Bread loaf size

I must be weird, but I've actually spent a lot of time thinking about how differently-sized bread is here in the UK, versus in the US!

In the US, pre-sliced bread is basically all the same size - a loaf is about 12-15 inches long, each slice is about a half an inch thick, and a slice is basically square-shaped - about 4.5 inches by 4.5 inches.  Roman Meal = Nature's Own = Wonder Bread = Home Pride = pretty much everything else, size-wise.

Here in the UK, just in the pre-sliced, pre-packaged breads (not counting the bakery loaves), you can get anything from Kingsmill Toastie (thick, giant rectangular slices - a loaf is around 12 inches long) to Hovis Wholemeal (regular, small, squared slices - a small loaf is around 6 inches long).  We usually buy Kingsmill Medium White for me and either Hovis Wholemeal or Warburtons Wholemeal or Premium Brown for DH.   Just look at the difference!

(I can sympathise with your boyfriend, as when I can't get Kingsmill I usually buy Warburtons Farmhouse, which is much smaller - I'll eat two sandwiches instead of one, but I don't complain about it! )

Once I went there and he showed me a "proper-sized" slice of bread, it is quite noticeable.

Tell him that, while I prefer Kingsmill myself, I don't think there really is a proper-sized bread slice over here - there's just too many kinds! 

It doesn't bother me, but I agree, the UK bread slices are bigger (in general). DH noticed this when we were in the US, too. US bread is more square and UK more rectangular. A lot of British people also think the US bread is a lot sweeter.

x-posted with Meg!

Here in the UK, just in the pre-sliced, pre-packaged breads (not counting the bakery loaves), you can get anything from Kingsmill Toastie (thick, giant rectangular slices - a loaf is around 12 inches long) to Hovis Wholemeal (regular, small, squared slices - a small loaf is around 6 inches long).  We usually buy Kingsmill Medium White for me and either Hovis Wholemeal or Warburtons Wholemeal or Premium Brown for DH.   Just look at the difference!

(I can sympathise with your boyfriend, as when I can't get Kingsmill I usually buy Warburtons Farmhouse, which is much smaller - I'll eat two sandwiches instead of one, but I don't complain about it! )

That Kingsmill one looks like "proper-sized" bread! I think his family actually uses the Toastie as their sandwich bread too. I think Toastie is gross though!

It doesn't bother me, but I agree, the UK bread slices are bigger (in general). DH noticed this when we were in the US, too. US bread is more square and UK more rectangular. A lot of British people also think the US bread is a lot sweeter.

Actually, he complains about that too. I don't notice a difference in sweetness, but to him it's quite noticeable.

That Kingsmill one looks like "proper-sized" bread! I think his family actually uses the Toastie as their sandwich bread too. I think Toastie is gross though!

Ergh!  Toastie is fine for, say, Texas Toast, but for sandwiches?  That's waaaay too much bread (a sentence I never, ever thought I'd say).

Even the Thick kind is a bit much.  Medium is about the same thickness as "regular" bread in the US, even if US bread is much closer in size to the Warburtons stuff.  (For reference, when I lived in Boston, it was Home Pride all the way for me.)

A lot of British people also think the US bread is a lot sweeter.

Actually, he complains about that too. I don't notice a difference in sweetness, but to him it's quite noticeable.

I'm one of theose Brits - I really can't stand US bread. Give me a nice big slice of Kingsmill any day. US bread is too small and tastes like it's full of sugar or something. It's okay as toast with jam or something on it, but as a savoury sandwich it's just too sweet.

I'm having to force myself to eat it at the moment because the small, square stuff is the only bread I can find and I don't have any bagels left  (I don't have a car so can't get to a huge variety of stores to find different types of bread).

Yeah, but he can't get the bigger bread here in the States. He misses the bread in the UK. He thinks the UK bread is "just right"  and shugga thinks it's "papa-bear-sized."  

Exactly what I was thinking.   

It doesn't bother me, but I agree, the UK bread slices are bigger (in general). DH noticed this when we were in the US, too. US bread is more square and UK more rectangular. A lot of British people also think the US bread is a lot sweeter.

Actually, he complains about that too. I don't notice a difference in sweetness, but to him it's quite noticeable.

Dh has mentioned before US bread is sweet to him as well but I never noticed it myself.

Ergh!  Toastie is fine for, say, Texas Toast, but for sandwiches?  That's waaaay too much bread (a sentence I never, ever thought I'd say).

Even the Thick kind is a bit much.  Medium is about the same thickness as "regular" bread in the US, even if US bread is much closer in size to the Warburtons stuff.  (For reference, when I lived in Boston, it was Home Pride all the way for me.)

I buy Home Pride bread for myself, and he is ok with the thickness of that, but says it's too sweet. I think Toastie is just way too much too!



So...back to my original question, any ideas what sized bread pan I should buy to make these massive breads?! I'm not confident enough in my bread skills yet to try that free forming with sandwich bread.

What about something like this?



I figure what you need is a deeper pan more than anything else - it's the height of the bread that's really different with Kingsmill.  Most loaf pans seem to be around 2.5-3 inches deep; this one's 3.6 inches deep.

Thanks! I've never baked sandwich bread before. Does it rise up over the height of the loaf pan?

I have no idea!  I actually didn't know there was a difference...   All the bread I've ever made has risen up over the top of the pan, and I've eaten sandwiches made from most of it, so.... 

Oh, I just thought of this!  You could actually try emailing Kingsmill and asking what size their pans are! 

I must be weird, but I've actually spent a lot of time thinking about how differently-sized bread is here in the UK, versus in the US!

In the US, pre-sliced bread is basically all the same size - a loaf is about 12-15 inches long, each slice is about a half an inch thick, and a slice is basically square-shaped - about 4.5 inches by 4.5 inches.  Roman Meal = Nature's Own = Wonder Bread = Home Pride = pretty much everything else, size-wise.

Here in the UK, just in the pre-sliced, pre-packaged breads (not counting the bakery loaves), you can get anything from Kingsmill Toastie (thick, giant rectangular slices - a loaf is around 12 inches long) to Hovis Wholemeal (regular, small, squared slices - a small loaf is around 6 inches long).  We usually buy Kingsmill Medium White for me and either Hovis Wholemeal or Warburtons Wholemeal or Premium Brown for DH.   Just look at the difference!

(I can sympathise with your boyfriend, as when I can't get Kingsmill I usually buy Warburtons Farmhouse, which is much smaller - I'll eat two sandwiches instead of one, but I don't complain about it! )

You have WAY too much time on your hands...hahahahah

I think I prefer UK bread- I love brown bread and it just tastes so good over here!  But sometimes its just like, whoa, bread...

You have WAY too much time on your hands...hahahahah

I think I prefer UK bread- I love brown bread and it just tastes so good over here!  But sometimes its just like, whoa, bread...

Hehehe, Meg has definitely done her homework when it comes to bread! 

I do like the brown bread over there. It is just so big!

I have no idea!  I actually didn't know there was a difference...   All the bread I've ever made has risen up over the top of the pan, and I've eaten sandwiches made from most of it, so.... 

I've made quick breads that don't rise up over the top of the pan. I've never made a yeast bread in a pan before.

I have looked around online, plus that link you gave me. I found some pans that are 4" deep, but they are more expensive. I just checked e-bay and found this one and bought it. It was definitely the least expensive and should work find. It's a little long, but I don't think that'll be too much of a problem!

Now, to find recipes so I can make bread when it arrives!

Cool!!  I bet that pan would take a double recipe.  Hope your DB eats lots and lots of bread!!

You have WAY too much time on your hands...hahahahah

The perils of working from home....