Hello! I make sandwiches for lunch everyday and store them in a Tupperware container. By the time it's time to eat one side is soggy and the other side is crusty-ish. I drive all day so my sandwich is in a cooler with ice packs etc. I thought maybe it was bc I had turkey, cheese and banana peppers that was making it soggy by my bf said his was the same with pimento cheese, which prompted me to ask!...so anything we can do or anybody know why it does this? It's gross but I force it down anyway.
Thanks for your help!
I build my sandwich at lunch.
I think it is the container that causes the soggy crust. It happens when I use a container and is usually fine when I wrap in a lot of saran wrap or use a ziplock bag.
I VERY LIGHTLY toast the bread, just enough to give it a little firmness, especially if I am using white bread. I put my mayo, mustard, pickles, tomaotes, etc on the sandwich with the meat and cheese. I put tomatoes between a layer of meat and a layer of cheese. Have the meat and cheese in contact with the bread.
I carry my sandwiches in an insulated lunch bag with a blue ice pack and they are never soggy.
use a sandwich baggy.
?
khairete
S.
I think the container is definitely part of the problem. A baggy is much more effective. Make sure you squeeze out the air. If you are concerned about the sandwich getting squished (I always hated that) you can placed the bagged sandwich inside the container. But you really do need to bag it.
I like the suggestions to assemble your sandwich just before you eat it. That is quite effective.
There's a few tricks we've learned over the years:
1) take everything separately and assemble on your lunch break.
2) just pack soggy stuff separately (bread/cheese/meat is ok, pack banana peppers separately)
3) use dense whole grain bread (made a big difference for us)
4) use lettuce as a barrier so condiments don't make the bread soggy
5) put condiments in the middle (not my fave but I do it on occasion).
I don't know a Magic answer.
When I substitute teach, I store my sandwich in a ziplock bag OR like some teachers do, I separate bread, mayo, filling and when it's my lunch break I make the sandwich at that time instead of bringing from home ready made.
It depends on your time constraints. I know what you're talking about with 1 side soggy. I like ziplock to prevent that as much as possible.
M. when I'm packing sandwiches that won't be eaten for awhile I always put margerine on both pieces of the bread and that forms a barrier to keep the moisture from the sandwich fillings from getting into the bread.
If you put anything wet on your sandwich (mayo, mustard, dressing, tomatoes, pickles, peppers, etc.) it's bound to be soggy after sitting for several hours.
Keep your condiments separate until you're ready to eat.
Or be like me and pack "dry" sandwiches, my fave is a good salami and cheddar on a fresh baguette.
When I make a lunch sandwich with tomatoes or something else wet (pickles, whatever) I put those in a Ziploc and put them on right before I eat the sandwich. Tomato soaked bread grosses me out.
I also wrap mine in foil. Seems to keep it very fresh.
It might be the type of bread you're using. 100% whole wheat usually holds up well unless you're using liquid condiments. Rye is also a very sturdy option. White bread tends to get soggy quickly.
The different textures are because one side is exposed to air and the other is not. Try waxed paper, foil, or a sandwich bag.
I find sandwiches keep better in a Ziplock, or the breadbag or wrapped in wax paper before putting into the Tupperware.
Condensation is the cause. Ok, I see someone else pointed that out as well:)
Just place a folded cloth napkin between the ice backs and the sandwich container, or wrap the sandwich container in a tea towel/dishtowel. It will still stay cold but eliminate the direct contact.
You can place a folded napkin under the sandwich to capture the moisture, I do it for salads as well so that the lettuce doesn't go bad too fast. Also, wrapping the sandwich in a napkin may help keep the moisture even.
I do the same as It's Crazy with 5. It's moist where the bread hits the plastic and sits on it. I just fold a napkin or paper towel on the bottom of the Tupperware and put the sandwich on top. I also do this with my big salad Tupperware bowl I keep in the fridge, just throw a paper towel in with the salad and it soaks up the moisture so the salad doesn't go bad. Good luck!
Cold items draw moisture from the air, It's condensation. Like when you have a cold drink and the cup gets completely wet on the outside all the time. It's because it's like a magnet for all the moisture in the air.
I suggest you take all the parts of your sandwich and put them in separate bags and put it together when you get where you're going to eat.
It is water condensing because of the ice. It is going to get the side of the sandwich that is against the plastic first, then the meat side and last the top slice. Put your insides in a baggy in the cooler, bread in another baggy outside the lunch box. Toppings? be creative.
The big point as others have said is don't get the bread together with anything until it is time to eat.
It's probably the cheese.
I like to wrap sandwiches in waxed paper. Then into a Ziplock Baggie.
