Protein content
A 1 slice serving of whole wheat bread contains 3.5 g of protein - a moderate source of protein, about 7% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Serving | 1 slice (28 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 3.5 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 12.4 g |
| Calories per serving | 71 kcal |
| Protein density | 20% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 7% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
| Category | Grains |
| Food type | Prepared / processed |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #172688 |
A typical 1 slice serving of whole wheat bread contains 3.5 grams of protein (12.4 g per 100 g), which makes it a moderate source of protein. That covers roughly 7% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
Around 20% of the calories in whole wheat bread come from protein, so it is moderately protein-dense. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
Among the 111 grains in the database, whole wheat bread ranks 71st by protein per serving, and 573rd out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against bran flakes, another grain entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g less protein (bran flakes has 4 g per 1 cup).
It is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other plant foods across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids. The serving above is counted by piece at 28 g. Because pieces vary, the per-100 g figure is the one to use when comparing this against a food measured a different way.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #172688 - "Bread, whole-wheat, commercially prepared" (SR Legacy, published 4/1/2019). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
Whole wheat bread has 12.4 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 slice serving (28 g) provides 3.5 g.
No. Whole wheat bread is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other protein sources across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids.
A 1 slice serving of whole wheat bread contains 3.5 g of protein, about 7% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Whole wheat bread is a moderate source of protein, and about 20% of its calories come from protein, which makes it moderately protein-dense. Set against bran flakes, another grain entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g less protein (bran flakes has 4 g per 1 cup).
Related