Fibre-conscious bread shoppers
You don’t want to rely on a dark colour or visible seeds. First look for the ‘wholemeal’ label, then compare the fibre content per 100 g in the nutritional information.
Who might this choice be relevant to?
Hosts who want to share warm bread
You want to serve warm bread on Sinterklaas Eve and have an oven or air fryer available. With bake-at-home baguettes, you’ll need to fit the baking time into your plans just before serving.
Smaller households comparing labels
You’re considering a half loaf to suit the amount you need for your gathering. Also check the ingredients and allergens for the bread you buy.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether confirmed wholemeal ingredients are your priority. Then choose a type of bread that suits the number of people and how much preparation you’re happy to do.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it’s relevant to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product description and compare fibre per 100 g on the same basis. | I don’t want to judge the bread for my sharing platter by its appearance alone. For around 46% of consumers, confirmed wholemeal ingredients would be the top priority. |
| Serve straight away or bake at home | Check whether baking is required and what equipment, temperature and time the product needs. | If I want warm bread just before serving, I need to fit the preparation into the evening. For around 27% of consumers, how the bread is served would come first. |
| Getting the right amount | Compare a whole or half loaf with the quantity in a multipack; read the storage instructions if you have any bread left over. | For a small gathering, I don’t want to serve more bread than necessary. Around 18% of consumers would focus mainly on getting the right amount. |
| Ingredients and salt | Read the current ingredients and allergen information, and compare salt per 100 g if that matters to you. | If certain ingredients matter to me, I check the label on the specific loaf. For around 9% of consumers, this would be the main consideration. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘multigrain’ means ‘wholemeal’
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, multigrain bread contains at least three types of grain. The name alone doesn’t tell you whether the bread is wholemeal.
Check for a wholemeal label, then compare the fibre per 100 g of the products you’re considering.
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Choosing bake-at-home bread without planning the preparation
Bake-at-home bread isn’t ready to serve straight away. The equipment and time needed vary from product to product.
Read the baking instructions in advance. Choose bread that’s ready to serve if baking doesn’t fit into your evening.
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Guessing allergens from the bread’s name
The name ‘multigrain bread’ doesn’t give you a full list of ingredients and allergens for a specific variety.
Check the current packaging before buying, even if you’ve previously looked up information about the same bread online.
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Buying a whole loaf for a small gathering
If you’re only serving a few people, a whole loaf may be more than you want to serve that evening.
Compare pack sizes and read the storage instructions if you expect to have bread left over.
Brands as product references
These examples show different bread formats and product descriptions. Check the packaging of the bread you actually choose.
ALDI
ALDI lists a whole loaf called Boeren volkoren meergranen, for anyone looking for a whole loaf explicitly labelled as wholemeal.
- A whole loaf described as wholemeal multigrain.
- Check the fibre, salt, ingredients and allergens on the packaging.
PLUS
PLUS lists wholemeal multigrain baguettes that you bake before serving.
- The product information states 56% wholemeal wheat flour and 7 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Baking takes time and requires an oven or air fryer; follow the instructions on the packaging.
Dirk
Dirk lists Bakker van der Akker Casino meergranen Volkoren as a half loaf, a bread size to consider for a smaller gathering.
- The product name includes both ‘wholemeal’ and ‘half’.
- Check the nutritional information, ingredients and allergens on the label.
Albert Heijn
AH Zaans meergranen heel is an example of a product described as a wholemeal multigrain loaf; Albert Heijn stated that this particular bread had been discontinued.
- The product information stated 7.2 g of fibre per 100 g.
- Don’t use this figure as the nutritional value for another loaf.
Jumbo
Jumbo Volkoren Meergranen Brood is an example of a product that Jumbo said was no longer available in its online range.
- The ingredients listed included wheat, spelt, rye, barley and soya.
- For another Jumbo loaf, check its own ingredients and nutritional information.
Lidl
Lidl lists a multigrain loaf containing wheat, barley and buckwheat, among other ingredients, for anyone wanting to assess the grain mix.
- The product information lists several types of grain.
- Don’t treat this bread as confirmed wholemeal unless you check the label on the packaging.
Related Joybuy products
Related products will appear here soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is multigrain bread automatically wholemeal?
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that the bread contains at least three different types of grain. If you’re looking for wholemeal bread, also check for ‘wholemeal’ in the product description and look at the nutritional information for the specific loaf.
How should I plan bake-at-home baguettes for Sinterklaas Eve?
Allow time to bake them according to the packaging just before serving. For PLUS Baguettes volkoren meergranen, PLUS recommends 8–10 minutes in a preheated oven at 220 °C or 5–6 minutes in a preheated air fryer at 200 °C. For another product, follow its own instructions.
Which allergens should I check in multigrain bread?
Read the full allergen information on the current packaging of the bread you’ve chosen. Ingredients vary from product to product: the Jumbo and PLUS products described list several grains, and the PLUS baguettes may also contain milk, soya and sesame.
Can I freeze leftover multigrain bread?
Check the storage instructions for the bread you buy. Albert Heijn stated that AH Zaans meergranen heel could be frozen at home on the day of purchase and should be used within a month; this instruction doesn’t automatically apply to other breads.