Bacon & Tomato Sandwich Toasted One Side

Two questions will inevitably come to mind. “Why?” and “How?”

WHY?

First the “why? Why toast the bread on just one side? Before we can answer this question we should first ask, “Why toast the bread at all?” Aside from toasting stale bread to make it more presentable, toasting bread puts it through a scientific process called the “Maillard Reaction”. 

Without getting bogged down on exactly what the “Maillard Reaction '' is, let's just accept that it's the same scientific process that occurs when searing steaks, frying dumplings, baking cookies and biscuits and even toasting marshmallows as well as many other foods to give them their distinctive flavours. It’s a bit like caramelisation.

If that’s not a good enough explanation for you, you are welcome to peruse this chart or Google the “Maillard Reaction” for yourself while the rest of us are enjoying our “Bacon & Tomato Sandwiches Toasted One Side.” 

The “Maillard Reaction” aside, some sandwiches are still best made with fresh bread like peanut butter and banana or tuna sandwiches while others are traditionally enjoyed toasted, like bacon and tomato.

But who says you have to give up one for the other? Toasting bread on one side is the optimal method for making toasted sandwiches. With the outside of the bread slice toasted and the inside soft, it offers the best of both worlds.

In fact, you’re probably already making some sandwiches that are toasted on one side without even thinking about it. Grill Cheese Sandwiches for example or sandwiches cooked in your Panini Press only toast one side of each slice of the bread or bun used.

HOW? 

This brings us to the “How?” How do you toast bread on just one side? There are several ways to do this.

You could prepare your Bacon & Tomato Sandwich as you would a grill cheese sandwich but do you really want to make the tomato soggy? Here's some other ways to toast your bread on one side.

1. Dig out your Grandmother’s old manual toaster that only toasted one side at a time. Be certain

   

   you have an electrician check it out first for loose and frayed wires.

2. Unplug the toaster you have, disconnect and bypass the heating elements on the inside of the toaster between the bread slice portals so that only the outside elements will toast your bread. You might want to have an electrician or qualified Toaster Repairman perform this procedure. Of course this will render your toaster from ever toasting both sides again.

3. If your bread is thin enough, you can put two slices in one slot in the toaster allowing it to toast the outsides of each slice while leaving the insides fresh. As an added bonus, you can toast 4 slices of bread at a time using this method.

4. This is my preferred method as described below in the recipe. After removing the cooked bacon in the frying pan, toast one side of each slice of your bread in the bacon grease. As an added bonus, the bacon grease will also help enhance the flavour of your “Bacon & Tomato Sandwich Toasted One Side.”

So if you’re ready, with no further ado, let’s get started.  

Stuff You’ll Need::

• 2 slices of bacon

• 2 slices of bread

• butter

• mayo

• 1 slice of cheese

• 1 slice of tomato (2 if it’s not large enough to cover the surface of the bread)

• salt & pepper

Do This:

1. Cut the slices of bacon in half and cook on medium in a frying pan.

2. When cooked, remove and set on a paper towel to absorb the grease.

3. Leave the grease in the frying pan.

4. Toast 1 side only of both slices of bread in the bacon grease left in the frying pan.

   

5. Spread butter on the fresh side of one slice of bread and mayo on the fresh side of the other slice.

6. Place bacon, cheese and tomato on one slice of bread.

7. Add salt and pepper on the tomato.

8. Cover with the remaining slice of bread and cut in half to enjoy.

Tip: When I don’t have a nice fresh tomato for my sandwich I will sometimes substitute a bit of Ketchup.