We all know the meaning of this much-used phrase, but do you know its origin?
Before 1928, bread was cut with a knife or broken into chunks for eating. That was before a machine that sliced and wrapped bread was invented by Otto Frederick Rohwedder in the US.
People were sceptical about it at first as they felt sliced bread would go stale faster than unsliced. However, the bread was wrapped in waxed paper after slicing to maintain freshness ( this was before preservatives).
Around the same time, the first pop-up toaster was invented and pre-sliced bread was just perfect for the job! Sliced bread took off in the US and across in the Atlantic, and by 1933 it is estimated that 80% of bread sold in the US was pre-sliced and wrapped.
It is thought the phrase “ the best thing since sliced bread” may have come into use around this period. It was considered a wonderful innovation, a game changer!
White sliced bread became the staple of many US, British, and Irish homes. However, during World War 2, sliced bread was banned in the US in order to conserve steel and paper. There was uproar in the US, such was sliced bread’s popularity and the ban was lifted after a short time.
However, across the Atlantic, due to a shortage of white flour, its production was also banned. Only bread made from wholemeal flour was baked during the war. In Britain, it was known as the “National Loaf” and in Ireland, wartime bread was known as “Black Bread”.
In recent times, sales of the humble mass-produced white sliced pan may be down, sidelined by other, more trendy breads! It still has a place in our cupboards, however. I particularly love a comforting slice of toasted white bread if I’m feeling poorly.
But why not bake your own light and crumbly white Irish soda bread at home? It is the easiest and quickest bread to bake, using four natural ingredients, flour, bread soda ( baking soda), buttermilk, and a pinch of salt.
Enjoy!
