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How Many Slices In A Loaf Of Bread? For All Varieties

How Many Slices of Bread in a Loaf? The number is determined by the size of the loaf and the size of the individual slices. However, the industry standard is around 18 slices in a sandwich loaf. This, of course, will vary from one bakery to the other with an average of 16 to 20 slices. Take note that this includes the two heels/end slices.

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Home-baked bread will vary a lot in terms of slice count as it all depends on the baker’s preference in terms of slice size thanks to many bread slicers that are currently available. If you are interested in our top bread slicers, check out our article here (link). 

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Types Of Bread And Number Of Slices

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Various bread types will also have a different number of slices due to their ingredients as it is nearly impossible to cut thin slices if whole grains are used.
Other varieties may be too hard to be consumed in thick slices and, therefore, require thinner slices.
To get a better understanding of what influences the slice count, we will have to look at the individual types of bread:

Sourdough Bread

Each round top loaf can have at least 24 slices.
  • On average, a slice of sourdough bread weighs 36g (1.2oz). Sourdough bread relies on fermentation for that mild yet delightful flavor. One of the by-products of fermentation is carbon dioxide, which gives the bread numerous hollow spaces in the interior during baking.
  • For proper handling, it is recommended to slice this bread to at least 1/2 inch thick slices. This helps to avoid excessive crumbling, and the thicker slices are much easier to work with.

Rye Bread

A standard loaf of rye bread has at least 24 slices.
  • Rye bread is typically denser than its wheat-based cousins. The extra density makes it possible to thinly slice the rye bread, thus accounting for the extra slices.
  • Aside from its high fiber content, the bread is also a welcome relief for those with wheat allergies. Rye bread also has a longer shelf life.

Wholemeal Bread

A 400g (14oz) loaf of wholemeal bread has around 8 to 10 slices.
  • Wholemeal bread is prepared using partly or entirely milled whole-wheat grains.
  • The reason why the slices are so thick is to prevent breaking and reduce the number of bread crumbs. Some wholemeal bread may have a coat of seeds on the crust.

Traditional White Bread

The traditional white sandwich bread has around 26 to 28 slices.
  • A standard loaf tends to weigh around 566g (20oz).
  • Most of the white bread slices are thin as the bread doesn’t crumble as much as wholemeal bread and therefore does not require thick slices.

Popular US Brands

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Latest statistics suggest that there are as many as 200 bread brands in the USA. To get a better understanding of this, we will look into the individual sellers and their popular bread brands as well as their slice counts.

Walmart

Majority of the bread sold at Walmart is from bakery associates, and vendors such, these loaves are of standard size (566g, 20 oz) and have around 22 slices.
Some of the popular brands include:
  • Sara Lee - weighing 566g (20oz) with 22 slices
  • Nature’s Own - 22 slices each weighing 25g (0.9oz)
  • Great Value Bread - 17 thick slices
  • Dave’s Killer Bread - 17 slices each weighing 45g (1.5oz) for a total 765g (27oz)
  • Bunny - 20 slices

Target

Target stocks standard sliced bread weighing either 17oz (480g) or 24oz (680g) with 16 to 26 slices depending on the particular brand.
Some of their favorite brands include:
  • Archer Farms - 12 slices weighing 45g (1.5oz) each
  • Market Pantry - 22 slices per loaf
  • Apple Fritter - 14 thick slices each weighing 41g (1.4oz)

Publix

Publix has over 89 bread brands under its fresh baked bread category. Most of these weigh 453g (16oz) and have around 16 to 17 slices each.
Their top selling brands include:
  • Pumpernickel - 14 slices
  • Their own in-house baked specialty bread varieties such as sourdough with 8 slices at 56g (1.9oz) each, rye bread with 16 slices at 26g (0.9oz), and French bread with 12 slices per loaf.

Costco

Costco offers almost every bread from 675g (23.8oz) loaves to large slice 1.2kg (43oz) loaves. Containing 20 slices for the 675g (23.8oz), 34 slices for the 1.2kg (43oz) loaf, and 17 slices for the 570g (20oz) loaf.
The most popular brands include:
  • Furlani Texas bread - 24 thick cut slices
  • Dimpflmeier - 14 slices each weighing 40g (1.4oz)
  • Rudolph’s - 24 slices

Trader Joes

From sprouted wheat sourdough bread to gluten-free, organic bread, Trader Joes has a wide selection of loaves. Majority of these are standard weight loaves 453g (16oz) meaning that they have around 16 to 17 slices.
Some of the top-selling brands include:
  • Oakrun - 12 slices 40g (1.4oz)
  • Dempsters - 22 slices each weighing 30g (1oz)
  • Greenhouse - 17 slices per loaf

5 Tips For Slicing Bread

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(link)
1. Always Use a Bread Slicing Guide
In order to get evenly matched slices, you should use a bread slicing guide. These come in various sizes and functionality, look for one with adjustable slice size. This will come in handy when you are working with multiple bread types that may require either thinner or thicker than usual slices such as rye bread and wholemeal bread.
The slicing guide also acts as a safety mechanism protecting your fingers from your knife’s sharp edge. Most bread slicing guides are also equipped with non-slip rubber stoppers that prevent the slicing board from moving around on your counter as you are working on the loaf.
2. Allow the Bread to Cool Down Completely
Fresh out of the oven bread is usually too soft to slice perfectly. To avoid mashing your bread let it cool completely before attempting to slice it. This also allows the crust to harden to the perfect texture.
If you intend to eat the bread warm, then you will need a sharp bread knife to get the job done. Place the bread on a board and slice without applying too much force. Instead, focus on the sawing movement instead of a downward cutting movement. This way, your warm bread will still retain its shape.
3. Use an Offset Serrated Knife
Bread tends to either crumble or mash up if you try slicing it with the wrong knife. To get perfectly thin and even slices, you should use an offset serrated bread knife. This design allows the knife to saw through the bread without squishing in the soft inner parts.
While working on home-baked bread, it is recommended to use a long knife at least 9 inches or longer. This makes it much easier to work on the bread without having to hack around on the loaf. If the upper side is too squishy to work with, you can turn the bread on to its side and work from the crusty bottom instead.
4. Consider Using an Electric Bread Knife
Bread slicing can be quite the monotonous task, especially when working on multiple loaves of bread. If you are baking and slicing bread frequently it is definitely something to consider purchasing.
These offer a much cleaner cutting action compared to free-hand slicing giving you much smoother slice edges and can even hook up to your bread slicing guide. Having an electric knife will also reduce the amount of time it takes to slice through each loaf.
5. It Could Be The Bread...
If you have tried the tips and guides but still can’t manage to slice your homemade bread without creating a mess then high chance its not your knife skills but the recipe.
Why? Your bread’s structure is determined by the amount of gluten in it. Too much gluten and the loaf will be all springy and nearly impossible to cut through without squishing it. On the other hand, if there’s too little gluten, the bread will be too crumbly and will break apart as you slice through it.
To fix this, you should adjust your recipe and ensure that you have just the right amount of gluten in the baked loaves to avoid the foreseen consequences.

FAQs

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How many sandwiches in a loaf?
The number of sandwiches that you can make from a single loaf of bread will depend on the size of the loaf with the standard sandwiches bread producing around 8 to 10 sandwiches. An 800g loaf, on the other hand, will have enough slices to make at least 14 to 16 sandwiches.
From which side should I slice my bread?
Different bread loaves have different slicing approaches; it all depends on the shape of the bread. For the flat-topped rolls its recommended to lay them on their side, this allows your knife to saw through the crust from an approach angle minimizing the crumbling. This also prevents situations where the loaf might squish in due to the force required to get through the crusty part.
While dealing with round bread, you should first slice it across the center into two equal semi-circles. Then work with each half by slicing along the edges into your preferred slice size.

 

 

Interested in other baking and bread related articles? 
Check these out:
Top 10 Bread Slicers of 2019
Buckwheat Bread
Understanding and Using a Bread Lame
What is Meal Bread?
How Many Slices in a Loaf of Bread?

1 comment

  • I appreciated the Wonderful information you have presented

    - sharon furminger

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