Home slicers who like generously topped sandwiches
You want to tailor the slice thickness to your toppings. With a whole loaf, you can slice it yourself, although the thickness you choose doesn’t in itself say anything about how sturdy the bread is.
Who is this relevant for?
People planning holiday provisions
You’re buying bread for several days and want to defrost only what you need. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions after purchase.
Label checkers
You compare the ingredients, fibre, salt content and allergens of the specific wholemeal variety, rather than judging by the bread’s colour or product name.
What should you look for when choosing?
Wholemeal loaf
Choose this if: you want to cut your own thick slices for generously topped sandwiches.
The trade-off: slicing it yourself takes time, and a thick slice isn’t automatically sturdier.
Pre-sliced wholemeal bread
Choose this if: you mainly want to make sandwiches quickly.
The trade-off: the slices are already cut to a set thickness, so check them if a particular thickness matters.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness | Choose a whole loaf to slice yourself; with pre-sliced bread, check the slices themselves. | For generous toppings, I want to choose the thickness myself, rather than relying on words such as ‘coarse’ or ‘firm’. This is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Storing supplies | Check the product’s storage instructions and freeze bread in portions after purchase, as recommended by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. | When I’m shopping for several days of a holiday, I want to take out only what I need each time. Managing supplies is the main priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients | Compare the product description, ingredients, allergens and nutritional information, including fibre and salt per 100 g. | I want to know which wholemeal variety I’m buying and what’s in that specific loaf. The ingredients matter most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Convenience and choice of shop | Decide whether slicing it yourself suits your plans and check the chosen variety at the shop where you’re buying it. | If lunch needs to be ready quickly, I’d rather choose a suitable pre-sliced variety from my shop. Convenience is the deciding factor for around 14% of consumers. |
Common misconceptions
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Taking ‘coarse’ or ‘firm’ as a measure of slice thickness
A word like this in the product name doesn’t tell you how thick a pre-sliced piece is or how much topping it can hold.
Slice a whole loaf yourself if thickness is essential, or check the slices of a pre-sliced loaf before buying.
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Buying bread for several days without planning portions
If you don’t use it all at once, a store of bread may lose its quality.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions after purchase and taking out only the amount you need each time.
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Assuming all wholemeal bread contains baker’s salt
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, not all bread is made with baker’s salt. Whether it’s used depends on the product.
Check the ingredients list if you want to know whether baker’s salt has been used in the loaf you’ve chosen.
Brands to consider
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists products including AH Vloerbrood volkoren heel and AH Rond volkoren heel.
- A whole loaf lets you cut your own slices at home.
- Check the variety you’ve chosen if slice thickness and ease of slicing matter.
Jumbo
Jumbo offers various wholemeal breads, including Jumbo Stevig Volkoren Zonnepit.
- The range offers a choice of different bread shapes and varieties.
- ‘Firm’ in a product name isn’t a measure of slice thickness or strength.
PLUS
PLUS lists products including PLUS Grof volkoren heel.
- With this whole loaf, you can choose the slice thickness yourself.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the exact variety; PLUS Grof volkoren heel contains wheat, barley and soya.
ALDI
ALDI offers whole and pre-sliced wholemeal varieties, including Extra vezelrijk volkorenbrood heel.
- The whole loaf gives you the option of slicing it yourself.
- A claim about fibre tells you nothing about the thickness or firmness of a slice.
Lidl
Lidl describes Knip volkoren as an 800 g pre-sliced loaf.
- The bread is already sliced if you’d rather not slice it yourself.
- Check the slices if you need a particular thickness.
Dirk
Dirk offers a variety of whole and half wholemeal loaves, including round and hearth-baked varieties.
- You can slice a whole loaf at home to your preferred thickness.
- Check how easy the loaf is to slice and review its product information.
Wholemeal bread to slice at home at Joybuy
These whole loaves are suited to anyone who wants to choose their own slice thickness after baking. They’re unbaked frozen products, so allow time for defrosting, baking and cooling before slicing.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g × 2
A whole loaf for anyone who wants to slice their own bread for sandwiches after baking.
Pack size: 2 × 550 g. The unbaked frozen bread needs to be defrosted, baked and cooled before slicing. Check the baking time on the packaging.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij Whole Wheat Country Round Bread, 550 g
A whole loaf for anyone who wants to choose their preferred slice thickness after baking.
Pack size: 550 g. The unbaked frozen bread needs to be defrosted, baked and cooled before slicing. Check the baking time on the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
How can I get thick slices of wholemeal bread for summer sandwiches?
Choose a wholemeal loaf and slice it at home to your preferred thickness. Pre-sliced bread is already cut to a set thickness; a name like ‘coarse’ doesn’t tell you what that is.
Can I freeze wholemeal bread for several days of my holiday?
Yes. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends freezing bread in portions straight after purchase and taking out what you need each day. Also follow the storage instructions for the specific product, especially if it’s unbaked frozen bread.
How can I tell whether wholemeal bread is made with baker’s salt?
Check the ingredients on the label. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, not all bread is made with baker’s salt, so don’t rely on the ‘wholemeal’ label alone.
Which allergens should I check in wholemeal bread?
Read the allergen information for the exact variety before buying it. For example, PLUS lists wheat, barley and soya in PLUS Grof volkoren heel; this product information doesn’t tell you about the ingredients in other breads.