Wholemeal rye bread labelled as sourdough is a good option for a summer picnic if you want a clear idea of the ingredients and bread that keeps fresh. According to the Federal Centre for Nutrition, rye and wholemeal breads usually stay fresh for longer. Packaged bread saves you the preparation, while bakery bread means shopping shortly before your trip. Baking it yourself takes time, both to bake and cool. Whatever bread you choose, keep perishable fillings chilled separately.
You pack the bread several hours before you eat. As well as the type of bread, the amount you take and keeping it dry and out of direct light are important. According to the Federal Centre for Nutrition, rye and wholemeal breads usually stay fresh for longer.
You don’t want to rely on a dark crumb or a rustic-sounding name. The product name and ingredients list can help you check which wholegrain cereal and type of sourdough are used.
You want to choose the grain mix and loaf size yourself, and have time to bake and cool the bread. If you’re using a bread mix, check whether it contains sourdough, yeast or both.
A good fit if: You want ready-to-portion bread with an ingredients list on the pack, without having to bake it yourself.
Bear in mind: Once opened, follow the storage instructions for the specific product.
A good fit if: You want to buy the bread shortly before your picnic.
Bear in mind: Sourdough from a bakery isn’t automatically wholemeal, so check the specific variety.
A good fit if: You want to choose the mix and loaf size yourself and bake ahead.
Bear in mind: A bread mix isn’t an instant solution: the loaf needs to cool completely before you pack it.
When taking bread out in summer weather, choosing the ingredients, transporting it and keeping perishable fillings separate are three different considerations.
| Consideration | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Freshness and transport | Amount of bread and dry packaging kept out of direct light; keep perishable fillings chilled separately. | If I pack the bread hours before eating, I want it to stay in good condition until the picnic. This is a priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Wholemeal and sourdough | Check the product name and ingredients list for wholemeal flour or meal, and the type of sourdough specified. | A dark crumb isn’t enough for me: I want to be able to see which grain and sourdough have been used. This is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and fillings | Check the types of grain, allergen information and storage instructions for the fillings. | If I’m putting together bread and fillings for several people, I want to check the listed ingredients and transport perishable foods appropriately. This is the top priority for about 30% of consumers. |
Colour and rustic-sounding names alone don’t tell you which grain has been used.
Check the product name and read the ingredients list. If sourdough matters to you, look for it there too.
Sourdough and yeast can both be used in the same recipe. For example, EDEKA’s wholemeal spelt bread mix lists dried spelt sourdough and yeast.
Compare the full ingredients list if you’re looking for a particular recipe.
The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety warns that perishable foods, including meat, dairy products and foods containing raw egg, need to be stored properly, particularly in warm weather.
Pack the bread dry and separately. Use a cool bag or ice packs for fillings that need to be kept chilled, and don’t leave them in the sun or in a warm car.
EDEKA points out that details shown online for its products may differ from the information on the packaging.
Before buying, check the ingredients, allergens, best-before date and storage instructions on the product itself.
EDEKA provides details for products including wholemeal rye bread and a wholemeal spelt bread mix with dried sourdough.
REWE lists products including packaged Pema rye sourdough bread and Seitenbacher natural sourdough as a baking ingredient.
Lidl lists varieties from its bakery including crusty bread made with natural sourdough, spelt bread and multigrain bread.
Seitenbacher offers wholemeal bread mixes and natural sourdough sold separately for home baking.
Check the product name alongside the ingredients list. Look for wholemeal flour or meal and the type of sourdough specified. A dark colour alone doesn’t tell you this.
No. It can contain both sourdough and yeast. EDEKA’s wholemeal spelt bread mix, for example, lists dried spelt sourdough and yeast. The ingredients list on the specific product is what matters when choosing.
Pack only the amount you need, keeping it dry and out of direct light, and keep perishable fillings chilled separately. The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety advises against leaving food in a warm car or in the sun unnecessarily.
Check the information on the specific bread for the grains used, other ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings. Recipes vary: EDEKA’s wholemeal rye bread, for example, lists wholemeal rye meal and oats.