Shoppers looking for wholemeal bread and fibre
You want a roll that is clearly labelled as wholemeal and compare the fibre per 100 g, rather than judging by its dark colour or the word ‘multigrain’.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Planners with an oven or air fryer
You want to bake the rolls just before eating, so you check the pack size, cooking instructions and the time needed for the specific product.
Shoppers checking allergens
Before buying, you need information about the ingredients and allergens in your chosen roll, including any ‘may contain’ statements.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want individual rolls that are ready to serve, or rolls to bake just before eating. Then compare the wholemeal labelling, fibre per 100 g and allergen information for the specific product.
Fresh wholemeal roll
Best if: you want to buy individual rolls on the day of your barbecue and serve them without baking.
Bear in mind: Albert Heijn says its wholemeal roll is only available in store.
Wholemeal bake-at-home rolls
Best if: you want to bake several rolls at once just before serving.
Bear in mind: baking PLUS rolls requires oven or air fryer space at the time.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the word ‘wholemeal’ and compare fibre on a like-for-like basis, preferably per 100 g. According to the Voedingscentrum, ‘multigrain’ on its own tells you nothing about whether a product is wholemeal. | If I choose rolls because they’re wholemeal, I don’t want to rely on colour or seeds alone. Around 42% of shoppers put checking wholemeal content and fibre first. |
| When you plan to serve them | For bake-at-home rolls, check the pack size and the instructions for your oven or air fryer; choose fresh rolls if you don’t want to bake them. | I want to serve the bread alongside the barbecue dishes, so I need to know whether there’ll be space to bake it then. For around 33% of shoppers, planning when to serve the rolls is the main consideration. |
| Allergens and ingredients | Read the label on the exact product and look out for ‘may contain’ statements too. Before buying unpackaged bread, ask for the allergen information. | If I need to cater for a food allergy, I need product information before choosing a roll. Checking allergens and ingredients comes first for around 25% of shoppers. |
Common mistakes
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Confusing ‘multigrain’ with ‘wholemeal’
A dark colour, seeds or several types of grain don’t tell you whether a roll is wholemeal. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour.
Check the wholemeal labelling on the specific product and compare the fibre per 100 g to see how the rolls measure up.
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Assuming a product page means it’s currently available to buy
Jumbo still displays information about its frozen wholemeal rolls, but says this specific product is no longer in its online range.
Check the current range before you set off, or ask in store about an alternative. For any other roll, check the wholemeal labelling, nutritional information and allergens again.
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Assuming wholemeal means allergen-free
The wholemeal rolls reviewed contain gluten-containing cereals; PLUS also says its rolls may contain soya, milk and sesame.
Read the information for the exact product. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked products is shown on the label; ask what information is available for unpackaged bread.
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Leaving perishable fillings out of the fridge for too long
When you’re having a barbecue, it’s not just the baking that needs planning: rolls with perishable fillings also need to be served with care.
Take perishable foods out of the fridge in small quantities. The Voedingscentrum advises throwing food away if it has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours.
Brands to consider
Compare each product individually: a wholemeal bun, a white roll and a wholemeal bake-at-home roll aren’t interchangeable just because they come from the same retailers.
Albert Heijn
An individual wholemeal roll for anyone who wants to buy bread on the day of the barbecue.
- Albert Heijn lists its AH Wholemeal Roll as weighing 70 g, made with 100% wholemeal flour and containing 7,1 g of fibre per 100 g.
- The product page says ‘In store only’; check availability at the branch where you plan to shop.
Jumbo
An example of frozen rolls designed to be baked just before serving.
- According to Jumbo, the wholemeal product described contained 6,7 g of fibre per 100 g and took six minutes to bake in the oven at 200 °C.
- Jumbo says this specific product is no longer in its online range. If you choose an alternative, check its own label.
PLUS
A packaged bake-at-home option if you want to bake several wholemeal multigrain rolls at once.
- PLUS lists 56% wholemeal wheat flour and 7 g of fibre per 100 g for its multigrain rolls.
- The rolls contain gluten-containing cereals and may contain soya, milk and sesame. The nutritional values given are for the uncooked product.
Dirk
A multigrain roll to look out for if you shop at Dirk.
- Dirk shows a pack of four multigrain rolls with a total weight of 300 g.
- Check the information on the specific pack or in store for wholemeal content, fibre and allergens; the word ‘multigrain’ isn’t enough.
ALDI
A different type of bread if you don’t necessarily need a roll.
- ALDI lists a wholemeal bun as a separate product.
- A wholemeal bun isn’t shaped like a roll. The white roll listed separately isn’t a wholemeal alternative.
Lidl
A retailer where you’ll need to check whether each roll is wholemeal.
- Lidl describes its white roll as a white wheat roll.
- Don’t choose that white roll as a wholemeal alternative based on its shape; check for a separate wholemeal product in store.
Wholemeal bread as an alternative at Joybuy
If you don’t need rolls, these round wholemeal loaves can be served with your barbecue instead. For both options, allow time to defrost, bake and cool the bread before slicing it. If fibre is important to you, compare the latest nutritional information per 100 g.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij wholemeal round bread, 2 × 550 g
For a barbecue where you can slice and serve a round loaf instead of individual rolls.
The pack contains two 550 g loaves. Remember to allow 30 minutes for the bread to cool after baking before slicing it.
Check the latest packaging for fibre per 100 g, allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements.
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Lekhaven Bakkerij wholemeal round bread, 550 g
For anyone who wants to serve one wholemeal round loaf rather than individual rolls.
This loaf weighs 550 g. After defrosting and baking, allow it to cool for 30 minutes before slicing.
Compare fibre using the latest nutritional information per 100 g, and check the packaging for allergens and any ‘may contain’ statements.
Frequently asked questions
Is a multigrain roll always wholemeal?
No. According to the Voedingscentrum, wholemeal bread is made from 100% wholemeal flour; ‘multigrain’ only tells you which types of grain have been used. So look for the wholemeal label on the specific roll.
How should I time bake-at-home rolls for serving?
Follow the instructions on the pack you’ve chosen and work around the oven or air fryer space available. PLUS says its multigrain rolls take eight to ten minutes in the oven at 220 °C, or four minutes in a preheated air fryer at 200 °C.
What should I check if I have a food allergy?
Before buying, check the allergen information for the exact roll, including any ‘may contain’ statements. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information for prepacked products must appear on the label; for unpackaged bread, ask the seller for the information. PLUS says its rolls contain gluten-containing cereals and may contain soya, milk and sesame.
Does every roll contain iodised salt?
Don’t assume so without checking. Albert Heijn and PLUS list iodised salt among the ingredients of the products discussed here; for another roll, check the label or ask in store for the product information.
What should I do with rolls topped with perishable fillings during a barbecue?
Take rolls with perishable fillings out of the fridge in small quantities. The Voedingscentrum advises throwing food away if it has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours.