{"id":22228,"date":"2022-12-26T08:00:58","date_gmt":"2022-12-26T07:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/?p=132330"},"modified":"2022-12-26T09:35:13","modified_gmt":"2022-12-26T08:35:13","slug":"how-to-make-the-ultimate-christmas-turkey-leftover-sandwich-according-to-science","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/how-to-make-the-ultimate-christmas-turkey-leftover-sandwich-according-to-science\/","title":{"rendered":"How to make the ultimate Christmas turkey leftover sandwich, according to science"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Dr Stuart Farrimond\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 26 December 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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After a typically indulgent Christmas dinner, you\u2019re usually left with a mountain of meat, stuffing, roast potatoes and the half-dozen pigs-in-blankets that not even Uncle Carl could squeeze in. Casting all this in the bin would be a profound waste and an environmental travesty: 1kg of food waste in a landfill produces the equivalent of 2.5kg of carbon dioxide emissions. There\u2019s only one thing for it: all those leftovers need to be eaten!<\/p>\n

Enter the Christmas leftovers sandwich\u2026<\/p>\n

You can forget the simple \u2018leftovers crammed between slices of white bread\u2019 recipe of yesterday, though. Nowadays, the \u2018Christmas sandwich\u2019 is the stuff of hipster coffee bars, delicatessens, supermarkets and corner shops alike. You can all too easily find yourself agonising over an endless choice of artisanal sandwiches, paninis and wraps loaded with prime turkey, organic sage and onion stuffing, and sickly-sweet cranberry sauce. There\u2019s even an annual Christmas sandwich festival in London, where top chefs showcase their best offerings.<\/p>\n

But in these belt-tightening times, it\u2019s reassuring to know that with a bit of food science, you too can turn what was once pauper\u2019s fare into a feast to rival the high street\u2019s finest offerings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Choose your bread<\/h2>\n

The first critical decision when you\u2019re constructing the ultimate Christmas leftovers sandwich, is the bread. And the trick is to keep it simple. You can shun the crusty bloomers and posh brioche \u2013 the filling is the star of the show here.<\/p>\n

My previous research has found that bread should be high quality but primarily serve as a soft, neutral vehicle for what\u2019s inside. The total thickness of the bread should be about the same as that of the filling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Butter is more important than you might think<\/h2>\n

To each slice add a generous 1-2mm smearing of butter, which excites fat receptors in the mouth and enhances flavour, but also provides a waterproof layer to protect the bread from any liquid seepage and unpleasant sogginess from the filling.<\/p>\n

Butter (which is more flavourful than margarine) allows flavour compounds to better disperse throughout and release their aromas, thus boosting the sandwich\u2019s overall enjoyment factor.<\/p>\n

The perfect size for the perfect sandwich<\/h2>\n

Always avoid the temptation to shoehorn as much as possible between those two slices. For maximum enjoyment, my research has shown that the total height of the sandwich should comfortably fit in the mouth, which works out at between 4.5cm and 5cm for most people\u2019s chops.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Add the turkey<\/h2>\n

Turkey is the centrepiece of the classic Christmas sandwich, which presents a challenge because it\u2019s perhaps the blandest meat going. Few people realise that turkeys are actually game birds, which have succulent and tasty meat \u2013 a far cry from today\u2019s oversized broiler birds that are bred for lean bulk rather than fat and flavour.<\/p>\n

A broiler turkey\u2019s unexercised muscle and absence of fat reserves creates the perception of dryness and blandness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Creating the perfect balance<\/h2>\n

As well as a goodly portion of fat (from the butter, if not the bird), a great sandwich relies on a balance of the basic tastes: sweetness, saltiness, sourness and umami. A steady hand is needed when applying the cranberry sauce \u2013 too much and it\u2019s game over.<\/p>\n

When the overall sweetness of each mouthful exceeds the equivalent of a 9 per cent sugar solution, food becomes sickly and unappealing. Stuffing is a must as it adds a little sweetness but also, and more importantly, gives much-needed depth \u2013 its sage and onion aromas waft up the back of the throat and into the nasal cavity, where it\u2019s experienced as a burst of herby flavour.<\/p>\n

Generally speaking, the more mouth sensations that are experienced with every bite, the more enjoyable the food is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t forget seasoning<\/h2>\n

A good grind of pepper will give some pungent heat to titillate the mouth \u2013 the irritating chemical in black pepper, called piperine, stimulates hot-pain nerve fibres in the same way chilli does to create the illusion of heat.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re feeling adventurous, add some leftover bacon for crunch and texture, an extra hit of saltiness and a powerful kick of umami \u2013 the savoury \u2018meaty\u2019 taste that makes soy sauce, Parmesan and cured meats so irresistible.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t use bacon and use unsalted butter, then season the meat with a sprinkle of salt. This amplifies all the flavours and boosts sweetness perception.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How many fillings should you include?<\/h2>\n

Forget all the trendy extras like Brie, chorizo, cabbage slaw and mayo. Research shows that a sandwich\u2019s deliciousness and structural integrity plummets when you have over four fillings (3.6 being the optimum if that were possible!).<\/p>\n

Serve with a side of salad for some freshness and much-needed healthfulness. Following the rules above, select your favourite ingredients and whatever you do, don\u2019t subject your family to the bland turkey horror that marred my youth.<\/p>\n

Final note: I recommend buying a heritage breed bird that has been bred to high welfare standards, if you want to discover real turkey flavour.<\/p>\n

Read more:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n