Brits are only just learning what the end piece of a loaf of bread is called, and it turns out there are a few different names given to the least desirable slice
The name for the end slice of a loaf of bread has sparked debate, with people just learning the different names that can be used for it. Reddit was ablaze with comments after a user posted a snap of the last piece of bread, asking: “What do you call this?” Responses poured in thick and fast, but it seemed no one was able to reach a consensus. One commenter chimed in: “I call it the heel. My kids call it the butt.”
While another pondered: “Can we call it a crust?” A third remarked: “Half of a dad sandwich. Meaning the kids don’t want it, so to avoid being wasteful, the dad ends up with two heels for his sandwich bread.” Another chimed in: “The end piece. Never heard anyone call it the heel until this comment section.”
And someone else confessed: “I didn’t even think about it having a name!”
Meanwhile someone else said: “The crust is the other layer of the bread, but the end piece has crust on the sides as well as one of the faces, so it’s majority crust. Thus, it’s called the crust.”
Finally, one more said simply: “I just call it the end piece.”
Despite the Cambridge Dictionary settling on ‘heel’ as the official term, it seems this bread-based conundrum is a common problem.
Taste of Home states: “We’ve all heard the saying, ‘the greatest thing since sliced bread’.
“While it may be a phrase we’ve heard spoken more times than we ever needed to hear, there’s a reason it’s become commonplace. Sliced bread is incredible. Sandwiches, subs, toast-you name it, you can make it.
“Whether it’s some fresh ciabatta, banana bread or gluten-free pumpkin bread-it’s all delicious. Even just a basic loaf of bread can make a bad day better. That’s a fact!”
“But we’ve got some questions. You know, like, what is the end piece of bread called? It’s time we settled the debate.
“Norway and Sweden call it the ‘skalk.’ That one might be my favourite.
“It’s referred to as the ‘dupka’ in Poland, the ‘knust’ or ‘knerzel’ in Germany and the ‘kapje’ in the Netherlands. Scotland has been known to call theirs ‘outsiders’.
“Fitting and to the point! You may find they’re called ‘la tapa’ in Spanish or ‘patka’ in the Czech Republic. Whatever they’re called, I know we can all agree about how tasty they can be.”
