For brunch and sweet toppings
If you’re after a soft, slightly sweet base to go with your meal, brioche or Danish Toast may be worth a look. Their recipes aren’t a neutral choice for every savoury topping.
Which type of bread is right for you?
For quick savoury sandwiches
If you need bread for savoury fillings at short notice, look for toast or sandwich bread and check that the ingredients and character of the loaf suit what you have in mind.
For checking ingredients and allergens
If you need a particular product format or recipe, don’t rely on the product name alone. If you have requirements around gluten or other allergens, check the labelling on the specific loaf.
What should you look for when buying?
First, decide what you want the bread to go with. Then compare the recipe, labelling and pack size – especially if you’re only buying it for one meal.
| What to consider | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour and meal | Check that the type of bread and its ingredients go with the sweet or savoury toppings you have planned. | For brunch, I want a soft, slightly sweet base; for a savoury sandwich, I want a milder-tasting bread. This match with the meal is the top priority for around 33% of consumers. |
| Recipe and nutritional values | Compare the ingredients list and nutritional information per 100 g; if you’re buying toast rolls, also consider that they’re a different product format. | If I’m looking for a specific grain-based or protein-rich recipe, the name on the front isn’t enough. Around 27% of consumers prioritise these recipe features. |
| Gluten and allergens | Check the current ingredients list and any warnings about possible traces; if needed, look for an explicit gluten-free label. | If I need to avoid an allergen, I can’t rely on names such as ‘rye toast’ or ‘multigrain’. Checking for gluten and allergens is a priority for around 20% of consumers. |
| Quantity and storage | Consider the pack size, storage guidance after opening and whether you can freeze portions separately. | For a single meal, I don’t want to open a pack and leave the rest unused. For around 20% of consumers, managing quantity and freshness is the most important consideration. |
Common mistakes when picking up extra bread
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Treating brioche like everyday toast
REWE describes its Feine Welt brioche as containing ingredients including butterfat, crème fraîche and eggs. Its slightly sweet recipe can work differently with savoury toppings than a milder toast bread.
Choose it for a meal that suits its distinctive flavour. For a savoury sandwich, compare toast and sandwich bread instead.
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Assuming ‘rye’, ‘multigrain’ or ‘protein’ means allergen-free
The rye toast described by REWE also contains wheat and lupin flour. Schär Meisterbäckers Multigrain Bread, sold as gluten-free, may contain lupin, sesame and mustard according to the product information. The Mestemacher toast rolls sold by RUF are made with ingredients including wheat and soya.
If you need to avoid an allergen, check the current ingredients list and any trace warnings for the specific product.
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Buying more bread than you’ll use soon
When you’re picking up extra bread, opening a large pack may be impractical if you only need a few slices. According to the Verbraucherzentrale, visible mould is a reason to throw away all of the affected bread.
Choose a quantity that matches how much you plan to use, and freeze any portions you won’t need soon.
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Assuming the product description matches the packaging
The labelling on the bread you actually buy is what matters, particularly when it comes to how you use it and any allergies.
Compare the details before buying, then check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack again when it arrives.
Brands to consider
These examples show a range of product types. You can’t necessarily assume that the features of one bread apply to a brand’s entire range.
REWE Feine Welt
The brioche described by REWE is a slightly sweet option for breakfast or brunch.
- The product mentioned contains butterfat, crème fraîche and eggs.
- If you need a neutral-tasting bread or a recipe without milk and eggs, consider another option.
REWE Beste Wahl
The rye toast offered by REWE is a toast option for savoury toppings.
- The ingredients list includes rye flour.
- According to REWE, the product also contains predominantly wheat flour, as well as wheat gluten and lupin flour. ‘Rye’ doesn’t mean gluten-free in this case.
GOLDEN TOAST
Lieken offers a range of toast, sandwich bread and rolls under the GOLDEN TOAST brand.
- The range described by Lieken includes wholemeal toast, sandwich bread and toasties.
- Product formats and recipes vary across the range, so check the specific pack.
Mestemacher
The Mestemacher High Protein Carrot Toast Rolls offered by RUF come in a different format from a sliced loaf.
- RUF lists wholemeal wheat flour, soya and seeds among the ingredients in the toast rolls.
- If you need slices for classic sandwiches, or need to avoid wheat or soya, check the product format and labelling carefully.
Schär Meisterbäckers
This multigrain sliced bread is specifically sold as a gluten-free option.
- The product information describes this bread as gluten-free and lactose-free.
- According to the product information, it may contain lupin, sesame and mustard. If you have any of these allergies, check the current labelling.
Joybuy bread for a top-up shop
This selection includes a wholemeal protein bread and two pack sizes of slightly sweet Danish Toast. First, decide whether you need slices for savoury toppings or a small sweet portion. If you’re considering Danish Toast, check that its product format suits your need for pre-sliced bread.
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Mestemacher Classic Wholemeal Protein Bread, 250 g
An option if you’re specifically looking for a wholemeal protein bread to go with savoury toppings. If you have allergies, check the current ingredients list and any warnings about possible traces. According to the product information, the bread should be used within five days of opening.
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Thinmax Golden Danish Toast, 85 g
The 85 g portion could suit a slightly sweet breakfast or a small snack, rather than serving as a neutral-tasting toast bread. If you’re making classic sandwiches, check whether it’s pre-sliced. According to the product information, it should be eaten within 24 hours of opening.
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Thinmax Golden Danish Toast, 2 × 85 g
Two individually wrapped 85 g portions may be a good choice if you want to enjoy the slightly sweet Danish Toast on separate occasions. Check whether the portions are pre-sliced. According to the product information, each portion should be eaten within 24 hours of opening.
Questions about sliced bread and storage
Should you throw bread away once it’s past its best-before date?
No. A best-before date passing is not, by itself, a reason to throw away packaged bread straight away. Check the bread before eating it. If you can see mould, the Verbraucherzentrale recommends throwing away all of the affected bread.
How should you store sliced bread after buying it as an extra?
Store bread at room temperature in a dry place away from light, or freeze any portions you won’t need soon. The Verbraucherzentrale suggests using a bread bin or bread box. Bread usually goes stale more quickly in the fridge.