Bacon sandwich
A bacon sandwich (also known in parts of the United Kingdom and New Zealand as a bacon butty, bacon bap or bacon sarnie, and in parts of Ireland as a rasher sandwich) is a sandwich of cooked bacon between bread that is optionally spread with butter, and may be seasoned with ketchup or brown sauce. It is generally served hot. In some establishments the sandwich will be made from bread toasted on only one side, while other establishments serve it on the same roll as is used for hamburgers.
![]() A bacon sandwich | |
Alternative names | Bacon butty, bacon sarnie, rasher sandwich, bacon cob, bacon barm, bacon muffin |
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Type | Sandwich |
Place of origin | United Kingdom |
Serving temperature | Hot |
Main ingredients | Bread and bacon, with a condiment, often ketchup or brown sauce |
Variations | BLT |
Bacon sandwiches are an all-day favourite throughout the United Kingdom[1] and the Republic of Ireland.[2] They are often served in British cafes and delis, and are anecdotally recommended as a hangover cure.[3]
Variants
In 2007 researchers at Leeds University evaluated 700 variants of the sandwich, experimenting with different cooking styles, types of bacon, breads, oils, and special additions. Each variant was then ranked by 50 tasters. In conclusion, the best bacon sandwiches are made with "crispy, fried, and not-too-fat bacon between thick slices of white bread."[4]
Another study by the Direct Line for Business listed the top additions to the traditional bacon butty in England. Although the original was still the preferred sandwich, the next top contender was the "breggy" which adds an egg. The next popular accessory was mushrooms, followed by cheese. For sauces, brown sauce was slightly favoured over ketchup. However food writer Felicity Cloake recommends neither, favouring marmalade and mustard instead.[5][6]
The BLT is a popular variant of the bacon sandwich with the additional ingredients of lettuce and tomato, but served cold.[7]
In Ontario, Canada, peameal bacon sandwiches are a common variation, usually served on a soft kaiser bun, and are considered the unofficial dish of Toronto.[8]
Double Down
![](../I/KFC_Double_Down_%22Sandwich%22.jpg.webp)
A Double Down is a sandwich offered by Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). The Double Down contains "bacon, two different kinds of melted cheese, the Colonel’s 'secret' sauce... pinched in between two pieces of Original Recipe chicken fillets."[9] It is also available with grilled chicken fillets instead of the Original Recipe fried fillets. The KFC Double Down was initially test marketed in Omaha, Nebraska and Providence, Rhode Island.[10] KFC describes the Double Down as a "sandwich" although it does not have bread.
Fool's Gold Loaf
Fool's Gold Loaf is a sandwich made by the Colorado Mine Company,[11] a five-star restaurant in Denver, Colorado. The sandwich consists of a single warmed, hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with one jar of creamy peanut butter, one jar of grape jelly, and a pound of bacon. The name of the sandwich is derived from its price of $49.95. In later years, it was priced closer to $100 for the sandwich and a bottle of Dom Pérignon.
Health concerns
Numerous studies have showed a connection between processed meats and an increased risk of serious health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, various cancers, and cardiovascular disease.[12]
A study in 2007 conducted by the World Cancer Research Fund found that there was "convincing evidence" of a link between processed meats and an increased chance of cancer. Although no numerical value was provided for the risk, they did state that "people should not eat more than 500g of red meat a week."[13]
The World Health Organization released a warning concerning the sodium content in bacon. For 100g of bacon, there are approximately 1,500 mg of sodium.[14] Currently, the FDA reports that the average American adult should consume less than 2,300 mg per day. Too much sodium in the diet can lead to high blood pressure, which is a major cause of heart disease and stroke.[15]
![](../I/Bacon_Sandwich.jpg.webp)
See also
References
- Cloake, Felicity (2 June 2021). "The bacon butty is a uniquely British phenomenon – a cultural icon that unites us all". New Statesman. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
- Cloake, Felicity (7 March 2012). "How to cook the perfect bacon sandwich". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- "Bacon sandwich really does cure a hangover". The Daily Telegraph. 7 April 2009. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- Cowell, Alan (11 April 2007). "The Perfect Bacon Sandwich Decoded: Crisp and Crunchy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- Puckering, Charlotte (22 February 2022). "Southerner says bacon butties are best covered in marmalade rather than brown sauce or ketchup". Proper Manchester. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- "Food Writer Claims the Perfect Bacon Sandwich Should be Slathered in Marmalade". Men's Health. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- Olver, Lynne (20 March 2015). "Food Timeline FAQs: sandwiches". The Food Timeline. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
- Raskin, Robbie. "Regional Foods: Toronto's Peameal Bacon Sandwich | Stadium Journey". Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- Katelin Paiz Breadless sandwiches go to extremes September 17, 2009 Daily Titan (Cal State Fullerton)
- Scott Gold The KFC Double Down Archived July 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine: This Is Why the Terrorists Hate Our Freedom September 25, 2009 The Faster Times
- Often erroneously referred to as the Colorado Gold Mine Company
- Rohrmann, Sabine; Linseisen, Jakob (August 2016). "Processed meat: the real villain?". Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 75 (3): 233–241. doi:10.1017/S0029665115004255. ISSN 0029-6651. PMID 26621069.
- Spiegelhalter, David; Riesch, Hauke (2008). "Bacon sandwiches and middle – class drinkers: the risk of communicating risk". Significance. 5 (1): 30–33. doi:10.1111/j.1740-9713.2008.00277.x. ISSN 1740-9713. S2CID 153883682.
- "WHO issues new guidance on dietary salt and potassium". www.who.int. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
- Nutrition, Center for Food Safety and Applied (2 April 2020). "Sodium in Your Diet". FDA.
External links
- "Scientists 'perfect' bacon butty: Scientists have created a mathematical formula of how to make the perfect bacon butty". BBC. British Broadcasting Corporation. 9 April 2007.