# Is this a Canadian thing? (Putting butter on both sides of sandwich bread) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 27, 2014, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271 "2014-12-27T08:49:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/21 "2014-12-27T17:04:45Z")
My father did this. He told me, in all seriousness, that the US army had an official manual for how to make sandwiches which said to do so. The reason is supposedly to prevent juices from soaking into the bread. Which just goes to show how much the US Army knows. The bread is supposed to soak up juices-- That’s what it’s there for. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/22 "2014-12-27T17:09:48Z")
My Dad did this for basically everything that went between bread. That’s midwest US without only the W in WASP applying. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/23 "2014-12-27T17:12:26Z")
I can see doing it to keep the bread from getting soggy, but I have a weird butter aversion, and don’t do it. Mayo and real mustard for me. 100% Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/24 "2014-12-27T17:21:07Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > My father did this. He told me, in all seriousness, that the US army had an official manual for how to make sandwiches which said to do so. The reason is supposedly to prevent juices from soaking into the bread. > > Which just goes to show how much the US Army knows. The bread is supposed to soak up juices-- That’s what it’s there for. Your logic is unassailable, yet I know of restaurants who use mayo as a barrier to keep their flavorless bread from absorbing any quality of deliciousness. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/25 "2014-12-27T17:36:28Z")
Sandwiches should be buttered. Though it need only be on one slice of the bread. Two is fancier, I admit. Hamburger buns should be buttered before putting other stuff on them too. QtM, Midwesterner. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/26 "2014-12-27T17:53:40Z")
I am Canadian and I don’t really see this at all. You butter toast for breakfast but not for any sandwich. That’s what mayo is for. Never in my life have I seen someone buttering a frigging hotdog bun. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/27 "2014-12-27T18:44:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > My father did this. He told me, in all seriousness, that the US army had an official manual for how to make sandwiches which said to do so. The reason is supposedly to prevent juices from soaking into the bread. > > Which just goes to show how much the US Army knows. The bread is supposed to soak up juices-- That’s what it’s there for. You don’t want the bread soggy, you numptie. That way madness lies. A sandwich is supposed to be held. You do not want to hold a soggy sandwich. Consider yourself told. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/28 "2014-12-27T18:50:33Z")
Why the hell are you buttering (meaning putting a spread of some sort, not necessarily butter) your bread if you’re not going to do both sides? That’s like tarring only one side of a boat. ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Barking\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Dog)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/29 "2014-12-27T19:05:07Z")
Nope, never heard of that before. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/30 "2014-12-27T19:08:37Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > Why the hell are you buttering (meaning putting a spread of some sort, not necessarily butter) your bread if you’re not going to do both sides? That’s like tarring only one side of a boat. I’m adding flavor, not looking for symmetry. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/31 "2014-12-27T19:27:27Z")
I’m still confused: Butter in addition to mayo or some other spread -or- Butter instead of some other spread? It wouldn’t seem all that odd to me to use butter instead of another spread, but mainly if the bread was toasted. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/32 "2014-12-27T19:29:25Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > You don’t want the bread soggy, you numptie. That way madness lies. > > A sandwich is supposed to be held. You do not want to hold a soggy sandwich. > > Consider yourself told. You really think butter is blocking other juices though? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/33 "2014-12-27T19:43:28Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I’m still confused: Butter in addition to mayo or some other spread -or- Butter instead of some other spread? > > It wouldn’t seem all that odd to me to use butter instead of another spread, but mainly if the bread was toasted. Instead of. And toasted doesn’t matter to me. Using nice soft, spreadable lightly salted butter, produced locally, on bread is delicious. We don’t keep it in the fridge but on the counter. Never lasts long enough to spoil. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/34 "2014-12-27T19:48:02Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Buttered sandwiches are also a WASP stereotype. My mother used margarine. It’s to build a healthy layer of blubber for the Minnesota and Canadian winters. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/35 "2014-12-27T20:00:23Z")
I thought the stereotype was that we put mayonnaise on all of our sandwiches. It mostly applies to me. I certainly had butter or margarine on sandwiches as a kid, but I don’t make them that way. My dad would make my lunches to bring to school, which would often feature a cheese sandwich: cheddar cheese and a bit of margarine. > [@davidm](#): > > Even things like cinnamon buns got buttered. I think that butter goes well on cinnamon buns, assuming that they’re warm enough to melt the butter. I’ve also tried buttering hot dog buns. It’s not bad. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/36 "2014-12-27T20:28:55Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > You really think butter is blocking other juices though? It helps. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/37 "2014-12-27T20:53:56Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I’m adding flavor, not looking for symmetry. Yeah, when I do spreads or condiments of any kind, it’s always just on one of the slices of bread, so far as I can think (mayo, cream cheese, peanut butter, mustard, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/38 "2014-12-27T20:55:41Z")
I don’t want to be around you people when the sandwich inevitably comes apart. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/39 "2014-12-27T21:23:07Z")
No, can’t think of any sandwich I’d put butter on. But then any cold sandwich I’m likely to eat will have mayo and mustard on it so I’m not exactly eating it dry and without fat. Hot sandwiches usually have melted/melty cheese on them so while no butter, almost every sandwich I’ve ever eaten has had a liquid-ish fat on it. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271/40 "2014-12-27T21:24:50Z")
Cyros nailed it. Without butter/margarine as a moisture barrier, unless you’re going to eat it straight away, the bread will suck all the crispy out of the lettuce, or fall apart from absorbing juice from tomatoes, etc. Without a moisture barrier any mayo, mustard etc will get fully absorbed into the bread negatively affecting its yumminess! Of course both sides are buttered! As it should be. Now you know. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-canadian-thing-putting-butter-on-both-sides-of-sandwich-bread/708271.md?page=3)