Wait. What? Americans don't put butter in their sandwiches?

[GoodOldEmmaNess]

How can this make sense? That's what butter is - the thing that goes in sandwiches. Can I take the blue pill and forget I ever read this?
https://www.theguardian.com/food/commentisfree/2023/sep/20/why-dont-americans-put-butter-on-their-sandwiches

I have knew or noticed this. Generally, I use butter in my sandwich. I found the sandwiches in the US nice - they seemed more similar to subway.

Is it even a sandwich if its not buttered??????

Thanks, and to the pp who also responded. International coffee culture is interesting!

What sort of cream would you put in coffee? I mean, are we talking like 50% fat or 20% fat?

And would you use it just for americano style drinks with a dash of cream, or is it also used for coffee drinks with a high dairy content like cappuccino or caffè latte? My coffee machine has instructions that semi-skimmed milk froths better than full-fat, which made me think that cream probably didn't froth well, but I haven't tried it (FWIW, I use both full-fat and semi-skimmed and haven't noticed a difference).

Sandwiches I have had in the US are filled with mayo far too much mayo or use it like butter

They also have crackers with soup 😬

What sort of cream would you put in coffee? I mean, are we talking like 50% fat or 20% fat?

I think the names and designations for cream in the US differ from those in the UK and the rest of Europe, but when I say cream, I mean what is referred to in the US as "heavy cream" or "heavy whipping cream." It's 36%-40% fat. I use this at home. In restaurants and coffee shops the highest fat content available to put in coffee is usually "half and half" which is a mixture of whole milk and heavy cream. It is around 18% fat or a bit less. We also use this at home.

I don't do frothy milk coffee drinks so I don't know what froths better. My standard coffee at home is a strong dark roast, with a splash of heavy cream, no sugar. If I'm out it's the same, but with a bit more half and half to make up for the lower fat content.

They also have crackers with soup

Indeed we do. Crushed up saltines floating in tomato soup. Yum. 😊

what on earth is wrong with crackers in soup

Normal crackers are no problem.

However, animal crackers are nothing but a pain, what with the monkeys and rabbits going loop the loop and having to drown the wolves, it is just totes exhausting, it’s enough to make your hair curl Shirl.

Thanks @CarolinaInTheMorning It sounds a bit rich for me, but I'd give it a go.

I never heard of crackers in soup, but we have croutons, and soup is pretty much always served with bread (which most people dip) so it's not as though we're strangers to the idea.

Love it.😆

I learned not to put butter on sandwiches from the Italians, but I sometimes do it, just the same.

I absolutely love crackers

but the clue is in the name they crack when eaten😁

they don’t when soggy in soup

I hardly eat bread at present have ryvita, water biscuits, butter puffs and ritz crackers but with soup it needs soggy bread that has been buttered

You realize how large the US is and some people put butter on a sandwich, ()grilled cheese outside on the bread to make the sandwich toasty) and in our house mayo on sandwiches with lunchmeat. Your way isn't the only way and isn't better or worse.

The only sandwich (butty) I don't put butter on is a bacon one.

And you Do realise @Momtotwokids that this is a lighthearted and interesting thread about the tiny cultural differences that make travel and interacting With other nations such fun. I’ve learned something on this thread and i Suspect others have too. I still think no butter on a sarnie is an abomination though! 😬

When I was a child I never had butter/spread on anything. Now I only have it on something hot, like fresh scones or toast (but not with peanut butter), or potatoes. I don't like it on sandwiches at all, it takes over the favour of the filling. However, I don't put mayo on sandwiches either.

And, I'm not an American.

Spot on, @BitOutOfPractice. I'm not sure how it is possible to take offence at this thread (but just in case of possible offence I praised the wonderful inventiveness of US fast food early on). Surely there are American websites that discuss non-American cultural habits in the same spirit of curiousity and fun with which this British website is approaching American styles of food preparation?

Pumpkin pie is delicious. If we are going to talk about abominations, what about vinegar on chips!!! I can't imagine anything more revolting.

I used to work for a sandwich business and all sandwiches were on buttered bread. It was block "Krona" and my job was to soften it in the microwave and butter 30 sliced loaves, then butter halved French sticks. The butter stopped the bread getting soggy and glued the sandwich together.

I thought krona is margarine, not butter. I definitely would not want that on my sandwich 🤢

Actually, I'd forgotten that Mumsnet would be a good place to ask this:

Since I've moved back to the UK I haven't found a butter I really like. My household buys Lurpak unsalted and is happy with it, I don't like it, even in the salted version; they also use a lot of Clover spread, which isn't real butter but tastes better than Lurpak IMO. Does anyone have any recommendations for something that doesn't cost the earth but tastes good? I like a lot of salt, good texture (easy to spread if kept at room temperature but doesn't melt through autumn and spring - I appreciate summer is different; I would consider a spreadable version to keep in the fridge if it were actually spreadable), and not super greasy.

What butter do you buy?

And who invented the abomination that is pumpkin pie.

We've tried various pumpkin pies over the years - even Pumpion Pie from 1670 recipe - but only pumpkin thing every really loved enough to make again - annually now - was pumpkin pie cheesecake - it's 1570 Italian recipe but is really good.

@Fink I don't have a refined butter palate having been brought up on margarine and other spreads but our milkman who we buy though sells Lakeland Dairies Pure Irish Butter and I like it.

Fairy bread is the best (and a massive hit at kids parties) Standard white sliced bread, buttered generously and sprinkled with 100’s and 1000’s. Or sugar strands or other cake sprinkles, and cut into triangles.

You can’t leave a slice of bread or toast unaccompanied in Holland for 5 minutes or they’ll put sprinkles on it! I believe it’s called Hagelslag which sounds unappealing to English speakers.

Friends from Holland gave us some of these sprinkles in different flavours and ds loved them. They come in cute little packs too. They were also impressed by ds’s love of milk with every meal 😊 though I draw the line if we have a Chinese takeaway it just seems wrong