The right choice for different needs

Fans of hearty picnic sandwiches

You want to pile plenty of savoury fillings onto generous slices, so you’re specifically looking for a clear statement about slice thickness. Ölz Meisterbäcker provides one for Riesen Toast.

Those who prefer wholemeal or spelt

You care more about the type of grain than whether the slices are confirmed to be thick. EDEKA lists GUT&GÜNSTIG sandwich toast varieties made with these grains, although the recipe itself doesn’t tell you whether the bread is thick-sliced.

Those planning their fillings and checking allergens

You check the ingredients in both the bread and the filling before you shop. If you’re using perishable fillings, you’ll also need to keep them properly chilled on the way to your picnic.

What to look for when buying

When choosing bread for hearty picnic sandwiches, first decide whether thick slices, a particular recipe or easy-to-manage transport matters most to you. The following needs highlight what different shoppers may want to prioritise.

Criteria What to check Who it matters most to
Slice thickness Look for a clear statement that the slices are thick; don’t assume a large slice means it’s thick. I want thick slices for several hearty fillings, rather than relying on the word “sandwich” alone. For around 36% of shoppers, slice thickness is likely to be the main concern.
Grain and recipe Compare the ingredients list and what any percentage refers to, for example when wholemeal wheat flour is specified. If I prefer wholemeal or spelt, I want to know what ingredients have been used, even if a thick cut hasn’t been confirmed. Around 29% of shoppers are likely to want to check the recipe first.
Portability and fillings If you’ll be eating the bread untoasted, check the product information; keep perishable fillings as cold as possible until you eat. For a picnic without a toaster, I need bread that works for cold sandwiches and a way to keep perishable fillings chilled. For around 21% of shoppers, these transport needs are likely to take priority.
Allergens and dietary requirements Check the ingredients and allergen information on the specific pack; don’t assume “vegan” means “allergen-free”. If I need to avoid certain ingredients or shop vegan, the description on the front of the pack isn’t enough. Around 14% of shoppers are likely to put checking these requirements first.

Common misconceptions

  • “Sandwich” or “American Style” means thick-sliced

    These names don’t automatically tell you how thick the slices are. Ölz Meisterbäcker specifically describes the slices in Riesen Toast as thick; Harry Brot says that SAMMY’S Super Sandwich has extra-large slices, but doesn’t mention a particular thickness.

    If a thick cut is important to you, look for a clear statement on the product or check the slices before you buy.

  • A high percentage always refers to the whole loaf

    Lebensmittelklarheit points out that percentages on bread can refer to the proportion of flour or grain. Without knowing what the figure refers to, you can’t tell what proportion of the whole loaf it represents.

    Read the percentage alongside the ingredients list. For example, EDEKA states that GUT&GÜNSTIG wholemeal sandwich toast contains 60% wholemeal wheat flour.

  • Filled sandwiches don’t need to be kept cold on the way

    The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment explains that if perishable fillings aren’t kept at a low enough temperature during transport and storage, bacteria can multiply.

    Chill perishable ingredients before you set off, and keep filled sandwiches as cold as possible until you eat them.

    You may need an insulated cool bag and ice packs for these fillings.

  • Vegan means allergen-free

    A vegan recipe can still contain cereals containing gluten, soya or sesame. The vegan Mestemacher toast rolls listed in the RUF shop include these ingredients; they’re also toast rolls, not sliced toast bread.

    If you need to avoid certain ingredients, check the information on the specific pack rather than assuming that “vegan” means it meets other requirements too.

Brands to consider

Ölz Meisterbäcker

Ölz Riesen Toast is worth considering if you’re looking specifically for thick slices: the manufacturer describes them as extra-large and thick.

  • The product is specifically described as thick-sliced.
  • No thickness in millimetres is given; the bread contains wheat.

REWE / ja!

REWE describes ja! American Sandwich as wheat sandwich bread in a 750-g pack.

  • The product type and pack weight are clearly stated.
  • The name “American Sandwich” doesn’t confirm that the slices are thick.

EDEKA / GUT&GÜNSTIG

EDEKA lists wholemeal and spelt sandwich toast varieties to suit different recipe preferences.

  • GUT&GÜNSTIG wholemeal sandwich toast contains 60% wholemeal wheat flour; EDEKA describes the spelt variety as suitable for a vegan diet.
  • Neither variety is confirmed to be thick-sliced. Check the ingredients and allergen information for each variety.

Lidl / Grafschafter

In a statement from 2025, Lidl Deutschland lists Grafschafter American Style Sandwich Weizen.

  • You can identify this specific sandwich bread variety by its name.
  • The statement doesn’t give the slice thickness, so the product name alone isn’t enough if you’re specifically looking for thick-sliced toast.

Related products on Joybuy

Relevant products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Does “American Sandwich” automatically mean thick-sliced?

No, the name alone doesn’t tell you how thick the slices are. If a thick cut matters to you, look for a clear statement or check the slices before you buy.

Are vegan toast products automatically gluten-free or free from soya and sesame?

No. According to the ingredients listed, the vegan Mestemacher toast rolls described in the RUF shop contain wheat, soya and sesame, among other ingredients. Check the current labelling on each product; toast rolls are also not slices of toast bread.

How should I take filled sandwiches on a picnic?

Keep sandwiches with perishable fillings as cold as possible until you eat them. The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment warns that if food isn’t kept at a low enough temperature during transport and storage, bacteria that can cause illness may multiply.

What does a wholemeal percentage on a bread pack refer to?

It depends on what the percentage refers to. According to Lebensmittelklarheit, the figure may describe the proportion of flour or grain rather than the proportion of the whole loaf. So read it alongside the ingredients list.

How can I check allergens in bread sold loose?

Before you buy, ask which allergens the specific bread contains and what allergen information is available. If you need to avoid certain ingredients, don’t rely on how the bread looks or what it’s called.