Food Theory: What Makes a Sandwich a Sandwich?

Now we just need to know if cereal is soup

“...and as dictated by common sense” - that is the most passive agressive way I’ve ever heard anyone call someone else “stupid”

14:55 "And as dictated as common sense" that roast was completely unnecessary... And I love it

Who’s coming back to watch MatPats old videos after knowing that his amazing theorising will come to an end, we’ll miss you MatPat

“Ketchup is not an acceptable topping to put on a hotdog”
Me: That sign can’t stop me because I can’t read

Can’t wait for the “Is Cereal a Soup?” Video

7:10 omfg i can die happy now having this sound bite
5:22 love the fact they accidentally found oswald

I love how he went through all of these eclectic sources in the pursuit of the definition of sandwich, only to end up citing the obvious source of definitions, a dictionary. Truly one the videos of all time.

Everyone: “It... it’s all a sandwich..?”
Tax regulators: *Cocks Gun* “always has been.”

Mat pat: spends hours figuring out what makes a sandwich a sandwich
Me: *Hey, Alexa*

The thing that really bothers me about this whole situation is that the US Department of AGRICULTURE apparently doesn’t deal with PLANTS

I adore this channel - its ability to cover so much interesting terrotory off such direct and simple prompts is to be commended.

MatPat: "According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council..."
Me: *Pauses video to question humanity*

During class, we started talking about ‘is pizza a sandwich.’ Oh boy, I was so ready for that debate, all thanks to MatPat.

There is 3 categories which every food can go:
-Sandwiches : A meal which you stack ingredients (you can have a sandwich of bread for example with 2 slices)
-Soups : Mostly liquid foods (can have a bit of solid food in it)
-Salads : One or a bunch of food you put together, in piece or not (a fruit is a salad of on ingredient)
Technically a hotdog is a sandwich, you can try with other foods, each of them can be in those categories.

My answer to those debates (is hotdog a sandwich, is cereal soup) is always 'if i ask for a sandwich, and you give me a hotdog, it doesnt matter what the dictionary says, it's simply not what i asked for'.

The rapid fire "IS THIS THING A SANDWICH" honestly made me want to curl up in a ball and cry because my entire life has been a lie

Instead of “everything is cake”, now it’s “is everything a sandwich?”

my definition of a sandwich: bread, something edible, bread. SIMPLE

Toppings on bread: Toppings which have 1 side covered: bottom
Sandwich: Toppings which have 2 sides covered: top and bottom
Taco: Toppings which have 3 sides covered: left, right and bottom
Wrap: Toppings which have 4-5 sides covered: top, bottom, left, right (and back)
A sausage is a taco. Very simple.

Me: It's all sandwiches?
Food Theory: Always has been.

Matpat: Ketcup is not on that list.
Me: NOT SCIENTIFICALLY POSSIBLE!

Would English captions be able to be added? I know it’s an old video but captions help sooooo much 💖🥺 even auto generated would be great with Mats great annunciation 👏

I think I found a very good definition for sandwich.
Any dish that when presented or eaten is traditionally of having a piece of bread on the top and a piece of bread on the bottom exquisite excluding. Examples such as burritos or other wraps

"People need to stop arguing if their hotdogs are sandwiches. Just eat your lunch."

Okay but seriously. When are we getting a "Conspiracy Theory" channel with that blue on the logo? Because that would probably be the best channel.

Love you man. You help me get through my work days!!! Also, eggs are classified as poultry products. So the USDA's definition would include egg sandwiches.. in my opinion. Would love to hear your thoughts.

Yesterday Next Level Chef did sandwiches for the main and I haven’t been able to stop thinking of THIS EPISODE since.

Me: *eats hot dog with ketchup*
National Hotdog and Sausage Council: *you weren’t supposed to do that*

Matpat before: "Who is the Purple Guy? Who is Golden Freddy?"
Matpat now: "IS A HOTDOG A SANDWICH?"

Just checked the Merriam-Webster dictionery and the defenition of a sandwitch is:
a: two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between
b: one slice of bread covered with food
so I guess that a hotdog is a sandwich

So if you need 2 pieces of bread then subway better watch out

Food theory: what makes a sandwich a sandwich?
Me: u just need to put something between two slices of bread

Mat : "A Conspiracy Theory"
Me: That's it boys. The circle is complete.

Matpat believe it or not I convinced my mom (who is an English teacher) to teach this video as as persuasive writing which she shared with the other english teacher and now your video is in google classroom for 7th graders 😂👍

this reminds me of the whole is jaffa cake a cake or a biscuit? thing from the uk a while back, they taxed differently so jaffa cake company were claiming cake but people were saying biscuits-its even sold in the biscuit isle! it went to court and they agreed that it's cake due to how it goes when stale

When everyone is talking about everything being a cake but then you learn everything is actually sandwich

That court case is outdated. Merriam webster now defines sandwich as "
1a: two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between
b: one slice of bread covered with food." A hot dog bun is a split roll.

Eating pizza while watching food theory is the perfect combo.

Hearing you say "That's just a theory. A conspiricy theory" made me laugh. When's the fifth theory channel coming?

Theory: MatPat is using this channel just so he can make a theory about Diet Coke

"Breaking News:
Cars now identify as sandwiches also!"

Love how you use Dolphin Mall for your food court image.

Here's my (albeit lengthy) definition of a sandwich:
(This definition is limited strictly to food, and not to sandwich-resembling items made in part or in whole of what an average person would not consider to be "food.")
1) A single- or multiple- portion of food, constructed on an individual unit basis. Individual portions taken from a larger whole must meet the same requirements to also be considered a sandwich, and must not in ordinary speech have a different name for a portion and a whole. (ex. a piece of a whole "pizza" is a "slice.")
2) An individual portion must be able to be held in its entirety in one or both hands for the duration of its consumption.
3) Must have an identifiable and distinct "top" and "bottom" when placed on a flat surface.
4) Must have:
A) THE CONTAINER
1) bread or other ingredient capable of containing the filling.
2a) two or more individual identical or complimentary pieces,
OR
2b) one unit split at least half of the way through so as to fill the gap with other ingredients, while resembling the appearance of that of a two-piece container.
3) Must not fully enclose the filling
4) Must function as the vehicle for the filling, and be the part which is held in the hands during usual consumption
B) THE FILLING
1) one or more ingredients other than that of the container that may be placed within the gap of the container or between the two or more pieces, and which does not compromise the structural integrity of said container for a reasonable amount of time before or during consumption.

Me: **hears that ketchup is not a condiment for hot dogs**
Also Me: **still do it**

"aye bruh what kind of sandwich you want"
"Chicken wing"

I brought the hotdog question to my school a few years ago, and there were actual fights breaking out because of it

So now a sandwich filling *needs* to be spread(able)? Not a chance!
It's also interesting that apparently no one has considered judging by different types of bread directly - for example I'd say unleavened bread should disqualify a foodstuff for the sandwich category.
I'd also like to include some geometry to make it really rigorous. Since apparently creating a single-slice "sandwich" and folding it would then un-make the sandwich as things currently stand!

I think the last channel should be "Conspiracy Theory" now.

Can’t wait for “after you shake a milkshake surely it should be called a milkshook”

I was the Quality Assurance Manager at a food plant that made both sandwiches and pizza. Per the USDA, their jurisdiction did NOT cover any of our products where the meat was covered by a bread product (sandwiches.)
However, they were very interested in any of our products where the meat was readily visible, e.g. a pepperoni pizza (NOT a sandwich.) 😜

Customer: "Can I please have some chicken wings?"
Tax collector: *"sammich"*

Matpat: “ Ketchup is not on that list, Mayo is definitely not on that list”
Me really loud: “what!?”

Everyone: Its all cake.
Food Theory: Nope! Its all sandwhich.

The captions are so wild at 7:19 it says “that just of rocky spirit with royal classic rent in just this week” and I started breaking down laughing when listening to this with no sound whatsoever 😂

NY also classifies sandwich because of food stamps, a food stamp user cannot buy prepared or hot case food. Oddly enough, stores in NY will put prepared fried and rotisserie chicken in the cooler case and then it's food stamp approved. Gotta love NY.

“Ketchup is not a condiment for Hotdog.”
Me: LIES!!

Matpat: "chicken wing" *shows drumstick/thigh*
Me: Is a drumstick a chicken wing?

I believe in the cube rule of food
Just one piece at the bottom and things on top is a toast, two pieces with toppings in between is sandwich, if it is in a u shape and toppings are inside is a taco, when the toppings are wrapped around the bread or whatever is a burrito or sushi, and finally if it is all covered and in the interior is the filling is an empanada, hope you are happy, if not... im happy to hear something better

I don't recall seeing butter in the tubs at Subway. Since they don't put butter on their rolls does that disqualify their product as a sandwich? I used to work at Burger King and while we used products like ketchup and mayonnaise I don't recall using any butter on our hamburgers or cheeseburgers. We even put fried fish fillets in a bun.
And how about those prepackaged products that include a layer of peanut butter or cheese between two crackers? Uncrustables (tm) ? Corn dogs? Hot Pockets (tm)? Pie with a top crust?
Proposal: At least three layers. Both outer layers or wrap a cooked grain product. Outer layers/wrap/coating MUST be cooked before adding the filling although post assembly toasting is allowed. NOT messy enough to require implements like a spoon or fork to eat (disqualify anything resembling chip beef and gravy on top of a slice of toast).

I still wonder to this day if the generic image of a man knows he’s in almost every MatPat theory video.

Anything: *has a confusing origin*
MatPat: "I'm about to end this man's whole career."

0:47 more then one type of buns if you know what i mean with those very certain benches...

The first part of matpat dialogue really just thru me to the floor laughing my A** off XD

People coming over from Film Theory:
“And that’s just a theory, a Fil-uhh-FOOD Theory

Whenever the bun annoyingly splits apart then the hotdog gets to become a sandwich

4:30
As someone who as a youngin consumed a good deal of Pan Con Mantequilla, that is indeed a sandwich MatPat

I swear I saw this video in my english class when we were learning about debates and what not. (I think it was about debates 💀 I was paying more attention to the video)
anywasy ty for the wonderful video

"Wait, it's all sandwiches?"
"Always has been."
*Inaudible gunshots because sound doesn't travel in space*

Everyone asks:
"Is a hot dog a sandwich?"
But no one asks:
"Is a sandwich a hot dog?"

9:27 this is EXACTLY what my McDonald’s order is (along with some fries) 😭

2 square or rectangle pieces of bread with any type of filling inbetween, sometimes cut into 2 triangles

Me: eating hotdogs with ketchup
FBI: *wait...... that’s illegal*

Everything’s a sandwich. Including humans:
Bones.
Meat.
Skin.
Technically sandwich

Sandwich isnt a broad group really, it is an "overflow" grouping meant to catch things that other terms don't catch. Wraps, tacos, hotdogs, they have names that fit them better that won't confuse anyone when you ask for one. Terms only have meaning when they have utility and if someone who wants a quesadilla doesnt ask you to make them a sandwich, then calling one a sandwich has no utility.
And "open face sandwich" isn't a thing.

13:41
Yo matpat, you making new characters for skibidi toilet?! I thought it was dead!

Internet: “Is a hot dog a sandwich?”
Tax Collectors: “Yes.”
Massachusetts + MatPat: “No.”
Me: “Yesn’t.”

Next time on food theory, “Is mayonnaise an instrument?”

I would just like to point out the definition used at the end excludes meatball subs because they arent thin. While I'm not sure whether I'd define a hot dog as a sandwich, I see no reason a meatball sub should be excluded from the definition. It *is* a sandwich

"If the Sun's out, buns are out" -MatPat; 30th July, 2020.

Matt: "is the kfc double down a sandwich?"
me: no, its a entrance to cardiovascular diseases

MatPat: ketchup isnt supposed to go on hotdogs, apparently.
Sans: *why are we still here...? Just to suffer? Every night?*

I love your videos :)

i found a definition that is different not that different though still two pieces only.
sandwich:
an item of food consisting of two pieces of bread with meat, cheese, or other filling between them, eaten as a light meal.

Everyone: debating on what's a sandwich
Me: Matpat said "Worcester" wrong

When people ask me the go to ice breaker question: “if you had to eat only one food for the rest of your life what would it be?” And my answer is ALWAYS pizza because if you fold it in half and cut in the middle, it’s a sandwich. If you fold it in half but not all the way, it’s a taco. If you roll it, it’s a taco. You shred it up, it’s a salad. I guess it’s kinda a loop hole, because a pizza can have any toppings

my definition of a sandwich is any kind of item that's in the middle of one or multiple bread products. Meat, Veggies, condiments, if anything is in the MIDDLE of a bread-based products, it's a sandwich.

When the definition says, "buttered" it could be defined as applying a spread (a verb), and any soft condiment, not necessarily the dairy product we refer to as butter. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is a sandwich. A Pastrami on rye with mustard is, yes, a sandwich.

Next up:
"Is water wet?"
"Does a straw have one or two holes?"

“How the sausage gets made”
*inhale*
*”nO ONE REALLY KNOWS HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED, THE ART OF THE TRADE, HOW THE SAUSAGE GETS MADE”*

All poultry products aren't necessarily meat unless I was breaking all kinds of rules with my egg salad sandwiches back when I was trying to be a vegetarian.
That said, happy to see someone else overthink something as much as I do sometimes! Entertaining video!

matpat: "what about open-faced sandwiches"
me: "a what now"

I know this is kinda silly but, “Does an apple a day ACTUALLY keep the doctor away”? Just a suggestion. Loved the vid!

Judge: "Two slices of bread"
Me: [Cries in Sub/Hoagie]

Some of those definitions, I could literally put two pieces of bread on each side of a TV and it would be a sandwich

Don't know if anyone from my ED200 class is here, but I'm glad this argument was settled correctly.

How have you ignored the historical namesake? According to Wikipedia:
"The sandwich is named after John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, an eighteenth-century English aristocrat. It is said that he ordered his valet to bring him meat tucked between two pieces of bread. It is commonly said that Lord Sandwich was fond of this form of food because it allowed him to continue playing cards, particularly cribbage, while eating, without using a fork, and without getting his cards greasy from eating meat with his bare hands."
This should at least be considered when defining sandwiches. Clearly a hot dot with moderate condiments could be consumed whilst playing cribbage.

That intro is the most meta intro yet
Edit: A hot dog would truly be in hufflepuff

7:12
That should be the next channel MatPat makes.

My take on this is that for it to be a sandwich it needs carb and then protein and then carb. An open faced sandwich is a "Sope"(spanish). This means that depending on if you cut all the way through the bun when putting the sausage inside, a hot dog *could* be called a sandwich.