What's your perfect tomato sandwich? (2024)

A tomato sandwich is a simple thing. At least, that’s what we thought.

Just a few key ingredients -- bread, mayonnaise and tomato -- are all you need to create one, right? Well, sort of. We at This is Alabama recently asked the followers on our Facebook page how to make the perfect tomato sandwich, and it turns out there are a lot of differing opinions out there.

Some folks prefer their bread toasted while others insist it has to be your basic white sandwich bread. Then, you have to consider the brand of mayonnaise as well as the thickness, temperature and even origins of the tomato you use. Plus, that’s not even getting into the extras, like bacon, lettuce, avocado, jalapenos, etc., involved or the seasonings -- lots of salt and pepper, a dash of garlic, no salt and lots of pepper? -- you add to it.

A simple tomato sandwich doesn’t sound so simple anymore, does it? So with that in mind, we thought we’d share some of the ways readers said they make their perfect tomato sandwich. It seems that while no two perfect tomato sandwiches are alike, there’s a good chance they’d all make for a pretty good lunch. (Oh, and if you’re wondering, here’s how we recommend making our perfect tomato sandwich.)

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The Mayo Wars

“Soft white bread slathered with Kraft Mayo -- I’ve tried Duke’s, but the tartness takes away from the tomato to me -- a big, fresh Slocomb, Alabama thickly-sliced tomato covered well with salt and pepper and a hot cowhorn pepper on the side!” -- Debbie Hendrickson Price

“Fresh white bread, Duke’s Mayo, lots of salt and especially pepper and the freshest homegrown tomato there is.” -- Lydia Whitlock Barber

“White bread, Hellman’s mayo, salt, pepper and some oregano and maybe some cheese.” -- Scott Smith

“Fresh, soft bread, salt, pepper, Bama mayonnaise and peeled fresh tomato slices because biting into tomato peels is not fun.” -- Daphne Nolen

“First, it must be made with a fresh, garden, perfectly-ripened, tomato. Next, comes the bread choice — it has to be soft, non-toasted, white bread. Next, the only mayo I choose is Blue Plate! Then, the tomato must be sliced semi-thick, and layered on the bread. The final two ingredients, and probably the most important, are salt and pepper, at equal amounts!” -- Rebecca Hallman Lovette

READ MORE: The key to a tomato sandwich is love

Tomato talk

“Place tomato in fridge overnight. Next day, use plenty of mayo and slice the tomato very thin. Add salt and lots of black pepper. Plus, something I tried the other day, red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese.” -- Johnny Dasinger

“Fresh white bread, Hellman’s mayonnaise, fresh ground pepper, salt, and room temperature homegrown tomatoes. Lawdy mercy.” -- Cheryl Brawley Allen

“Homemade bread, Duke’s mayonnaise, fresh garden tomatoes still warm from the sun, salt and pepper.” -- Anna Olander

“White bread, a Chandler Mountain or Slocomb tomato, Duke’s mayo, salt and pepper. That’s it.” -- Zach Lee

All the extras

“Two slices of soft, fresh white bread, two good slices of fresh vine-ripened tomato, a generous dollop of Duke’s Mayonnaise on both pieces of bread, and salt and pepper to taste. Optional: some thin-sliced Vidalia onion. Enjoy with a glass of ice-cold milk and some Golden Flake potato chips.” -- Ralph Cook

“Vine-ripe summer tomatoes, salt and pepper, crisp bacon, crisp iceberg lettuce, real mayonnaise and thick sliced, white bread that’s toasted.” -- Ginni Baggett Radford

“Toast the bread. Mayo. Tomato with salt and pepper. Sometimes I add lemon juice and basil to the mayo.” -- Jennifer Killough

“My ideal tomato sandwich features perfectly toasted bread, a generous spread of mayo, fresh homegrown tomatoes, bacon and a dash of pepper. No extra salt is necessary, as the bacon provides just the right amount of seasoning.” -- Royce Rasmussen

“Toasted sourdough bread, thick coat of good butter, fresh heirloom tomato, garlic, salt and pepper.” -- Charlotte Chance Thorn

“Lightly toasted bread, two slices of tomato, Duke’s mayo, avocado, a little salt and a lot of pepper.” -- Shawn Ramsey

“Hellman’s mayo, fresh white bread, salt, pepper, a little chopped onion, a little cool jalapeño and the freshest tomato possible!” -- Faye Wilbourne Moore

“Toast bread, slather Duke’s mayo on both pieces, add pepper jack cheese, two slices of tomato, crispy bacon, salt, pepper and a dash of tobacco.” -- David Ryan