Sandwiches are a simple meal that you can often eat on-the-go. While it might just look like two slices of bread or a wrap layered with meat, cheese and vegetables, a sandwich has endless possibilities.
Whether for taste, reduced sogginess or to achieve a new texture, upgrade your sandwich game with the following tips.
1. Elevate the Ingredients
Although leftovers can be repurposed for sandwiches, top-tier ingredients result in a higher-quality, more satisfying combination.
Starting with the foundation – bread – to what you place in between:
- Meats: Choose something sliced fresh at the deli over prepackaged meat.
- Cheese: Look for an aged cheese that will provide a more distinctive taste.
- Vegetables: Even if you just prefer lettuce and tomato, make sure these ingredients are fresh. Wash and dry your vegetables, then add your favorite seasoning to enhance their flavor and crispness.
Another key to building a better sandwich is to avoid adding too much. You should be able to take a bite without a struggle or mess. Beyond the inconvenience of overstuffing a sandwich, more ingredients can lead to conflicting flavors and certain toppings may get overpowered by others.
2. Don’t Forget the Sauce
Condiments serve three purposes on a sandwich: They enhance the flavor, can help hold it together and add moisture. Based on your tastes, start traditionally with a standard mustard, mayonnaise or barbecue sauce. For a more distinctive flavor, you can go for a spiced pepper jelly or nutty hummus.
Next, think about the application of your sauce. Add it to both slices of bread and spread to the edges so you get the flavor in every bite.
3. Take Care with Your Bread
Type of bread sets the tone for the sandwich. The last thing you want is for the base of your sandwich to be too weak or become soggy. In general, the fewer ingredients you add to a sandwich, the thinner the bread you should use. For instance, a basic wheat bread is often used for a BLT versus a thicker roll for a pulled pork sandwich to better absorb sauce.
Also consider how you’ll prepare the bread. Toasting it first can add crispness, moisture and structure.
4. Create a Sense of Balance
Avoid one ingredient overpowering everything else on your sandwich. To achieve a better balance:
- Slice everything thin, from meats and cheeses to tomatoes, to avoid thicker-cut ingredients taking over
- Add more contrasting flavors and consider a sweet element to further enhance overall taste
- As you build a sandwich, add the heavier ingredients before layering on less dense items
- Alternate your layers between vegetables, meats and cheeses for more of a flavor balance
5. Prevent Sogginess
Nothing ruins a sandwich quicker than sogginess. To slow down this process, create a seal with your sauce by spreading it across the bread. Make sure your vegetables are fully dry before adding them and keep wet ingredients separate. Toasted bread provides more stability and reduces moisture absorption.
Looking for the perfect sandwich or burger? Stop by Colony Diner in Wallingford for breakfast, lunch or dinner or place an order for pickup today!