171
Charles Spence, a professor of experimental psychology at the University of Oxford, and his colleagues found out what the ideal should be sandwich.
Probably, there are not so many examples of fast food that won the hearts of people all over the world. A sandwich is one of them.
Its authorship is attributed to the English diplomat John Montague, 4th Earl of Sandwich, who in 1762 discovered a snack that is now loved not only by the British. As you know, during the card game, the count did not want to get up from the table once more to eat. Therefore, he asked to serve him a portion of beef, placed between two slices of bread, which can be eaten without a knife and fork, simply holding it with your hands.
The best way to make and eat the perfect sandwich has been hotly debated for over 250 years. And now, it seems, these disputes have come to an end.
Butter, slices of dark bread, meat folded in half and sun-dried tomatoes
To put it briefly, this is exactly what Oxford Professor Charles Spence's formula sounds like. But in reality, everything is much more complicated.
According to him, in an ideal sandwich, all ingredients are arranged symmetrically. The place of wetter components is in the center. Among such components may be salad, tomatoes, gherkins or pickled onion.
"Wet fillings need to be sandwiched in the middle to prevent the bread from getting soggy," noted Professor Spence. And here's what's important: instead of assembling the sandwich from the bottom up, you should put both pieces of bread next to each other and add the filling one after the other.
Professor Alan Mackey agrees with Mr. Spence. "The point is to spread butter on both pieces of bread, put a filling on each slice and fold them together," he clarified.
Choosing bread, you should give preference to a loaf that does not get soggy. It can be, for example, sourdough, whole grain or brown bread.
"The main purpose of the Earl of Sandwich's invention is to keep hands clean, so the use of greasy bread such as focaccia is not acceptable," Professor Spence said. The slices should not be too thin, so as not to fall apart, but not too thick, because then they are difficult to eat. The ideal thickness is about 2 cm.
As for the obligatory fatty emulsion component on bread, it is needed not only for better taste. The fat layer creates a film that repels moisture and helps prevent the bread from getting soggy.
Mr. Spence says the best product for this is good quality butter. Margarine, which is a deeply processed food, is not acceptable. As well as mayonnaise, which, according to the professor, would be a "disgusting" component of a sandwich.
Butter should be taken at room temperature (20°C), because it is easier to spread it on bread. Meanwhile, meat and cheese, which also contain a large amount of fat, further prevent unwanted moisture from entering the slice.
According to Professor Maki, it is desirable to fold the meat in half: this will also create an additional barrier for moisture. Another precaution against getting wet is to wet the salad, gherkins and onions with a kitchen towel.
As for tomatoes, they are the most risky component of a sandwich, because they contain a lot of water, which can spoil the overall taste. Therefore, it is best to dry the tomato component in the oven or in a dehydrator.
Professor Spence gives great importance in creating the perfect sandwich lettuce. According to the scientist, this is perhaps the most important element that provides crunch when biting. And this sound is associated with a higher level of pleasure. It is not only pleasant for our hearing, but also signals the freshness of the food.
A sandwich becomes even more attractive when it uses as many colors as possible. "And the brighter the colors, the better," said Professor Spence in an interview with the publication Daily Mail. "Just think how boring tuna and mayo stuffing inside a white bread sandwich looks," the scientist added.
After all, Professor Spence warned, adding too many layers is not always for the best. After all, one should not forget that the sandwich must be bitten in some way. And before you bite into it, you should make sure that everything in this culinary masterpiece holds together.
