# Sandwiches and toast prefer - cut diagonal or in the middle? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485 "2013-06-20T17:16:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/21 "2013-06-20T19:28:44Z")
Sandwiches diagonal, toast not cut at all unless it’s topped by something soggy like baked beans which means it stays on the plate and is cut into bite sized pieces. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/22 "2013-06-20T19:50:33Z")
Cut twice diagonally for sandwiches that are going to be dipped in soup. Once diagonally for everything else unless I need to fit it in a tupperware or something where a triangle doesn’t make as much sense as rectangles. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/23 "2013-06-20T20:16:35Z")
Down the middle for a big sandwich; otherwise (and for toast) not cut at all. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/24 "2013-06-20T20:28:53Z")
Grew up in a home where they were cut down the middle, I still do it this way out of habit. The diagonal cut, when encountered in diners and other fine establishments, always seems exotic and thrilling. Every once in a while, if I am feeling FANCY, I will cut my sandwich at home on the diagonal. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/25 "2013-06-20T20:56:19Z")
I voted diagonal, but I generally do not cut my sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/26 "2013-06-20T21:02:04Z")
Homemade sandwiches don’t get cut. However if I could make Grilled Cheese sandwiches they would be cut diagonally. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/27 "2013-06-20T21:03:53Z")
If I cut, I cut diagonally. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/28 "2013-06-20T22:25:28Z")
Sandwiches, folded. Toast, whole. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/29 "2013-06-21T05:49:06Z")
> [@Missy2U](#): > > It depends on the sandwich, who made it, a lot of different things. > > For example if I go and have a grilled cheese sandwich in a restaurant, diagonal. But if I make it at home, I don’t cut it all all, I eat it whole because I put more cheese in homemade grilled cheeses than in a typical restaurant grilled cheese. > > Peanut butter sandwiches get cut in the middle. > > Bacon sandwiches don’t get cut. I knew it! YOU’RE the lady that works the sandwich hotline and calls herself “Croque Madame”. If you made me a Monte Cristo, it would really count. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/30 "2013-06-21T07:21:19Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I see a lot of people cutting their sandwich down the middle. Both ways are “down the middle.” Anyway, I don’t cut mine; they’re usually too small already. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/31 "2013-06-21T07:29:48Z")
Diagonal when the crust is going to be dipped in egg. Otherwise straight across. I’m a rebel. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/32 "2013-06-21T13:26:38Z")
My mom always cut on the diagonal but I thought sandwiches would be better cut up and down into left and right halves. Of course my mother refused to do that which why I am scarred today! But every once ina while she would cut into 4 triangles which was way cool. I still do diagonal, and after making the cut I remove the crust from the rounded half. I hate crusts. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/33 "2013-06-21T13:32:06Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > Depends. if it’s a bulky sandwich, the pointy ends don’t have enough structural integrity to support the filling. > > Otherwise, if I’m fixing a sandwich for someone else I’ll cut it diagonally because presentation is important. If it’s my sandwich I don’t cut it at all, but tear it in half and then break bites off. I was gonna say diagonal, but after reading this I agree with you. If “structural integrity” is gonna be an issue (e.g. egg salad), you have to have the straight cut. If it’s a sammich with low fally-aparty potential, a regular ham or turkey or grilled cheese or whatever, diagonal. Diagonal gives you more variety in the sandwich. Mixes it up a bit. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/34 "2013-06-21T15:00:10Z")
I voted “other” because I like my sandwiches on the diagonal but my toast vertical (or in soldiers if paired with a nice soft-boiled egg but that’s a corner case) ---
**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:** [June 21, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/35 "2013-06-21T15:56:39Z")
Of course diagonal. Who would cut down the middle like some kind of animal? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/36 "2013-06-21T16:06:12Z")
Diagonal. People with facial hair generally prefer not to get sandwich gook all over the moustache, and a diagonal cut minimizes sandwich/hair contact. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/37 "2013-06-21T16:08:49Z")
Sorry, but when someone cuts a sandwich diagonally they lose any sandwich aficionado cred they may have had. To maintain the sanctity of the sandwich it must be left in its original shape until consumed. If you feel you must cut a sandwich, do it in a way that preserves the original shape as closely as possible. And don’t talk to me about _shudder_ dipping your grilled cheese sandwich in tomato soup. Ruins the soup and the sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/38 "2013-06-21T16:11:30Z")
Why do you hate America, Doug? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/39 "2013-06-21T16:13:19Z")
I like diagonal, but for some reason I always cut across the middle when I’m making them myself. That’s just how I grew up doing it. Maybe I should switch… Edit: BTW apparently it’s considered bad luck to cut your bread into triangles on board a ship. Or so I heard. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/40 "2013-06-21T16:36:39Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > When I was a kid, I was raised to cut sandwiches straight across into **a quasi-semicircular top half and a rectangular bottom half**. When I moved out on my own, I experimented with diagonal slicing, but now I slice my sandwiches into **a left half and a right half**. :eek: A sandwich cut in halves _must_ be symmetrical! Thank goodness you grew up and saw the truth! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485.md?page=3)