The most popular sandwiches in the UK revealed

Will the BLT reign supreme, or will the hummus and falafel sandwich come out on top?

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You can’t go wrong with a classic sarnie. Whether you’re popping out for a quick lunch at work or enjoying a summertime picnic, a delicious sandwich is bound to hit all the right spots.

While the beloved sandwich has been a classic food item ever since it was supposedly coined by the Earl of Sandwich in the 18th century, the nation’s preference of filling has evolved somewhat over the years.

New research has revealed the nation’s favourite sandwich combinations from the 1970s up until the present day, with Britons seemingly moving away from classic fillings such as the BLT.

Two thousand Britons were questioned as part of the study, which was conducted by SWNS to mark the launch of the new Warburtons Mighty White Loaf.

According to the research, the most popular sandwich filling of the 1970s was ham salad, with chicken salad reigning supreme in the 1980s.

The BLT followed as the most desirable sandwich of choice in the 1990s, with participants opting for a fishier filling in the 2000s with smoked salmon and cream cheese.

However, in recent years it seems that more Britons have been opting for plant-based alternatives, as the hummus and falafel sandwich has come out on top in the current decade.

It was recently revealed that 51 per cent of chefs in the US are now adding vegan items to their menus in order to keep up with the increasing number of people becoming vegan.

In addition to highlighting the nation’s proclivity for plant-based fillings, the study also discovered that Britons will usually spend approximately four and a half minutes creating what they deem to be the perfect sandwich.

Furthermore, more than a third of people would describe sandwiches as one of their favourite meals.

Darren Littler, innovation director at Warburtons, explains that the study demonstrates the nation’s desire to be more experimental in the kitchen.

“Whilst the humble sandwich has remained a classic UK favourite over the decades, it’s interesting to see the fillings that fall in and out of favour in line with trends and preferences,” he says.

“Now, with a vastly increased number of choices compared to years gone by, more adventurous fillings are now clearly the order of the day for many Brits, with corned beef no longer cutting the mustard.”

Here are the nation’s favourite sandwich fillings over the decades:

1970s

• Ham salad
• Ham and cheese
• Ploughman’s
• Cheese and onion
• Egg mayonnaise

1980s

• Chicken salad
• Tuna mayo
• Tuna and cucumber
• BLT
• Tuna salad

1990s

• BLT
• Tuna mayo
• Chicken mayo
• Tuna salad
• Chicken Club

2000s

• Smoked salmon and cream cheese
• Chicken mayo
• Brie and cranberry
• Salmon and prawn
• Brie and grape

2010s

• Hummus and falafel
• BBQ pulled pork
• Avocado
• Chicken and avocado
• Brie and grape

While many people enjoy indulging on classic sandwiches such as egg mayonnaise, others prefer to opt for slightly more controversial options.

Earlier this year, a huge debate erupted online regarding whether the peanut butter and pickle sandwich could be described as “delicious” or not.