People keeping an eye on their fibre intake
If you’re choosing a wholemeal roll for King's Day, don’t go by colour or the word ‘multigrain’ alone. The wholemeal designation, ingredients and fibre per 100 g will help you compare specific options.
Who are these choices relevant to?
Hosts with limited time to use the oven
If you’re serving rolls to several people, the number you need, how they’re stored and how much time you have just before serving all matter. Part-baked or frozen rolls require enough oven space and, for frozen products, freezer space too.
People who need to check ingredients
Do you need to take allergens into account, or want to know which salt has been used? Check the latest information for the exact rolls you’re buying; the product name alone won’t tell you everything.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide whether the rolls need to be explicitly labelled wholemeal. Then choose a preparation method and pack size to suit the number of people and when you plan to serve them.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Wholemeal and fibre | Look for the wholemeal designation and compare the fibre per 100 g in the options you’re considering. | If you want a roll that’s demonstrably wholemeal, its dark colour doesn’t tell you enough. Around 42% of consumers prioritise wholemeal ingredients and fibre. |
| When you’ll serve them | Check whether the rolls are fresh, part-baked or frozen, and follow the baking time on the pack. | If you want the rolls to be warm on the table just before brunch, you’ll need to know how many batches to bake. For around 33% of consumers, planning is the most important factor. |
| Number of rolls | Count your guests and compare individual rolls with multipacks. | For a small gathering, you won’t want too many rolls left over; for a larger group, you’ll need enough to go round. The right quantity is the first consideration for around 25% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking multigrain for wholemeal
Having several types of grain or seeds, or a brown colour, doesn’t prove that a roll is entirely wholemeal. If you’re specifically looking for wholemeal rolls, you could end up choosing a different option from the one you intended.
Look for the wholemeal designation and check the ingredients if you’re unsure. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, a product can only be labelled wholemeal if all its grain ingredients are wholemeal flour.
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Using the same baking time for all bake-off rolls
Cooking instructions vary by product and storage method, so the baking time on one pack won’t necessarily apply to another type of roll.
Follow the instructions on the pack you’ve chosen. If you’re baking several batches, allow for preheating and make sure you have enough oven space.
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Assuming every roll contains iodised baker’s salt
According to Voedingscentrum and brood.net, using iodine-enriched baker’s salt is not a legal requirement. Whether it’s included therefore varies from product to product.
For packaged rolls, check the ingredients for iodised salt or baker’s salt. For unwrapped rolls, ask which salt has been used.
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Trying to work out allergens from the product name
The wholemeal rolls from Albert Heijn and Jumbo that were checked contain wheat and cereals containing gluten. The word ‘wholemeal’ doesn’t tell you which allergens are listed for the option you’ve chosen.
Check the latest allergen information on the pack of the exact product you plan to serve.
Brands compared
These product ranges show the differences between an individual wholemeal roll, frozen rolls and multigrain options. Check the current packaging before you choose.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn describes its AH Pistolet volkoren as an individual 70 g wholemeal wheat roll.
- The product information lists 100% wholemeal flour, 7.1 g of fibre and 1.05 g of salt per 100 g.
- The product was only available in store. The ingredients list includes iodised salt and wheat; check the latest allergen information too.
Jumbo
Jumbo describes its Volkoren Pistolets as four part-baked frozen rolls in a 300 g pack.
- The product information lists 6.7 g of fibre and 1.20 g of salt per 100 g, with baking instructions of 6 minutes at 200°C.
- You’ll need freezer space and an oven. Check current availability before counting on them.
PLUS
PLUS describes its part-baked Pistolets meergranen as wholemeal multigrain rolls.
- The product information lists 56% wholemeal wheat flour, 3% wholemeal rye flour, 7 g of fibre and 1.06 g of salt per 100 g.
- The stated cooking instructions are 8–10 minutes at 220°C in the oven or 4 minutes at 200°C in the air fryer. Check the ingredients and allergens on the current packaging.
Dirk
Dirk lists 1 de Beste Pistolets meergranen as a four-pack with a total weight of 300 g.
- A pack of four gives you a specific option to compare with individual rolls when working out how many you need.
- The word ‘multigrain’ doesn’t confirm that these rolls are entirely wholemeal. Check the label, as well as the nutritional information and allergens.
Rolls at Joybuy
Related products will be available soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is a multigrain roll also wholemeal?
Not automatically: ‘multigrain’ doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether all the grain ingredients are wholemeal. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, all the grain ingredients must be wholemeal flour for a product to be labelled wholemeal. Check the designation and ingredients of the option you’ve chosen.
Is iodised baker’s salt required in Dutch rolls?
No. According to Voedingscentrum and brood.net, using iodine-enriched baker’s salt is not a legal requirement. For packaged rolls, check the ingredients list; for unwrapped rolls, ask which salt has been used.
Can I rely on the word ‘wholemeal’ if I have a gluten allergy?
No. ‘Wholemeal’ doesn’t mean that a product is gluten-free. The wholemeal rolls from Albert Heijn and Jumbo that were checked contain wheat and cereals containing gluten. Check the latest allergen declaration for the option you’ve chosen.
How should I plan bake-off rolls for a King's Day brunch?
Plan around the instructions for the rolls you actually buy, and check how many will fit in the oven at once. For its frozen rolls that were checked, Jumbo gives a baking time of 6 minutes at 200°C. For its multigrain option that was checked, PLUS gives a baking time of 8–10 minutes at 220°C in the oven or 4 minutes at 200°C in the air fryer. Remember to allow time for preheating and any extra batches.
Is the online product information enough to check the ingredients?
Use the product page to compare options, but check the current packaging before serving. Ingredients and allergen information can change; this is especially important if someone at the table needs to avoid certain ingredients.