Soggy sandwiches are the worst, so we can’t really blame the kids when they return home from school with the same sandwich in their lunchbox as you packed them that morning. You probably did the same as a kid to be fair.
It’s pretty frustrating putting in all that effort for nothing, but if you only buy bread once or twice a week, making sure a sandwich stays fresh for a lunchbox can be quite tricky.
An Aussie Mum’s lunchbox hack went viral for specifically these reasons - everyone struggles to find the time to prep lunches every morning, and even when you find the time it’s hard to keep those sammys fresh.
Posting to the Lunchbox Mums Facebook group, Kate seems to have found the answer to all our lunch-packer problems - but it does require getting the timing right.
"I make the sandwiches and freeze them the day I buy the bread so it’s super fresh. I’m one of those mums who freeze sandwiches because I’m time poor during the week and my kids only eat ‘boring sandwiches’ anyway!" Kate wrote.
Kate explained her kids' sandwiches usually include deli meats, roast meats and cheese with sauces like mustard, as well as spreads like peanut butter, Nutella, Vegemite, jam or spreadable cheese.
"They defrost super quick so they just come out in the morning and go straight into the lunchbox. Unless I’m working and I do lunches the night before," she said.
Many other parents chimed in agreeing with the method, and also offering the advice that buttering both sides of the bread helps to keep the sandwich together when it comes out of the freezer. They also suggested avoiding putting in any wet foods like tomatoes which will ensure it doesn't go soggy.
Aside from freezing the sandwiches, Kate also found another way to ensure they fit perfectly into a bento box.
"I got the bakery to slice my loaf length ways today. Total game changer. Much quicker to make the sandwiches and easier to cut crusts off (because we all know crusts are poison). This way I can cut them into the perfect strips that fit our bento boxes. One of my girls only eats a tiny bit of sandwich so this way there’s no waste!"
Kate even saves the crusts and turns them into breadcrumbs if she cuts them off before buttering the sandwiches. Extra waste-reducing points!
Kate’s hack has been very popular in the group, gaining thousands of reactions and hundreds of comments from parents calling it both ‘genius’ and ‘next level organised’.
"Glad my kids aren't the only ones who are allergic to crusts! This is a great idea," wrote one.
"Little tips and tricks like this can make such an impact on busy mornings," added another.
Kate told 10 daily she lives by a 'you do you' motto when it comes to parenting and this is what works for her family.
"I’m glad it’s given other mums a new idea, and hopefully one that will make school lunches easier," she said.
