For your first meal after moving in, a ready-to-eat wholemeal sourdough loaf is a good choice, provided the specific variety is labelled as wholemeal bread and contains sourdough. A packaged loaf makes it easier to compare ingredients, allergens and the best-before date. A bread mix is a better option if your flatshare has a suitable appliance and you can set aside time for baking.
If there’s no time or space to bake on moving-in day, a ready-to-eat loaf is a practical choice. Check whether the specific variety is labelled wholemeal, contains sourdough and provides allergen information.
If everyone eats at different times, the ingredients list, allergen information and best-before date on packaged bread can help you choose. The colour of the bread is no substitute for these details.
A wholemeal bread mix with sourdough is a good option if you have an oven or bread maker and can plan when to prepare it. Before buying, check the instructions against your appliance’s capacity.
First decide whether you need the bread ready to serve on moving-in day or whether you’d rather bake it yourselves. Then compare the wholemeal labelling, sourdough ingredients and the information that matters to everyone in your flatshare.
| What you need | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Bread for moving-in day | For ready-to-eat bread, check that the specific variety is labelled “wholemeal bread”, and review its sourdough ingredients and allergen information. | If we want to share a meal as soon as we’ve moved in, I don’t want to have to bake first. This immediate need is the priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and supplies | For packaged bread, compare the ingredients, highlighted allergens and best-before date. | If we’re sharing a loaf over several meals, I want to know what’s in it and how long it will keep. This is the main buying consideration for around 30% of consumers. |
| Baking your own | Check the sourdough ingredient, instructions and required appliance size for the bread mix. | If we have a suitable appliance, I can plan to bake for the flatshare rather than needing a ready-made loaf straight away. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
The colour doesn’t reliably tell you whether bread is wholemeal. The German Nutrition Society explains that wholemeal bread must contain at least 90% wholemeal flour or wholemeal meal from the grain used.
Look for the label “wholemeal bread” rather than judging by appearance alone.
Sourdough being listed as an ingredient doesn’t tell you which other grains, seeds or allergens the bread contains.
For packaged bread, read the ingredients list and check the highlighted allergens. If you’re buying loose bread, ask for the allergen information for that specific variety.
A dry mix needs to be prepared and baked first. For the Seitenbacher mix listed by REWE, the quantity you can make in a bread maker depends on its capacity.
If you want to eat as soon as you’ve moved in, buy a ready-to-eat loaf or bake one in advance. For later, check the pack instructions and the size of your appliance.
Seitenbacher offers a wholemeal bread mix; the variety listed by REWE includes sourdough as an ingredient.
Lidl lists natural rye sourdough as an ingredient in several breads from its in-store bakery range.
EDEKA lists wholemeal rye breads from its own product ranges among its examples of wholemeal bread.
REWE provides product information for both a packaged wholemeal loaf and a Seitenbacher bread mix containing sourdough.
Look for the label “wholemeal bread”, rather than relying on a dark colour. According to the German Nutrition Society, wholemeal bread must contain at least 90% wholemeal flour or wholemeal meal from the grain used. Check the specific variety to see whether it also contains sourdough.
For packaged bread, the ingredients are listed in the ingredients section, with allergens that must be declared highlighted. According to the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety, ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. Check the information on the pack, especially if you’re buying bread for several flatmates.
The word “sourdough” alone doesn’t tell you how long a particular loaf will keep. For packaged bread, check the best-before date and storage instructions. When planning your supplies, go by the loaf you actually buy.
For the Seitenbacher mix listed by REWE, the instructions recommend using half the quantity in a 750-g bread maker. This applies to that specific mix, so check its instructions against your appliance’s capacity before baking.