The BLT sandwich is a classic and beloved sandwich combination consisting of bacon, lettuce, and tomato. While the core ingredients are straightforward, questions often arise regarding what additional condiments and toppings make for the perfect BLT. Specifically, people wonder if mayonnaise and mustard belong on a BLT sandwich. There are arguments on both sides of this debate, with traditionalists arguing for the simplicity and purity of just bacon, lettuce, and tomato, while others enjoy the added flavor and moisture that condiments like mayo and mustard provide. This article will explore the history of the BLT, examine the role condiments play in sandwiches generally, look at the pros and cons of adding mayonnaise and mustard to a BLT, and provide a recommendation based on evidence and reasoning.
History of the BLT Sandwich
The BLT sandwich has murky origins, but most food historians agree it likely became popular in the United States some time between the 1920s and 1940s. In the postwar period, bacon became more readily available to the public rather than being mostly reserved for military uses. At the same time, fresh lettuce and tomatoes were gaining popularity and becoming more uniformly available across the country. The combination of salty bacon, crunchy lettuce, juicy tomato, and toasted bread satisfied American tastes.
The earliest known mention of a “B.L.T” sandwich was in a 1963 community cookbook from northern Illinois. While the initials likely referred to bacon, lettuce, and tomato, the sandwich quickly gained nationwide recognition throughout the 1960s and 70s. The BLT became a lunch staple and classic sandwich choice on diner menus across the U.S.
In the early days, BLT toppings were minimal, allowing the core ingredients to shine. As American sandwich culture grew more elaborate in the 1980s and 90s, popular consensus shifted towards loading up sandwiches with more fixings like cheese, avocado, salad dressings, pickles, etc. So the question arose – should BLTs also adopt extra toppings like mayo and mustard?
The Role of Condiments in Sandwiches
Condiments like mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, relish, etc. are commonly used to add moisture, creamy texture, tangy flavor, and zip to sandwiches. Here are some of the roles condiments play in sandwich-making:
- Bind and moisten dry ingredients
- Provide smooth, creamy texture contrast to other crunchy or firm ingredients
- Enhance and balance strong flavors like heavily salted or spiced meats
- Add a tangy, bright, acidic flavor profile
- Provide color contrast on the plate
- Allow customization and flexibility in flavor
Given these benefits, condiments have become a standard sandwich accessory for many types of subs, burgers, hoagies, and more. However, when it comes to simple classics like the BLT, opinions diverge on whether condiments improve or detract from the core experience.
Pros of Adding Mayo to a BLT
Here are some of the potential benefits of adding mayonnaise to a BLT sandwich:
- Adds moisture and prevents dryness – The thick, creamy texture of mayo can help bind the BLT ingredients together and keep the bread or bun from drying out.
- Smooths flavor contrasts – Mayo can help mellow out the saltiness of the bacon and acidity of the tomatoes for a more cohesive bite.
- Provides richness – The egg yolks in mayonnaise add a rich mouthfeel and flavor that brings another dimension to the crunchier BLT ingredients.
- Enhances spreadability – Mayo helps the other BLT ingredients spread smoothly across the bread with less slipping.
- Easy option everyone has on hand – Mayonnaise is a common refrigerator staple, so it provides an easy option to dress up a BLT without extra ingredients.
- Familiar standard people expect – Adding mayo to sandwiches is such a widespread practice that people are used to and expect that flavor profile.
Overall, mayo brings its cooling, rich texture and subtle flavor to balance out the BLT combination. For many people accustomed to mayo-laden sandwiches, its absence in a BLT would feel like something missing.
Cons of Adding Mayo to a BLT
However, there are also some drawbacks that mayonnaise detractors point out when arguing against adding mayo to a BLT:
- Obscures individual ingredients – Mayo can coat the ingredients and make their distinct textures and flavors less pronounced.
- Adds unnecessary calories – Mayo adds around 90-100 extra calories per tablespoon, which some may wish to avoid.
- Can make the sandwich too slippery – Too much mayo can act as a lubricant and cause BLT ingredients to slide out with each bite.
- Alters the classic – Purists argue the simple bacon, lettuce, tomato formula doesn’t need fixing.
- Risks taking over the sandwich – Stronger flavored mayos or too much mayo could overpower the other tastes.
- Not everyone likes mayo – Given mayonnaise’s divisive taste, some argue BLTs should be mayo-optional to satisfy more preferences.
So for those who want to focus just on the essence of salty bacon with cool lettuce and juicy tomato, mayonnaise may seem like an unnecessary addition.
Pros of Adding Mustard to a BLT
Like mayonnaise, mustard is also a condiment some people feel elevates a BLT:
- Adds texture contrast – Grainy mustard adds more variation compared to the soft tomato and lettuce.
- Piquant flavor – Spicy and tangy mustard varieties lend strong flavor for balance.
- Pairs with tomato acidity – The vinegar undertones in mustard complement the tomato.
- Cuts richness of bacon – Mustard’s tang cleanses the palate from fatty bacon.
- Adds visual appeal – Yellow mustard brightly stands out next to red tomato and green lettuce.
- Traditional pairing with ham – Bacon and ham are similar, so mustard is a natural fit.
For those who grew up putting mustard on their bologna or ham sandwiches, it feels like the right condiment to liven up a BLT.
Cons of Adding Mustard to a BLT
On the other hand, here are some of the downsides that people consider when debating mustard on a BLT:
- Strong mustard overwhelms – Powerful mustard flavors can overtake the bacon, lettuce and tomato.
- Makes sandwich too wet – Mustard’s vinegar content can further moisten the already juicy tomato and lettuce.
- Redundant with ketchup – Some argue ketchup already fills the role of a sweet, tangy condiment.
- Bacon renders it unnecessary – Since bacon has such robust flavor, you may not need extra condiments.
- Difficult spreading consistency – Grainier mustards can tear up delicate lettuce leaves.
- Too many competing flavors – Simple highlights the three core ingredients better.
For those who want to let the straightforward taste of quality bacon take center stage, mustard introduces an extra variable that muddies the purity of a BLT.
Recommendation
Based on this examination of the evidence and reasoning on both sides, my recommendation is to add mayonnaise OR mustard to a BLT based on personal preference, but not both.
Here is a summary of the rationale:
- Mayo and mustard both provide pros and cons, so neither is clearly better or worse for a BLT universally.
- Having both mayo and mustard risks overcomplicating and overpowering the core ingredients’ flavors.
- Letting the maker decide on either mayo or mustard allows customization for individual tastes.
- Bacon, lettuce, and tomato already provide diverse textures and flavors, so condiments are optional rather than essential.
For those who enjoy the rich, cooling creaminess of mayonnaise, that addition can nicely complement the BLT. For those who prefer the zesty, acidic punch of mustard, its vinegary tang can accentuate the tomatoes. But to preserve the star ingredients of a BLT, both condiments are not necessary.
So in summary, the recommended answer is that either mayo OR mustard may be added to a BLT, but both are not required to fulfill expectations. The essence of a BLT is well-cooked bacon, fresh lettuce, and ripe tomato between bread, with or without a condiment. Customize to taste and preference, but don’t overcomplicate this iconic sandwich!
Conclusion
The BLT strikes an ideal balance between salty, cool, crunchy, juicy, and soft. While many enjoy the addition of mayonnaise or mustard, the secrets to BLT perfection are quality ingredients, proper assembly, and cooking the bacon just right. With premium bacon, flavorful tomato, and crisp lettuce, you can keep other add-ons minimal. For those who want a condiment, a modest slather of either mayo or mustard suits most versions of this dependable sandwich. At the end of the day, how you craft your BLT comes down to personal choice based on your tastes.
Summary Table
| Pros of Mayo | Cons of Mayo |
|---|---|
| Adds moisture | Obscures ingredients |
| Smooths flavors | Adds calories |
| Provides richness | Can be too slippery |
| Enhances spreadability | Alters the classic |
| Easy standard option | Risks overpowering |
| Familiar expected taste | Not everyone likes mayo |
| Pros of Mustard | Cons of Mustard |
|---|---|
| Adds texture | Can overwhelm ingredients |
| Piquant flavor | Makes sandwich wet |
| Pairs with tomato | Redundant to ketchup |
| Cuts bacon richness | Bacon doesn’t need it |
| Visual appeal | Difficult spreading |
| Pairs with ham | Too many flavors |