The Best Way To Assemble A Sandwich So It Doesn’t Fall Apart

It’s not that hard to throw a sandwich together, but being more strategic in your sandwich layering strategy could make the difference between a sloppy sandwich and one that keeps its ingredients together as it should.

NPR consulted Eat More Better author Dan Pashman for sandwich engineering advice. One of the best tips, when you’ve got ingredients that can slip out of your sandwich, is to create more friction:

“Give a lot of thought to the interior layering of your components,” [Pashman] says. In particular, “watch out for slippery components like sliced cucumbers, tomatoes and avocados.”

He calls this “the sliced cucumber conundrum.” But it can be solved with “the silver lining of greens.” Instead of keeping all the slippery ingredients together, Pashman recommends separating them with thin layers of greens in between to create friction.

“The other thing to take into account is the hardness or crustiness of the bread,” he says. The harder the bread, the harder the bite required and the more likely the inside ingredients are going to slip out under pressure.

Also, triangle sandwich shapes rule. While you’re at it, here’s how to protectively wrap your sandwich.

Check out the full post below for more delicious advice, including how to warm up a sandwich in a pop-up toaster.

Friction Can Save Your Sandwich, and Other Tips for Better Bites [NPR]