Choose a wholemeal loaf if you want to decide how thick to cut the slices for generously topped bites, provided you can slice it evenly at home or have confirmed in advance that the shop can cut it thickly. Pre-sliced wholemeal bread saves you the effort, but words such as ‘coarse’, ‘hearty’ or ‘oven-bottom’ don’t tell you how thick a slice is. If you’re buying for guests, check the latest ingredients and allergen information too.
You want to choose how thick the slices are before adding sweet or savoury toppings. A whole loaf gives you that option if you can slice it yourself or have confirmed that the shop can cut it to your requirements.
You want to serve even-sized sandwiches or small bites without having to slice the bread. Pre-sliced wholemeal bread is a good choice if the standard slice thickness works for your toppings.
Before buying, check the ingredients, nutritional values per 100 g and allergen information. If the presence of iodised salt matters to you, check the details for the specific loaf.
First decide whether controlling the slice thickness or serving quickly matters more to you. Then compare the labels on the loaves you’re considering for your coffee break.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing your own slice thickness | Check whether the loaf is whole and ask if the shop can cut it thickly. If you’re slicing it at home, make sure you can cut it evenly. | When I’m serving generously topped bites, I want to decide how thick each slice should be. For roughly 33% of consumers, having control over the slice is the top priority. |
| Serving quickly | Check whether the specific loaf is pre-sliced; if no slice thickness is given, don’t assume the slices are thick. | When guests arrive, I want to get even portions ready without any extra slicing. Around 27% of consumers prioritise serving quickly. |
| Nutritional information | Check the ingredients and compare fibre and salt per 100 g, so you’re comparing like with like. | I want to see what flour has been used and how the nutritional values of different loaves compare. For around 20% of consumers, this is the most important consideration. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the latest packaging for allergen information, and check separately whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed. | When I’m buying bread for guests, I want to know which ingredients and allergens it contains; whether iodised salt is listed may also affect my choice. For around 20% of consumers, checking the label is the top priority. |
‘Coarse’, ‘hearty’ and ‘oven-bottom’ don’t refer to a set slice thickness. A whole loaf is only a good choice for thick slices if you can have it cut to your requirements or slice it yourself.
Ask about slicing options before you buy, or choose a whole loaf you can slice evenly at home.
According to the Voedingscentrum, bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt when making bread. Its presence can therefore vary from loaf to loaf.
Check the ingredients list for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’, or ask the baker if you’re buying unwrapped bread.
The ingredients in one wholemeal loaf won’t tell you which allergens another loaf contains. This is especially important if you’re buying for guests.
Check the latest packaging each time you buy the loaf you’ve chosen, and if you have any questions about ingredients, find out what your guest needs to avoid.
The types of bread listed here can help you narrow down your search. Check that the type, label and slicing options for the specific loaf suit your coffee break.
Albert Heijn describes its AH Boeren grof wholemeal bread as a whole loaf with puffed wheat grains.
Jumbo offers a range of wholemeal breads, including fine, coarse and sunflower seed varieties.
Lidl has listed a whole tiger-style wholemeal oven-bottom loaf as a shop product.
Aldi lists both whole and pre-sliced wholemeal options; Boeren tijger wholemeal is listed as pre-sliced.
PLUS Boeren wholemeal bread is a whole loaf for which PLUS lists the ingredients and nutritional values.
Dirk lists products including Vloerbrood wholemeal whole loaf and other wholemeal loaves.
No. The Voedingscentrum says bakers aren’t required to make bread with baker’s salt. Check the ingredients list for the loaf you’ve chosen, or ask the baker if you’re buying unwrapped bread.
Check the description of the bread and the types of flour listed in the ingredients. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that, for bread to be described as ‘wholemeal’, all the flour used must be made from whole grains. Words such as ‘coarse’ and ‘oven-bottom’ don’t replace this check.
Don’t assume that regular wholemeal bread is gluten-free. Check the latest packaging for an explicit gluten-free label and ask your guest which ingredients and allergens they need to avoid.
Follow the storage instructions for the bread you buy. For PLUS Boeren wholemeal whole loaf, PLUS recommends storing it in a cool, dry and dark place. If you want to freeze this loaf, the product information advises doing so on the day of purchase and using it within one month. Don’t assume the same storage period applies to other loaves.
