# 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:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/41 "2013-06-21T16:39:48Z")
Diagonal, because they taste better that way. Don’t ask me why. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/42 "2013-06-21T17:07:12Z")
Diagonally tastes better. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/43 "2013-06-21T17:09:33Z")
In practice, I don’t cut my sandwiches. So I answered “don’t cut my bread.” But if I did, it would be diagonally. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/44 "2013-06-21T18:05:37Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > :eek: A sandwich cut in halves _must_ be symmetrical! Thank goodness you grew up and saw the truth! Ironically, I find the symmetrically cut sandwich to be the ugliest method. But I cut my sandwiches that way in order to balance the amount of top crust and bottom crust in each half. By the way, I also cut my hamburger in half if it’s a full-sized burger. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/45 "2013-06-21T18:49:34Z")
Diagonal cuts are the way to do it. Much easier to eat. I will tolerate uncut sandwiches but I assume it is out of ignorance. You horizontal or vertical cutters are clearly misguided. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/46 "2013-06-24T00:28:32Z")
I find them easier to eat diagonal (maybe because I don’t eat the crusts). ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/47 "2013-06-24T00:30:36Z")
Cut my sandwiches down the middle, my toast diagonally. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/48 "2013-06-24T01:17:00Z")
Double diagonal for sandwiches. For some reason, cut like that, I could eat dozens of them. Pity I only ever have them at wakes though. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/49 "2013-06-24T01:35:01Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Double diagonal for sandwiches. For some reason, cut like that, I could eat dozens of them. Pity I only ever have them at wakes though. My God. Don’t tell me they’re salmon, egg salad, and ham. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/50 "2013-06-24T01:40:34Z")
Tuna salad sometimes too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/51 "2013-06-24T02:19:04Z")
I see no point in cutting sandwiches. Or toast. ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/52 "2013-06-24T03:17:35Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > I see no point in cutting sandwiches. Or toast. They’re cut to accommodate to how people’s mouths are configured in relation to the typical square shape of a sandwich. If you bite into a sandwich that has condiments on it, and both sides of the sandwich touch the edges of your mouth when biting it, you get condiment on the edges of your mouth. A sandwich that is cut diagonally gives you a smaller area to take the first bite, and subsequent bites can be made without also getting condiment on one’s face. Think of a sub with lots of mayo, mustard, whatever on it, and the biting it right in the center without it having been cut. It would be a mess. **The more acute angles a sandwich has, the easier it is to fit it into your mouth without the possibly messy ends touching the sides of your mouth.** ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/53 "2013-06-24T03:21:05Z")
My mother used to cut grilled cheese sandwiches on the double diagonal, and sometimes I cut them that way, as well. I always cut grilled cheese on at least one diagonal. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/54 "2013-06-24T14:28:54Z")
Cutting a sandwich makes me feel like a little kid who can’t handle a sandwich. I guess it’s necessary on those super-thick sandwiches that you get at restaurants, but actually making one myself seems too much work to be worth it for a convenience food. Plus you don’t have to dirty a plate if you don’t cut it. I’ve never even thought about cutting toast. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/55 "2013-06-24T15:02:01Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Cutting a sandwich makes me feel like a little kid who can’t handle a sandwich. I guess it’s necessary on those super-thick sandwiches that you get at restaurants, but actually making one myself seems too much work to be worth it for a convenience food. Plus you don’t have to dirty a plate if you don’t cut it. > > I’ve never even thought about cutting toast. Barbarian. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/56 "2013-06-24T15:33:57Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Of course diagonal. Who would cut down the middle like some kind of animal? You are wrong. The real animals are “people” who don’t cut their sandwiches at all. They are beasts – it’s a wonder they can even insert food in between two pieces of bread without gobblin’ it down first. Knives were invented to: 1. Stab people. 2. Spread peanut butter and (optionally) jelly. 3. Cut sandwiches in halves or quarters. Refusing to cut a sandwich is as bad as refusing to stab someone! ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/57 "2013-06-24T15:41:26Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > You are wrong. The real animals are “people” who don’t cut their sandwiches at all. They are beasts – it’s a wonder they can even insert food in between two pieces of bread without gobblin’ it down first. > > Knives were invented to: > > 1. Stab people. > 2. Spread peanut butter and (optionally) jelly. > 3. Cut sandwiches in halves or quarters. > > Refusing to cut a sandwich is as bad as refusing to stab someone! But **Boyo Jim** , when I make a grilled cheese (or a grilled ham and cheese) I use like three slices of American cheese! Thats one more than normal people use! Plus ham if it’s a ham and cheese. If I cut it, then the cheesy goodness falls out! If I don’t cut it, the cheesy goodness stays in and stays hot! Plus I pull the crusts off to give to the dog so it’s not like I’m chewing through crusts and stuff. But I’d never EVER refuse to stab someone. I’m not THAT barbaric. I mean REALLY! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/58 "2013-06-24T15:51:04Z")
Everyone cuts the cheese. EVERYONE!!! ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485/59 "2013-06-24T17:06:05Z")
many things to consider. for sandwiches the bread and the filling are factors. with a diagonal almost every bread is structurally weak at more point and only a thin goo spread like PBJ or melted cheese could survive. some breads are structurally weak because of thinness or crumbliness and would fail under their own weight. these need to be cut in half. some fillings are small like cuke or pickle slices, they need to be large to stay on the sandwich. if you cut the sandwich in half all those on the cut line are subject to premature fall out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandwiches-and-toast-prefer-cut-diagonal-or-in-the-middle/661485.md?page=2)