BLT facts for kids
A BLT sandwich on toast
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| Alternative names | Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato | ||||||
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| Main ingredients | Bacon, lettuce, tomato, bread | ||||||
| Variations | Club sandwich | ||||||
| 352 kcal (1474 kJ) | |||||||
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A BLT is a popular type of sandwich. Its name comes from the first letters of its three main ingredients: Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato. You can make a BLT in many ways, depending on what you like best. Some people use different kinds of lettuce, or they might toast the bread. Adding mayonnaise is also very common.
You can even find different versions of the BLT. For example, some people use turkey bacon or tofu instead of regular bacon. Others might even leave out the lettuce completely!
People have been making sandwiches like the BLT since the early 1900s. But it only became super popular after World War II. This was because supermarkets grew, making it easier to find bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes all year round. Calling the sandwich "BLT" instead of saying "bacon, lettuce, and tomato" became common in the 1970s.
For a long time, the BLT was the second most popular sandwich in the US. It was also the favorite sandwich in the UK! In 2019, it moved to sixth place in the US, with grilled cheese becoming the most popular.
Contents
History of the BLT Sandwich
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Even though bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes have been around for ages, there aren't many recipes for a BLT before the 1900s. One early recipe from 1903 for a club sandwich included bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. It also had a slice of turkey between two pieces of bread.
The BLT really took off after World War II. This was because more and more supermarkets opened. This meant people could buy the ingredients all year, not just when they were in season.
The short name "B.L.T." probably started in restaurants in the US. It was a quick way for chefs to refer to the sandwich. It's not clear when the public started using the abbreviation. By 1958, a company called Hellmann's Mayonnaise was advertising their product as "traditional on bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches." This shows that the combination was already well-known. The abbreviation "B.L.T." became more common in the early 1970s.
How Popular Is the BLT?
A survey by YouGov shows that grilled cheese is now the most popular sandwich in America. Before 2019, the BLT was the second most popular sandwich in the US. It was also the favorite sandwich in the UK. In 2019, the BLT became the sixth most popular sandwich in the US.
In the United States, the BLT is less popular than the ham sandwich, roast beef sandwich, turkey sandwich, and grilled chicken sandwich. A poll in 2008 showed the BLT was still the "nation's favourite" sandwich in the UK. BLT sandwiches are especially popular in the summer. This is when tomatoes are fresh from the harvest.
Making a BLT: Ingredients and Preparation
The main ingredients for a BLT are bacon, tomatoes, and lettuce. These are usually placed between two slices of bread, which is often toasted. How much of each ingredient you use is up to you!
You can cook the bacon until it's very crispy or still a bit soft. Chefs often suggest using good quality bacon. This is because bacon "carries" the other flavors in the sandwich. Chef Edward Lee said that regular supermarket bacon might not be good enough for a perfect BLT.
Iceberg lettuce is a common choice for BLTs. It adds a nice crunch without changing the flavor too much. Some food writers even say that lettuce isn't needed at all!
Many people think the tomato is the most important part of a BLT. Author Michele Anna Jordan suggests using beefsteak tomatoes. These have more flesh and fewer seeds. Chef J. Kenji Lopez-Alt believes a BLT is really a tomato sandwich with bacon added for flavor. Because of this, he says the best BLTs are made with fresh, high-quality summer tomatoes.
Sometimes, people add dressings like mayonnaise to their BLT. You can use any kind of bread you like, such as white or wholemeal. You can also choose to toast it or not.
Different Kinds of BLTs
BLTs can have a lot of salt and fat. Because of this, some cafes try to make them healthier. They might use low-fat mayonnaise, low-salt bread, or less fatty bacon. Another common change is using turkey bacon instead of regular bacon.
One famous variation of the BLT is the club sandwich. This sandwich has two layers. One layer is usually a BLT. The other layer can be almost any kind of sliced meat, like chicken or turkey.
BLT in Culture
In 1963, a pop art artist named Claes Oldenburg made a sculpture called Giant BLT. It's a soft sculpture that looks like a huge sandwich. It's made of vinyl, kapok (a fluffy material), and wood, painted with acrylics. Every time it's moved, it has to be put back together, so it looks a little different each time.
People have also made giant BLTs to set world records! In 2003, Michele Anna Jordan helped create a BLT that was 108 feet (33 m) long. It was made at a tomato festival in California. The record was broken again in 2008 with a 146 feet (45 m) BLT. The current record is held by Bentley Dining Services for a BLT measuring 209 feet 1 inch (63.73 m) in 2009.
Images for kids
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A BLT sandwich on toast
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A BLT sandwich preparation
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A close-up view of a BLT sandwich
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BLT with avocado
See also
In Spanish: Sándwich BLT para niños
