Buns by the eight

Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
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I was actually making home made hamburger buns the other day and noticed another reason that probably figures into the situation.

Eight is two to the third power. “So?” I hear you cry. :confused:

While this is no longer a major consideration, with “batter-type” bread recipes in commercial use, the fact that dividing a single batch of dough by halves, three times, results in eight of the right size buns would be a motivator. Making ten would be far more awkward than 8, 9, or 12. I leave it as an exercise to the student why no one would intentionally set out to make 11.:dubious:

So, historically, there would have been a motivation for bakers to make buns by the eight (easier!) and it gained cultural inertia.

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Link to column: Why do hot dogs come 10 to a pack while buns are 8 to a pack? - The Straight Dope (Providing a link to the column in question is a courtesy to other readers, keeps us on the same page and saves earch time.)

Interestin’ comment, MacLir. Thanks!

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I believe the same thing is credited for the fact that an avoirdupois pound has sixteen “twelfths” (which is what “ounce” actually means).