When making a grilled cheese sandwich, you need to heat it up. For a turkey sandwich, you need space to pile on the fillings. And if you make an avocado sandwich, you often end up using a knife, spoon, and cutting board, which means more dishes to clean.
Where the Sandwich Got Its Name
The sandwich is named after John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich. The familiar story says he ordered meat between slices of bread so he could keep gambling while he ate. Some versions describe a 24-hour session at the gaming table, but the details are disputed.
The birthday connection is less clear, too. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography gives his birth date as November 13, 1718. Older accounts list November 3, the date now celebrated as National Sandwich Day.
People ate bread with fillings long before Montagu. His title gave the meal its English name, rather than marking the first time someone combined meat and bread.
Two Ways to Toast a Sandwich
Nostalgia MyMini Sandwich Maker
The MyMini has two five-inch nonstick cooking surfaces. Its shaped plates create two sections and help seal the filling inside the bread. You can use it for grilled cheese, hot ham and cheese, or pizza pockets. A preheat light signals readiness, and the cord wraps beneath the base for storage.
Buy Now
George Foreman 2-Serving Indoor Grill and Panini Press
This two-serving indoor grill doubles as a panini press for hot sandwiches. Its nonstick cooking surface handles grilled cheese or a turkey melt, while the slim design takes up less room on the counter. A drip tray catches runoff during cooking.
Buy Now
Advertisement
Tools for Slicing and Spreading
Norpro My Favorite Stainless Steel Spreader Knife
This small stainless steel spreader works with butter, soft cheese, dips, and other fillings. It’s a simple utensil for spreading cream cheese on bread or adding a layer of herbed cheese to a turkey sandwich. Norpro recommends hand washing.
Buy Now
OXO SoftWorks Handheld Mandoline Slicer
Thick onion slices can overwhelm a sandwich. This handheld mandoline has adjustable thickness settings for slicing toppings such as onions and cucumbers. It helps keep the pieces consistent when you’re preparing several sandwiches.
Buy Now
Jokari Avocado Pro
Jokari’s Avocado Pro cuts, scoops, slices, mashes, and spreads avocado. That means you can prepare slices for a BLT or mash avocado directly into a sandwich spread. The spoon and blade sit above the counter when set down. Magnets join the handles for storage, allowing the spoon to cover the blade. Both pieces are dishwasher-safe.
Read Exclusive Stories
Bookmark & Save Articles For Later
