Best Sub Rolls, in Small Quantities

July 1, 2024 1:27 PM

Here's an extremely specific question about bread. I would like to economize by making sub sandwiches to bring to games and parks, but with only two people, I don't want to waste a lot of bread. What's the best kind of bread or roll for this? And is there any way to freeze and thaw, without ruining the texture?
posted by haptic_avenger to Food & Drink (9 answers total)

In my two-person household, we regularly buy a baguette from the fancy coop grocery store, cut it into individual sub-sized pieces, and freeze them in a gallon freezer ziploc bag. You want to slice each chunk open (as if you're about to make a sandwich) before freezing. I thaw mine in the toaster oven. I do this with bagels too. Bread products generally freeze beautifully!

If you're in the market for a recipe, I make this super easy focaccia all the time and immediately freeze most of it (also pre-sliced) for instant sandwich availability: https://smittenkitchen.com/2018/08/focaccia-sandwiches-for-a-crowd/
posted by catoclock at 1:50 PM on July 1

Most of my local grocery stores have bolillo rolls in the bakery that you can buy one at a time. I also see some smaller rolls at Whole Foods that are priced individually. If you don't like those options and have time to thaw, you might bake your own from frozen dough that you can buy in some freezer sections.
posted by soelo at 1:51 PM on July 1

if it doesn't have to be a sub-roll, my local grocery store sells pretzel rolls in a 4 pack. In my two-person household there is a high degree of likelihood that we will both have two sandwiches over a period of 3 or 4 days.
posted by mmascolino at 2:00 PM on July 1

Bread freezes surprisingly well. If you want to be extra, you can wrap a roll or two in foil and then place those foil pouches into a ziploc. I like to thaw in the fridge rather than on the counter, to avoid potential mushy-ness. If you run into a time crunch, you can thaw them in the toaster oven (or big oven) at about 200 degrees for about 15 minutes. The foil will keep them from drying out too much. There's no bread I can think of that doesn't freeze and thaw well, from sliced bread to hamburger buns to rolls, so give it a go!
posted by hydra77 at 2:13 PM on July 1

You may have a local bakery that offers partially baked rolls/baguettes that you finish baking at home (you can sometimes find them in grocery stores too). I have found those freeze really well and more or less taste freshly baked when they're done.
posted by edencosmic at 2:27 PM on July 1

30 seconds or so in the microwave is a good option for thawing, if you time it just right you can get them just defrosted enough to assemble a sandwich but still 'almost frozen' and that will keep the sandwich cool for a couple of hours until you are ready to eat it. Also, use freezer bags that are PFA free.
posted by Lanark at 2:28 PM on July 1

Our fav is a kaiser roll. Very tasty and s good size to eat whole or cut in half. Provolone,cappacola, fresh mozzarella, lettuce and tomato...dressing of your choice.
posted by Czjewel at 3:31 PM on July 1

Bolillo is perfect, one per person, freezes well. Their football-ish shape is ideal for stuffing & transporting easily. If your regular supermarket doesn't carry them, try a Mexican market.
posted by acidic at 7:29 PM on July 1

Most MSP banh mi shops will sell you individual rolls for cheap -- maybe that's true everywhere. Of course, at that point you could just take a banh mi to the game.
posted by eraserbones at 8:30 AM on July 2