Toasted sandwich; Butter the outside or not?

[MissChief]

My 13 year old son insisted I butter the outside of his Toastie on Monday morning. I must admit this was pretty alien to me as I've never done that in the past. Filling inside (usually Ham & Cheese. Or is it Cheese and Ham? Perhaps another topic for another time!) and into the pre heated Toastie machine.

So I tried it myself tonight and other than getting ICBINB on my fingers it did seem to taste a bit crunchier on the outside and still soft on the inside whereas sans external butter previously the bread goes quite hard in places and very chewy. So, buttered exterior on a toasted Sandwich? Yay or nay?

[Stu R]

Yes, always.

[jimmyjimjim]

Absolutely yes. Try beans and franks as the filling. Or SMALL quantities of marmalade - using EXTREME caution when eating as it'll be dangerously hot.

[vladcjelli]

We used to butter ours when using the toaster machine. Does feel a bit like fried bread rather than toasted though.

Toastie machine is relegated to the shed now, as all toasted sandwiches are cooked in a medium hot frying pan. No fat added, just a dry pan. Cooked on one side till browned, flipped and repeat.

Gives the bread a nice texture, superior to grilling or machining in our opinion.

[Pints]

Mrs Pints taught me this trick. After all these years I still forget to do it.

[redtwin]

When my Granddad made them for me 40+years ago in one of those contraptions you held over the hob burner he always buttered the outside. If making them now in a frying pan I will butter the outside, but if it's in the electric toasty maker I leave the bread dry as clean up is easier.

[craigjm]

I haven't had a toastie for years but I seem to remember as a teenager when Brevilles were all the rage that you buttered the outside to crisp them up and to make sure they didn't weld themselves to the toaster.

[Tanguero]

Always yes, but you need to use real butter not some blended homogenised flavoured vegetable oil/water emulsion.

[PBDirector]

vladcjelli said:

Toastie machine is relegated to the shed now, as all toasted sandwiches are cooked in a medium hot frying pan. No fat added, just a dry pan. Cooked on one side till browned, flipped and repeat.

yep. Plus upturned pint glass to cut a hole in the middle of the bread into which you crack an egg... then "seal" the top with grated cheese.

nom nom nom

http://cdn.instructables.com/FW8/7CJA/GDM6U656/FW8...

[Miguel Alvarez]

How in the fk have I lost a toaster. Reading this has made me think I quite fancy one then it's dawned on me there isn't one in the house. I bet the missus has lent it out to someone.

And yes butter always. Mmmmmmm cheese and onion toasty

[stewies_minion]

I'm a convert to the George Foreman school of toastie making.

Butter on the inside. Less mess.

Try peanut butter and jam/ No butter though. Heaven. Jam may be the temperature of the sun though.

[GCH]

PBDirector said:

yep. Plus upturned pint glass to cut a hole in the middle of the bread into which you crack an egg... then "seal" the top with grated cheese.

nom nom nom

http://cdn.instructables.com/FW8/7CJA/GDM6U656/FW8...

https://ape451.wordpress.com/2014/04/21/truffled-egg-toast/

[mph1977]

the toasted sandwich machines seem to do better with butter on the outside ...

doing them i nthe pan or on a george formby grill seems less critical ...

ditto using toast and then microwaving to melt the cheese in the feilling and heat through ( though probably doesn;t work with some fillings )

[ambuletz]

always butter. if not, when you toast the bread to the point of it going black it tastes foul.
Whever I add butter I like it when it turns to black.

[don4l]

MissChief said:

My 13 year old son insisted I butter the outside of his Toastie on Monday morning. I must admit this was pretty alien to me as I've never done that in the past. Filling inside (usually Ham & Cheese. Or is it Cheese and Ham? Perhaps another topic for another time!) and into the pre heated Toastie machine.

So I tried it myself tonight and other than getting ICBINB on my fingers it did seem to taste a bit crunchier on the outside and still soft on the inside whereas sans external butter previously the bread goes quite hard in places and very chewy. So, buttered exterior on a toasted Sandwich? Yay or nay?

I don't have toasties very often, but the Mrs tells me that I do have them buttered on the outside.

I'm not sure how she would react if I started to cook my own meals.

[numpty999]

mph1977 said:

the toasted sandwich machines seem to do better with butter on the outside ...

doing them i nthe pan or on a george formby grill seems less critical ...

ditto using toast and then microwaving to melt the cheese in the feilling and heat through ( though probably doesn;t work with some fillings )

Was he playing his Ukelele while sandwich was toasting ? (George FOREMAN) 'heh heh'

[sc0tt]

Yes of course.

[FiF]

I know he gets a bad press on here from some, but once you've made his ultimate cheese toastie, there really is only one way to do it. Sorry, all other ways are just inferior.

Jamie Oliver ultimate grilled cheese toastie

[rsbmw]

numpty999 said:

Was he playing his Ukelele while sandwich was toasting ? (George FOREMAN) 'heh heh'

3 years and that's your first post, on a 3 year old thread?? Top lurking sir

[Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah]

Yes, completely. I often use thin spread mayo instead, gives them a richer taste, and makes them more golden.