An amazing sandwich is more than a sum of all its ingredients. Based on how you are building your sandwich, it can either be delicious or a gross mess, even if you are using the exact same ingredients. It’s true. It’s all about how you choose to arrange the bread, condiments, cheese, meat, and vegetables.
If you are tired of the same old mediocre sandwich, it’s to time to relearn how to build your sandwich. It’s time to rethink toasting, cutting, and layering. The truth is that a sandwich which has been properly arranged stays together better, achieves the perfect texture, and keeps the bread from becoming soggy. Here’s everything you need to now.
Think about timing.
Consider the amount of time that will pass between when you make your sandwich and when you will sit down to eat it. If you are putting together a sandwich for lunch first thing in the morning, you may want to spread a thin layer of butter on the bread to prevent sogginess. You also have the option of choosing a super crusty piece of bread that easily soaks up liquids. Simply pile on the meats and pickled vegetables, use plastic wrap to tightly wrap it, and you can expect a fantastic lunch.
Lightly toast the bread.
Toasting adds a bit of a crunch and is ideal for reviving stale bread. Of course, it can also make a yummy sandwich a hard mess. Light toasting is the way to go to ensure you get that crunch you are after, but aren’t left with dried out bread. For great, hot sandwiches consider buying a panini press.
Your fillings should be balanced.
Balance is crucial. You should opt for a balance of flavors (fresh, fatty, tart, spicy) and an array of textures, such as dense, creamy, crunchy, and silky. Balancing will ensure you don’t end up with too many condiments, leaving them to fall out in piles on your plate.
Cut your fillings down to size.
If you constantly have to deal with half of your sandwich spilling out every time you take a bite of it, it’s time to cut your fillings down to size. Be sure everything, including the meat, cheese, and vegetables, can easily be bitten through. You may want to start choosing thinly sliced meats and cheeses.
Pair off your flavors.
The goal is to create tasty combos. For example, you know that tomatoes and mayonnaise are perfect together, as are cheese and mustard. Put them near each other instead of at opposite ends of your sandwich. Other pairings worth considering include fresh vegetables and salt/ pepper, vinaigrette and lettuce, and meat and pickled vegetables.
Think about your layers.
Layering is crucial. Start by putting denser textures, such as cheese and meat, at the bottom, while crunchy elements and vegetables should be toward the top. To prevent friction, which often results in everything slipping out of your sandwich, you may want to layer lettuce throughout. When it comes to condiments, your best bet tends to be applying them directly to the bread. Of course, you may want to reconsider and spread mustard directly on your meat or drizzle sauce over a certain vegetable.
Opt for a diagonal cut.
A sandwich that is cut straight across is necessary for really messy sandwiches, but for other sandwiches, opt for a diagonal cut. Some people say it just tastes better. It’s your turn to decide.
