The nation has voted for the perfect bacon butty recipe and brown sauce has triumphed over ketchup.
New research from Direct Line for Business, reveals what Britons’ rate as their favourite combination of ingredients to create the ultimate bacon butty. The winning construction is made with white sliced bread (not toasted), smoked bacon and brown sauce.
Interestingly, ketchup was rejected as the perfect condiment to accompany bacon. And while the Government is keen to promote wholegrain bread and healthy eating, when it comes to bacon butties, white sliced bread trumps all other options. A quarter of Britons say the perfect butty is made with bacon sandwiched between slices of white sliced bread, while 21% rate a white bap as the best option. Just 6% voted for brown bread as their top option. Other options included stotties, sourdough, tiger bread and even Belgian waffles.
The research identifies a clear East-West divide when it comes to ketchup or brown sauce in a butty. Those in the East of England and the Welsh prefer their butty with tomato ketchup, while those in the West of England go for a brown sauce.
Regional preferences for the perfect bacon butty
| Region | Perfect bacon butty recipe |
| London | White sliced bread, untoasted with unsmoked bacon and brown sauce |
| Wales | White bap, untoasted with unsmoked bacon and ketchup |
| Scotland | White sliced bread, untoasted with unsmoked bacon and brown sauce |
| East | White sliced bread, untoasted with unsmoked bacon and ketchup |
| East Midlands | White bap, untoasted with smoked bacon and ketchup |
| North East | White sliced bread, untoasted with unsmoked bacon and ketchup |
| North West | White sliced bread, untoasted with smoked bacon and brown sauce |
| South East | White sliced bread, untoasted with unsmoked bacon and ketchup |
| South West | White sliced bread, untoasted with smoked bacon and brown sauce |
| West Midlands | White sliced bread, untoasted with smoked bacon and brown sauce |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | White bap, untoasted with unsmoked bacon and ketchup |
Source: Direct Line for Business
Jazz Gakhal, Head of Direct Line for Business, commented: “The nation has spoken and declared their preferred bacon butty recipe. The humble butty inspires passion and debate, and there are those that will always claim bacon needs ketchup, but brown sauce is the collective favourite. Bacon butties have been the staple British breakfast for years, helping fuel the nation as they head to work or wind down on the weekend.”
Search “Direct Line for Bacon” or use the #DL4Bacon hashtag to join the debate about the perfect bacon butty on social media.