Where “Toastie” Comes From
A “toastie” is a toasted sandwich. It’s made with bread, usually buttered on the outside, and filled with cheese, ham, tomato or other fillings, then pressed hot until crisp.
The word is a friendly shortening of “toasted sandwich” with the Aussie “-ie” ending.
“I’ll have a ham and cheese toastie.”
How Aussies Actually Use It
You’ll hear it at cafés, school canteens and at home.
In Real Life
Toasties are a go-to lunch in Australian cafés and school canteens. Fillings range from ham and cheese to baked beans and spaghetti. Fans argue about the best bread and the best filling. A sandwich press is a common item in Australian kitchens, and the smell of a toastie is a childhood memory for many.
Quick Questions
What’s the difference between a toastie and a jaffle?
A toastie is pressed flat in a sandwich press, while a jaffle is sealed in a special iron that crimps the edges.
What goes in a toastie?
Commonly ham, cheese, tomato and onion, though any filling works.
Say It Like an Aussie
Say it: TOH-stee.
In conversation:
- I’ll have a toastie for lunch.
- A ham, cheese and tomato toastie, please.
- The café does a great toastie.
Good to know: A toastie is pressed in a flat sandwich press, while a jaffle is cooked in a closed iron that seals the edges.
See also: Sanger
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