This year has a lot of us craving comfort and nostalgia—and ways to ease the tedium of making our own food all the damn time. I found a $13 trick for providing all the above, and it’s quickly become one of the greatest little investments I’ve made this year.
A couple of months ago, a box of Smucker’s Uncrustables appeared in my family’s freezer. I had one for a late-night snack—delicious and weirdly reminiscent of a sunnier, more carefree time. I’m not totally sure why a premade PB&J that is round, crimped on the edges, crust-free, and chilled tastes so much better, but it really, truly does. (Maybe it’s a mix of novelty, nostalgia, and convenience.)
As yummy as the original Uncrustables are, I was craving a wider variety of flavors—and something that felt more like a balanced mini meal or snack than dessert. But other premade options were pricey, so I decided to explore the DIY route. I googled for a product in the hopes that someone had invented a solution to my crustless sandwich woes—and of course, capitalism delivered, 48 hours later via Amazon.
The Ohygge Sandwich Cutter and Sealer has turned me into a happy crustless-sandwich-making elf. Despite not being a general fan of one-function kitchen devices, I am positively thrilled with my purchase. This thing is super easy to use—you push down on one circle cutter to nix the crusts and then a crimped circle to seal the edges. It’s easy to clean. Plus, it comes with a mini crustless-sandwich maker that turns out the cutest little two-bite PB&Js.
I’ll make a bunch all at once, wrap them individually in plastic wrap, and keep them in a freezer bag. Then I pop out one whenever the mood strikes (so, every day) and enjoy frozen or defrosted but still cold (a 10-second zap in my microwave does the trick). After churning out quite a few of these things, I have a couple of tips for getting the most out of your crustless-sandwich maker.
Choose a soft, stretchy sandwich bread. I’ve had success with soft, sliced loaves of white, whole wheat, and multigrain. My favorite is Dave’s Killer Bread, Good Seed ($5, AmazonFresh)—full of seedy, grainy goodness, but still pliable.
Resist the urge to overfill your sandwiches. It’s hard but necessary. After some trial and error, I found about one and a half tablespoons total to be the sweet spot—resulting in a sandwich that is plump with fillings but not at risk of splitting open.
Press down hard. I put all my weight on the crimper for a couple of seconds to ensure the edges are well sealed.
Think outside the PB&J box. The best part is choosing your own filling combos, because you can use any kind of jam or jelly and nut or seed butter you want: almond butter, blueberry jam, tahini, marmalade, pecan butter, macadamia butter, Nutella. After lots of experimenting, a few of my favorite creations so far are:
Almond butter and raspberry jam: I’m loyal to Justin’s Classic Almond Butter ($10, Thrive Market) and Crofter’s Organic Premium Seedless Fruit Spread, Raspberry ($5, Thrive Market).
Homemade pecan butter and cherry jam: I love Crofter’s Organic Premium Fruit Spread, Morello Cherry ($3, Thrive Market).
Peanut or sunflower-seed butter and honey with a banana slice: I’m a huge fan of SunButter No Sugar Added Sunflower Butter ($6, Thrive Market).
Cashew butter and everything: I salivate for Justin’s Maple Cashew Butter ($12, Thrive Market) with Crofter’s Organic Premium Fruit Spread, Apricot ($3, Thrive Market).
Wait, wait, wait: What about all that wasted crust, though? No such thing. Tear it up into bite-size pieces, toss it in a bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle of salt (or a seasoning blend), and pop it into the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes (or until golden brown).
There ya go! You are now someone who makes their own Uncrustables and their own croutons.
Ohygge Sandwich Cutter and Sealer
Making crustless PB&Js (or whatever kind of sandwich you want) is a breeze with this easy-to-use tool.
Editor’s note: Thrive Market purchases require a membership, which starts at $5 per month but pays for itself if you use it at least once a month.
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