If you want to make generously topped bites for Flag Day and choose the thickness of the slices yourself, go for a wholemeal loaf that you can slice at home or have sliced for you. Pre-sliced bread saves you the effort and gives you even portions, but ‘sliced’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘thickly sliced’. Bakkerij Lamers lists a thick slice of 14.5 mm for one of its wholemeal loaves, compared with a standard slice of 11.5 mm. If you’re buying a different loaf, ask how thick the slices will be.
If you’re making snacks with herring, other toppings or a fish-free alternative, you’ll want to match the shape and thickness of the bread to what you’re putting on it. With a whole loaf, you can slice it yourself; at a bakery, you can ask for a confirmed thick slice.
If you want to make several even-sized bites without slicing a whole loaf yourself, pre-sliced wholemeal bread is a practical option. Check the slice thickness separately if you’re adding generous toppings.
If you’re catering for guests with a food allergy, information about the exact loaf matters more than its shape. Check the ingredients and allergens. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, allergen information must also be available for non-prepacked food.
First decide how you want the loaf sliced. Then compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the bread you’re actually going to buy.
Choose this if: you want even, thick slices and can agree the required thickness in advance.
Bear in mind: slicing options vary between bakeries, bakery counters and products, so ask before you buy.
Choose this if: you want to decide how thick and large the slices for your bites should be.
Bear in mind: slicing takes time, and the portions may not be as even.
Choose this if: you want to make even-sized portions quickly, for example bites that you’ll top shortly before serving.
Bear in mind: the word ‘sliced’ doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether the slices are thick.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Slice thickness for topped bites | Ask how thick the slices are, or choose a whole loaf to slice yourself. Bakkerij Lamers lists 14.5 mm for a thick slice of its wholemeal casino square loaf; this isn’t a standard size for other loaves. | If I’m adding generous or moist toppings, I want to choose how thick my bread slices are. For around 44% of consumers, control over slice thickness matters most. |
| Wholemeal and ingredients | Check the product name and ingredients list for the exact loaf. Compare fibre only on a like-for-like basis, such as per 100 g, and check whether baker’s salt or iodised salt is listed if you wish. | I want to know which bread I’m serving and what’s in it, rather than judging by its dark colour or a layer of seeds. Around 33% of consumers give this information top priority. |
| Preparation and storage | Check whether the bread is sold whole or sliced, and follow the product’s storage instructions for any leftovers. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre lists freezing as a way to store wholemeal bread. | When catering for several guests, I want to plan the slicing and store any unused bread. Convenience comes first for around 23% of consumers. |
A product name that simply says ‘sliced’ doesn’t confirm a specific slice thickness. This can affect your plans, especially if you need slices of a particular thickness for your toppings.
Ask for the measurements, choose a product explicitly labelled as thickly sliced, or slice a whole loaf yourself.
You can’t tell from appearance alone whether dark bread or bread with a layer of seeds is wholemeal.
Check the product name and ingredients for the exact loaf. If you want to compare nutritional values, use the same basis, such as fibre per 100 g.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt when baking isn’t compulsory. So the words ‘bread’ or ‘wholemeal’ won’t tell you which salt was used in that product.
Check the label for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’, or ask about the ingredients if you’re buying non-prepacked bread.
If you’re only using part of the loaf for your bites, you’ll have some left over. Factor this into your preparation rather than counting only the slices you need for the snack table.
Slice what you need and follow the storage instructions on the packaging for any leftover bread.
You may find different types of wholemeal bread at these shops. Check whether each product is whole or sliced, and look at its ingredients and nutritional information.
Albert Heijn lists products including AH OerDesem wholemeal Allinson, sold as a whole sliced loaf.
Jumbo’s wholemeal bread range includes products such as Rond Grof Volkoren and Stevig Volkoren Zonnepit.
PLUS lists several whole wholemeal loaves, including round loaves and oven-bottom varieties.
Dirk’s search results include round, oven-bottom and batard varieties of wholemeal bread.
Lidl describes both fresh bread and packaged loaves in its bread range.
These two round wholemeal loaf options are worth considering if you want to choose the slice thickness yourself for Flag Day. Check the preparation instructions, ingredients and allergens on the packaging for the product you choose; the product names don’t confirm a set slice thickness.
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If you want to make several topped bites from round loaves, this pack of two lets you plan your portions yourself. Check the baking instructions on the packaging and leave the bread to cool before slicing. For the preferred slice thickness, ingredients and allergens, check the product information.
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This 550 g option is ideal if you plan to slice the bread yourself for a smaller number of bites. Follow the preparation instructions on the packaging and, before buying, check the ingredients, allergens and options for having the loaf sliced to your preferred thickness.
Ask how thick the slices are for the specific loaf, as the description alone doesn’t give you a standard size for all bread. For its wholemeal casino square loaf, Bakkerij Lamers lists 14.5 mm for a thick slice and 11.5 mm for a standard slice. Don’t assume these measurements apply to a loaf from another bakery.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, using baker’s salt in bread isn’t compulsory. Check the ingredients list for ‘baker’s salt’ or ‘iodised salt’, or ask which salt was used if you’re buying non-prepacked bread.
Check the allergen information for every loaf you serve. Wheat and other gluten-containing grains are relevant to wholemeal bread, but the recipe may contain other allergens too. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, mandatory allergen information for prepacked food appears on the label, while information for non-prepacked products must be provided to consumers in another way.
Store leftover bread according to the instructions on the packaging, or freeze any unused portions. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends keeping opened wholemeal bread in a kitchen cupboard for 2 to 4 days, or in the freezer for 1 to 3 months. This storage advice applies to the bread, not to bites that have already been topped.
