Who is this choice important for?

The fibre-conscious buffet planner

You’re looking for rolls that are genuinely wholemeal, rather than simply dark or multigrain. The ingredients and fibre content per 100 g will help you compare different options.

The planner with a tight bake-at-home schedule

You want to have a large number of rolls ready around serving time. That means considering how they’re prepared, how long they take to bake and how much oven space you have.

The planner mindful of allergens

You want to be able to tell guests which grains and other allergens the rolls you’ve chosen contain. Check the information for that specific variety and keep it available at the buffet.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want to serve the rolls straight away or bake them in batches. Then compare the labels of the varieties that fit your plans.

Fresh wholemeal crusty roll

A good choice when: you want to put rolls out on the day and top up the buffet as you go.

Consider: check that the variety you’ve chosen will be available when you need it.

Wholemeal bake-at-home crusty roll

A good choice when: you want to plan the baking around serving time.

Consider: you’ll need enough oven space. If you choose a frozen variety, make sure you have enough storage space for your plans too.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters to
Wholemeal and fibre Read the product name and ingredients, and compare fibre on a like-for-like basis, per 100 g. If fibre is my top priority for the buffet, I want to know whether the roll is genuinely wholemeal and not just made to look that way. This is a priority for around 36% of consumers.
Baking and serving Check the preparation time and temperature, and how many rolls will fit in the oven at once. When I’m catering for lots of guests, I want to time the baking so the rolls are ready when they’re eating. For around 29% of consumers, planning is their main concern.
Allergens and dietary requirements Check the current ingredients and allergen information for the variety you’ve chosen; don’t assume it’s suitable based on the name. If guests need to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know exactly what I’m serving. This is the main priority for around 21% of consumers.
Quantity and leftovers Compare the number of rolls, pack weight and use-by information with your plans. I want to put out enough rolls without having lots left over after the buffet. This is the top priority for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming multigrain or a dark crust means wholemeal

    According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ means that a bread product contains different types of grain; the term alone doesn’t prove that it’s wholemeal.

    Look for ‘wholemeal’ in the product name, check which types of flour are listed in the ingredients and compare fibre per 100 g.

  • Baking all your rolls well in advance

    The bake-at-home products reviewed have different preparation instructions. If you’re baking several batches, oven space and baking time will determine when you can serve the rolls.

    Plan your schedule around the instructions on the pack of the variety you’ve chosen and how many rolls fit in your oven at once.

  • Assuming wholemeal is suitable for every guest

    The wholemeal rolls reviewed contain grains with gluten. Other ingredients and warnings about possible traces vary from product to product.

    Check the current label on the product you actually buy, and keep the allergen information available at the buffet.

  • Assuming every roll contains iodised salt

    An agreement published in the Government Gazette in 2008 encourages the use of iodised salt in bread-making. It doesn’t tell you what’s in every individual roll.

    If iodised salt matters to your choice, check the ingredients list for the variety you’ve selected.

Brands to consider

Always compare the label of the specific product you’re considering: a wholemeal bun, a multigrain crusty roll and a white crusty roll aren’t the same choice.

Albert Heijn

Albert Heijn lists both an AH wholemeal crusty roll and a wholemeal sourdough crusty roll.

  • For the AH wholemeal crusty roll, Albert Heijn lists 100% wholemeal flour and 7,1 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The varieties reviewed contain wheat and gluten. For the sourdough variety, also check the other grains and seeds, as well as any listed warnings about possible traces.

Jumbo

The Jumbo Wholemeal Crusty Rolls reviewed are part-baked frozen rolls.

  • For this variety, Jumbo listed 6,7 g of fibre per 100 g and a baking time of 6 minutes at 200 °C.
  • The product page says this specific variety is no longer part of the online range. Check that you can get the rolls you want before adding them to your plans.

PLUS

PLUS lists bake-at-home multigrain crusty rolls made with wholemeal wheat flour, as well as wholemeal buns.

  • For the crusty rolls reviewed, PLUS lists 56% wholemeal wheat flour and 7 g of fibre per 100 g.
  • The wholemeal buns reviewed contain milk and soya ingredients. Don’t use the information for the buns as the label for the crusty rolls, or vice versa.

Dirk

Dirk lists a wholemeal bun to bake at home. A bun is an alternative if you don’t need the crusty roll shape.

  • The fresh bake-at-home wholemeal bun described weighs 110 g per roll.
  • Compare the nutritional information and allergens on the packaging of the variety you choose.

Lidl

Lidl offers wholemeal rolls and mentions wholemeal crusty rolls in its recipes.

  • The wholemeal range can be a useful starting point if a different shape of roll would also suit your buffet.
  • For any crusty roll you choose, check the exact product name, ingredients and nutritional information. Information about other wholemeal rolls doesn’t automatically apply to that variety.

ALDI

ALDI lists freshly baked wholemeal products, including wholemeal buns.

  • A wholemeal bun can be an alternative if individual rolls matter more than the crusty roll shape.
  • The ALDI crusty roll reviewed is described as a white roll. For a wholemeal option, check the name and ingredients of a different, specific variety.

Related products at Joybuy

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a multigrain crusty roll automatically wholemeal?

No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, ‘multigrain’ refers to different types of grain; it doesn’t automatically mean the roll is made with wholemeal flour. So check the product name and ingredients for the specific variety. For example, PLUS lists 56% wholemeal wheat flour in the multigrain crusty rolls reviewed.

How do I plan the baking for a wedding buffet?

Plan your batches around the preparation time for the product you’ve chosen and the space in your oven or air fryer. For its multigrain crusty rolls reviewed, PLUS recommends 8 to 10 minutes in the oven at 220 °C, or 4 minutes in a preheated air fryer at 200 °C. Always follow the instructions on the packaging you’re using.

Are wholemeal crusty rolls gluten-free or suitable for every guest?

No. The wholemeal crusty rolls reviewed contain grains with gluten, and additional ingredients or possible traces vary between varieties. Check the allergen information on the packaging you actually buy before serving the rolls to your guests.

Does every crusty roll contain iodised baker’s salt?

Don’t assume so: only the ingredients list for the product you’ve chosen will tell you which salt it contains. An agreement published in the Government Gazette in 2008 encourages the use of iodised salt in bread-making, but it doesn’t describe the ingredients of every crusty roll.