What matters to different households

Households that eat a lot of toast

If you often prepare breakfast, packed lunches and sandwiches, you’ll need plenty of pre-sliced bread. The pack weight, slice shape and storage instructions can all help you choose.

Households that need gluten-free bread

For these households, the word ‘sourdough’ alone isn’t enough. Look for clear gluten-free labelling on the product, and check its ingredients and allergen information.

Households that want to make sourdough toast at home

You can choose a recipe to suit your tastes, but you’ll need to allow time for the dough to prove and for baking. Freezing individual slices can make it easier to keep a supply on hand.

What to look for when buying

The main decision is whether evenly sliced bread for toasting, a recipe that is specifically gluten-free or fresh bread matters most. Making your own is another option if you can plan ahead.

Packaged wheat toast

A good choice if: You need lots of pre-sliced bread for breakfast and sandwiches. Harry Buttertoast, described by Eberlein-Shop, contains sourdough and comes in a 500-g pack.

Bear in mind: This product contains wheat, so it isn’t a gluten-free option. Sourdough is also not the only dough ingredient.

Gluten-free sliced bread

A good choice if: You need a sliced bread alternative that is specifically labelled gluten-free. Schär describes Meisterbäckers Classic as gluten- and wheat-free.

Bear in mind: The German pack weighs 330 g. The product contains soya protein and may contain traces of lupin and mustard.

Fresh sourdough bread

A good choice if: Fresh bread matters more to you than the uniform shape of traditional toast slices. Lidl describes bakery counter loaves made with natural rye sourdough.

Bear in mind: This description doesn’t refer to a specific sourdough toast loaf. Check the shape, ingredients and allergens of the bread you choose.

Homemade sourdough toast

A good choice if: You’d rather make your own recipe and bake from scratch than have slices ready straight away.

Bear in mind: A recipe from Einfach Backen – Marcel Paa allows 12–18 hours for the preferment alone; you’ll also need to allow time for further proving and baking.

What to consider What to check when buying Who it matters most to
Quantity and slice shape Pack weight, number of slices and slice size in relation to the toaster you have. If you prepare several slices of bread every morning, the quantity and slice shape should make your routine easier. Around 40% of consumers put this everyday need first.
Gluten and allergens Clear gluten-free labelling, plus the ingredients, highlighted allergens and precautionary trace warnings for the specific product. If you need gluten-free bread, the labelling must reliably meet your requirements. This is the main priority for around 20% of consumers.
Sourdough and type of bread Look for sourdough or natural sourdough in the ingredients list; for fresh bread, also check its shape and type of grain. If you’re mainly looking for a fresh loaf or a clearly identified sourdough ingredient, don’t choose based on the word ‘toast’ alone. Around 30% of consumers prioritise this.
Time needed to bake at home Before shopping, work out the total time the recipe takes, the baking tin you’ll need and the ingredients. If you want to make your own toast bread, you’ll need to start preparing the dough in good time. Around 10% of consumers prioritise this.

Common misconceptions

  • ‘Sourdough’ means ‘gluten-free’

    Sourdough toast can contain wheat. Harry Buttertoast, described by Eberlein-Shop, lists natural sourdough made from water and wheat flour.

    If you need gluten-free bread, look for clear gluten-free labelling on the specific product and check the ingredients and allergen information.

  • Rye toast always contains sourdough

    The rye content doesn’t tell you whether sourdough has been used. The ingredients list for REWE Beste Wahl toast bread with rye includes rye flour, but no sourdough.

    If you want sourdough, look specifically for ‘sourdough’ or ‘natural sourdough’ in the ingredients list of the bread you choose.

  • Fresh sourdough bread is an easy substitute for toast slices

    A loaf from the bakery counter won’t necessarily have the same shape or slice thickness as packaged toast.

    Before buying, check that the slices will fit in your toaster or sandwich maker, and read the ingredients and allergen information for the bread you choose.

  • Homemade toast is ready at short notice

    For the sourdough toast recipe from Einfach Backen – Marcel Paa, the preferment alone takes 12–18 hours to prove.

    Plan at least a day ahead. If you’ll be eating it later, you can freeze cooled slices individually, as La Crema Patisserie suggests for its recipe.

Brands and product ranges to consider

These examples cover different types of bread. To find out whether a specific product contains sourdough and is right for your household, check its own labelling.

Schär

Gluten-free sliced bread as an alternative to traditional wheat toast.

  • According to Schär, Meisterbäckers Classic contains sourdough, millet and quinoa; the German pack weighs 330 g.
  • This information applies to this product, not to every bread from the brand. It contains soya protein and may contain traces of lupin and mustard.

REWE Beste Wahl

Packaged toast where you’ll need to check the recipe of each product individually.

  • REWE describes its toast bread with rye as a 500-g pack containing 5% rye flour.
  • Sourdough isn’t listed in the ingredients for this toast bread, so the product name alone doesn’t make it sourdough toast.

LIDL – Unser Brot

Bakery counter loaves for households looking for fresh bread rather than uniformly shaped toast slices.

  • Lidl describes various speciality breads made with natural rye sourdough.
  • This doesn’t mean there’s a specific sourdough toast option or that every bread on offer has the same recipe.

Mestemacher

Portionable oat bread as a different option for households who also want to toast their slices.

  • Mestemacher describes Bio Unser Pures as a 300-g oat bread with 29% oilseeds, which can also be toasted.
  • It isn’t a sourdough product or a traditional soft toast bread. According to the manufacturer, it may contain traces of soya, sesame and nuts.

Products at Joybuy

Suitable products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is sourdough toast automatically gluten-free?

No. Sourdough can be made with grains that contain gluten. Harry Buttertoast, described by Eberlein-Shop, contains wheat flour, while Schär specifically describes its Meisterbäckers Classic as gluten- and wheat-free. Always check the labelling on the individual product.

Which allergen information should I check on toast bread?

Check the ingredients list, highlighted allergens and any precautionary trace warnings on the specific pack. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs explains that the 14 most common causes of allergies and intolerances must be declared. Which of these matters to you depends on the product.

Can I freeze bread for a larger household?

Freezing individual slices is one way to keep a supply on hand, as long as the product’s storage instructions don’t advise against it. La Crema Patisserie recommends this for its homemade sourdough toast; for bought bread, follow the instructions on the pack.

Is toast bread with rye the same as sourdough toast?

No. Rye flour alone doesn’t mean a bread contains sourdough. The ingredients for REWE Beste Wahl toast bread with rye list rye flour but no sourdough, so check the ingredients list of the bread you’re planning to buy.