check each loaf individually to see whether it’s unsliced; the brand name alone won’t tell you.
Albert Heijn describes AH Rond volkoren heel as a whole wholemeal wheat loaf.
Jumbo offers a range of wholemeal options to compare, including round, coarse and seed-rich varieties.
PLUS provides product information for loaves including Boeren volkoren heel, Volkoren tijger heel and Korenlanders Extra donker volkoren vloer heel.
Dirk’s bread range includes whole and half wholemeal loaves.
These two Lekhaven Bakkerij listings are a good fit for a picnic you prepare at home: the preparation instructions say to let the bread cool after defrosting and baking, before slicing it. Before buying, confirm that your chosen variant is supplied unsliced.
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For anyone who wants to choose the slice thickness at home and has time to defrost, bake and cool the bread. Check whether this variant is supplied unsliced, and read the packaging if you have allergies.
Listed size: 2 × 550 g.
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For a picnic where you can defrost and bake the bread in advance, let it cool and then slice it yourself. Before buying, check whether this variant is unsliced and read the label if you have allergies.
Listed size: 550 g.
Read the product description and ingredients list for the exact variant rather than judging by its dark colour alone. If you’re comparing nutritional values, use the same unit for each, such as fibre per 100 g.
No. ‘Whole’ may refer to the size of the loaf without confirming that it’s unsliced. Check the packaging or ask before buying if you want to cut thick slices yourself.
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, using baker’s salt when baking isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients list for the specific loaf or ask the baker whether baker’s salt or iodised salt has been used.
As well as following the bread’s storage instructions, follow those for each type of filling. Keep ingredients that need to be chilled at an appropriate temperature during transport and check the date label on their packaging. The Voedingscentrum’s Bewaarwijzer provides advice for individual products.
You can if the packaging for your chosen variant says that it’s suitable for freezing at home. For Volkoren tijger heel, PLUS advises freezing on the day of purchase and using within one month; don’t assume the same instructions apply to another loaf.
