Who is this for?

People who regularly make sandwiches

You buy packaged sliced bread for sandwiches and want to choose a pack size that suits your routine.

People comparing wholemeal toast

You’re looking for bread that can be toasted and consider the wholegrain content, ingredients, fibre and salt listed on the pack.

Smaller households

You don’t get through sliced bread quickly, so you factor pack size, storage and freezing slices in portions into your decision.

What should you look for when buying?

First, decide which type of bread you want for your sandwiches. Then match the pack size to how much you use and check the information for the specific variety.

What matters What to look for Who it matters to
Budget and pack size Match the pack weight and number of slices to how much you use. If I regularly make sandwiches, I only want to buy as much as I’ll eat. For around 42% of consumers, keeping their shopping within budget is the main priority.
Wholegrain and ingredients Compare the wholegrain content in the ingredients list, as well as fibre and salt per 100 g; check the allergens on the pack. I want to know what’s in my toast before using it every day for sandwiches. Around 33% of consumers prioritise comparing ingredients when making their choice.
How quickly you’ll use it and storage Check the pack size and storage instructions, and freeze slices in portions if needed. It takes me longer to get through a pack, and I want to avoid the bread going stale or mouldy. This is the most important reason for buying for around 25% of consumers.

Common mistakes when buying and storing bread

  • Choosing a large pack without considering how much you’ll use

    If slices are left uneaten, the bread can go stale or mouldy before you finish the pack.

    Choose a quantity that suits how much bread you eat, or freeze slices in portions.

  • Confusing wholegrain with gluten-free

    The ja! wholegrain toasts listed by REWE contain wheat. So the term ‘wholegrain’ tells you nothing about whether a product is suitable if you need gluten-free food.

    If you have specific dietary requirements, check the clear labelling, ingredients and allergen information on every pack.

  • Assuming butter toast and wholegrain toast are the same

    The recipes differ: REWE lists clarified butterfat in its Beste Wahl butter toast, while the ja! wholegrain toasts listed contain wholemeal wheat flour.

    Choose the type of bread you want, then compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the specific products.

  • Removing only the visible mould

    According to Verbraucherzentrale, mould can spread through bread beyond the area you can see.

    Throw away all mouldy bread and clean the container it was stored in.

Brands worth considering

ja! (REWE)

REWE sells, among other products under its ja! brand, wholegrain toast bread and wholemeal wheat sandwich bread.

  • For these products, REWE lists 63% and 66% wholemeal wheat flour respectively.
  • This information applies to the varieties named, not every bread from the brand.

REWE Beste Wahl

This own-brand range includes butter toast and toast bread with rye.

  • REWE lists 3.5% clarified butterfat in its butter toast and 5% rye flour in its toast bread with rye.
  • Check the ingredients of the variety you choose rather than assuming the two recipes are the same.

GUT&GÜNSTIG (EDEKA)

EDEKA lists toast among the products in its entry-price brand range.

  • The brand is worth considering when you’re looking for supermarket own-brand toast.
  • EDEKA’s brand positioning tells you nothing about the ingredients or nutritional values of an individual pack of toast.

Lidl – Unser Brot

Lidl uses this name for its range of freshly baked bread and baked goods.

  • An option if you’d consider freshly baked bread as well as packaged sliced bread for your sandwiches.
  • Freshly baked goods aren’t the same as a specific variety of packaged toast.

Golden Toast / Lieken

Lieken sells Golden Toast as a brand of toast and sandwich bread.

  • Consider a specific variety if it matches the type of bread you’re looking for.
  • The brand name alone won’t tell you about the ingredients or nutritional values.

Schär Meisterbäckers

Schär offers Meisterbäckers Classic as sliced bread for people who specifically need gluten-free products.

  • The manufacturer describes this variety as gluten-free, wheat-free and lactose-free.
  • Schär notes that it may contain traces of lupin and mustard. Check the current pack if you need to avoid these allergens.

RUF

RUF sells a product called Organic Spelt Toast Bread.

  • A named spelt toast variety to compare with other types of bread.
  • Check the quantity, ingredients and nutritional information on the specific pack.

Sliced bread on Joybuy

This walnut wholegrain bread could be an option if you’re looking for wholegrain bread for sandwiches. Check the specific pack to see whether the bread is pre-sliced.

Mestemacher Sylt walnut wholegrain bread, 250 g

Mestemacher Sylt walnut wholegrain bread, 250 g

If you’re looking for walnut wholegrain bread for sandwiches, you can match the 250-g pack to how much you use. Before buying, check whether the bread is sliced and read the ingredients and allergen information on the pack.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does wholegrain sliced bread also mean gluten-free?

No. The ja! wholegrain toasts listed by REWE contain wheat. If you specifically need gluten-free bread, check the relevant label and the ingredients on the specific pack.

Should opened toast bread be kept in the fridge?

Generally, no. Verbraucherzentrale recommends storing bread at room temperature, somewhere dry and away from light, as it can go stale more quickly in the fridge. In very warm, humid weather, keeping it in the fridge may be sensible as an exception. For longer storage, you can freeze bread in portions.

Is toast bread no good after its best-before date?

Not necessarily. If the pack is unopened and has been stored correctly, you can check its appearance, smell and texture. According to Verbraucherzentrale, any mouldy bread should be thrown away in its entirety.

Where can I find the ingredients and allergens in packaged bread?

Read the ingredients list on the specific pack. The German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety explains that ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, and that important allergens are highlighted in the ingredients list.