Families with changing bread needs
If everyone eats at different times, you can take individual slices from a sliced loaf as needed. Any extra portions can be frozen; Lidl says sourdough and wholemeal bread are suitable for freezing.
Which families is this relevant for?
Families who need to check ingredients carefully
If several people will be eating from the same pack, its ingredients need to suit everyone. The Verbraucherzentrale and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs explain how ingredients and allergens are labelled on packaged foods. What matters is the information on the loaf you choose.
Families who prefer rye or spelt
If you’re looking for a sliced loaf with a rye or spelt profile rather than wheat toast, compare the product description and ingredients. The sourdough breads described by REWE and EDEKA use different grains; the term ‘sourdough’ doesn’t specify which ones.
What should you look for when buying?
For your family shop, first decide whether the bread needs to be ready-sliced or whether you’re happy to bake it yourself. Then compare the storage instructions, grain type and ingredients on the specific pack.
| Criterion | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Stocking up and storage | Is the bread sliced, and can you divide it into portions, wrap them and freeze them according to the storage instructions? | When our bread consumption varies, I want to take out only the slices we need and store the rest. Stocking up is the top priority for around 36% of consumers. |
| Grain type and bread profile | Compare the product description and ingredients for rye, spelt and wholegrain claims. | I want the bread on our family table to suit our preferences, rather than choosing it just because it says sourdough. The bread’s profile comes first for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the full ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings on the pack. | If a pack needs to be suitable for everyone eating it, I check the ingredients before choosing. This check is the priority for around 21% of consumers. |
| Baking it yourself | Plan for the ingredients you’ll need, baking time and whether you’ll use an oven or bread maker. | If I want to choose the quantity of bread and recipe myself, I’m happy to put in the time to bake it. This is the main reason for buying for around 14% of consumers. |
Common misconceptions
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Assuming sourdough means gluten-free or yeast-free
The term alone doesn’t tell you whether a bread is either of these. For example, the Pema Rye Sourdough Bread listed by REWE contains yeast as well as natural sourdough, and the product information also mentions traces of wheat.
Check the full ingredients list and allergen information on the specific pack rather than relying on the front of the packaging.
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Buying in bulk without a storage plan
If your household’s consumption varies, opened loaves may be left for longer than your family wants them to be.
Divide sliced bread into the portions you’ll need and freeze them in an airtight container or bag as soon as possible. Lidl recommends −18 °C for freezing bread.
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Assuming spelt bread is gluten-free
Spelt is a type of wheat and contains gluten. The spelt bread described by EDEKA also contains rye and may contain traces of lupin.
If gluten or other ingredients need to be avoided, check the clear labelling on the specific product. Don’t replace a suitable bread with spelt sourdough bread just because it is labelled ‘spelt’.
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Assuming online information matches the packaging
A product listing in an online shop doesn’t guarantee that it will be available in every store or that the packaging information will remain unchanged. EDEKA specifically notes that details for its organic spelt bread may differ.
Before doing a big shop, check what your local store stocks and read the information on the pack when you buy it.
Brands and retailers to consider
Pema
An example of ready-sliced wholegrain rye bread made with natural sourdough, listed by REWE.
- REWE describes this particular bread as a 500-g pack containing 25% natural sourdough.
- The recipe also contains yeast and sweet lupin flour; the product information says it may contain traces of wheat.
EDEKA Bio
The spelt bread described is aimed at households looking for wholegrain spelt bread made with natural sourdough.
- For its 500-g pack, EDEKA states that spelt makes up 90% of the grain content and that it uses a three-stage natural sourdough.
- The bread also contains rye. EDEKA notes that it may contain traces of lupin, that online information may differ from the packaging and that availability varies by store.
RUF
An option for families looking for sourdough products or bread mixes to bake at home.
- RUF offers bread mixes and sourdough products, and says its mixes are suitable for use in an oven or bread maker.
- A bread mix isn’t ready-sliced bread that’s ready to eat straight away.
REWE
The retailer lists a range of toast and sandwich breads, as well as some sliced sourdough breads.
- Product pages make it easy to compare specific types of bread and pack sizes.
- A category label is no substitute for checking the ingredients and allergen information for each individual bread.
Products to suit you at Joybuy
Products to suit you coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Is sourdough bread automatically gluten-free or yeast-free?
No. Sourdough alone doesn’t mean a bread is either of these. For example, the Pema Rye Sourdough Bread listed by REWE contains yeast. Check the labelling on the specific pack for gluten and other allergens.
How can you store sliced sourdough bread for a large family?
If your household’s consumption varies, you can freeze small portions in airtight packaging and take out individual slices as needed. Lidl recommends a temperature of −18 °C for freezing bread.
How can I tell what type of grain sourdough bread contains?
Read the product description and ingredients list rather than looking only for ‘sourdough’ in the product name. Verbraucherzentrale Thüringen explains that at least 90% of the flour in wholemeal bread must come from the whole grain. The ingredients list will show whether the specific bread contains rye, spelt or other grains.
Is the ingredient information in an online shop enough when buying for the family?
Use online information to help narrow down your choice, then check the packaging when you buy it. EDEKA notes that the information on the product page for its organic spelt bread may differ from what’s on the packaging.