According to the Gospel of John, five loaves were used to feed the five thousand.
John 6:9 describes a boy carrying five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus gives thanks, distributes the food, and the crowd eats until satisfied. The disciples then gather twelve baskets of leftovers.
This is the only miracle before the resurrection that appears in all four canonical Gospels, although the accounts differ in some details. John uniquely mentions the boy and places the event within a larger discussion about Jesus as the bread of life.
The five loaves should not be confused with the separate feeding of the four thousand, where Matthew and Mark mention seven loaves. The numbers of people, loaves, and remaining baskets distinguish the two episodes.