Thin/Sandwich Sliced Bread Loaf

[Maroochydore]

Once upon a time I was able to buy a Thin Sliced loaf, may also have been called a sandwich sliced loaf.
Now-days I can only find Medium, Thick or Extra Thick (Toastie) loaves in the supermarket.
What happened to Thin?
I think Thin was so much better for sandwiches, less bread to filling ratio and also wonderful for crispy crunchy toast.
The cynic in me thinks thicker slices in a 800g loaf means we consume more bread thus need to buy more loaves.
Of course I could buy an uncut loaf but try getting thin slices with a consistent thickness on a DIY basis.
Is there a technical answer or is my cynicism spot on ?

[UncleEbenezer]

I'll most usually pick up a (granary) at the supermarket, and ask them to slice it. Most of them offer a choice of slice sizes. Among those I occasionally use, Morrisons offer thin sliced, while Sainsburys offers nothing below medium (borderline acceptable to me). Not sure if that would hold over all branches of a big chain.

I need it sliced because most of a loaf goes into the freezer.

[Nocton]

The cynic in me thinks thicker slices in a 800g loaf means we consume more bread thus need to buy more loaves.
Of course I could buy an uncut loaf but try getting thin slices with a consistent thickness on a DIY basis.

Yes, this has been a bugbear with us for ages. It also ensures the nation goes on getting fatter. The solution is to cut it yourself - you need to get a wide-bladed sharp knife with slightly serrated edge - you'll soon be good at it. Or as suggested, get it sliced. In my experience, small bakers' shops are usually best at slicing thinly. But it is all unnecessary extra faff.

[didds]

Morrisons' own plastic white and brown still do thin slices. Its not named as a such though. it just is.

didds

[didds]

I'll most usually pick up a (granary) at the supermarket, and ask them to slice it. Most of them offer a choice of slice sizes. Among those I occasionally use, Morrisons offer thin sliced, while Sainsburys offers nothing below medium (borderline acceptable to me). Not sure if that would hold over all branches of a big chain.

I need it sliced because most of a loaf goes into the freezer.

FTR... our morrisons is only medium or thick, so its presumably down to the slicing machine available rather than a national policy etc.

cheers

didds

[swill453]

TBH I find the supermarket store-baked 800g loaves, even granary and the like, very insubstantial and cotton-wool like. I much prefer Hovis sliced loaves, specifically Seed Sensations.

Scott.

[tikunetih]

Breadmakers

+ sharp knife

+ (optional) your own sourdough starter


Supermarket bread is, with few exceptions, pretty unappetising stuff. Also seems to dry out quickly, despite bread bin storage.


I understand Panasonic do a good breadmaker

[kempiejon]

FTR... our morrisons is only medium or thick, so its presumably down to the slicing machine available rather than a national policy etc.

cheers

didds

I had a loaf sliced at my Morrisons the other month - not a practice I usually engage in and when the lady asked me if I wanted medium or thick I asked how could there be a medium if she only had 2 sizes, I got a questioning look.

[Watis]

Breadmakers

+ sharp knife

+ (optional) your own sourdough starter


Supermarket bread is, with few exceptions, pretty unappetising stuff. Also seems to dry out quickly, despite bread bin storage.


I understand Panasonic do a good breadmaker

What he says, but with the sharp knife replaced by a rotary electric slicer. Your choice of slice thickness every time!

And since bread made in the bread machine contains no preservatives so won't keep for more than a day, slice the whole loaf and freeze it, then defrost slices as required for fresh bread every time.

Watis

[didds]

I had a loaf sliced at my Morrisons the other month - not a practice I usually engage in and when the lady asked me if I wanted medium or thick I asked how could there be a medium if she only had 2 sizes, I got a questioning look.

I know!!!!


didds

[tikunetih]

And since bread made in the bread machine contains no preservatives so won't keep for more than a day, slice the whole loaf and freeze it, then defrost slices as required for fresh bread every time.

We don't eat huge amounts of bread - and partner follows a 5:2 diet further reducing bread consumption - so we generally tend not to bake a loaf more frequently than every other day, but sometimes it might be 3 days between bakes...

Using a recipe that has a ratio of >=15g of oil (olive or rapeseed) to 350g flour seems to give a loaf that keeps OK in a bread bin. Certainly better than shop (inc bakery) bought/baked loaves, though clearly the "bread" that comes in plastic bags won't dry out much.

[Imbiber]

My handmade bread keeps for several days. Is there something about a breadmaker that affects the keeping qualities?

[Rhyd6]

As OH likes to bake bread, using the wonderful pani, I hasten to add and as I don't like thick bread we invested in an electric slicer. It's a godsend, nice thin slices of bread for sandwiches from freshly baked bread, what's not to like
I can't remember who on the board recommended the pani but I'm forever grateful.

R6

[UncleEbenezer]

I asked how could there be a medium if she only had 2 sizes, I got a questioning look.

Are you thick? The medium connects you with the ghost of thin!

[tikunetih]

An obvious downside of breadmakers, rotary slicers etc is the space they take up - not great in a small kitchen and/or one where countertop space is scarce.

[Watis]

An obvious downside of breadmakers, rotary slicers etc is the space they take up - not great in a small kitchen and/or one where countertop space is scarce.

You have a point, but as someone who is on their fourth Panasonic breadmaker (after nearly 30 years of making my own bread), I don't begrudge the space at all - it has earned its keep!

The slicer is optional but, even with practice, it is difficult to get slices of an even thickness with a bread knife.

Watis