‘Is this a prank?’: Aussies in shock as Americans discover buttered sandwiches

Americans are reviewing a “new food hack” absolutely baffling Aussies who can’t believe they are just trying it for the first time.

Americans are discovering buttered sandwiches for the first time and the reactions from across the world are hilarious.

A US woman living in Paris, France shared a TikTok earlier this month of her making sandwiches, explaining the French do something “very weird” that she thought her followers would “find strange”.

“What they do, it’s like a classic sandwich, is ham, cheese and … butter. Literally, just swab it on. No mayonnaise. No mustard. Just butter,” Amanda Rollins explained.

“And no, listen, I know you might be thinking that sounds gross but it’s actually so good.”

Viewers from outside the US were baffled by the video, with Europeans and Australians confirming this was “very normal” and not just French.

Amanda Rollins urged her fellow Americans back home to try it. Picture: TikTok / @americanfille

Next came a review from American media company Pure Wow. Picture: TikTok / @purewow

Over the weekend, American lifestyle media company Pure Wow picked up the video and gave the buttered sandwich a go.

“Anyone outside of the US would probably agree that butter on a sandwich is totally normal but for many, this is a brand new food hack that they’re just discovering for the first time,” the reviewer said.

“Now this concept is totally new for me and I’ve got to say, I like it. It provides flavour and moisture to your sandwich but it doesn’t make your bread soggy like mayo can.”

The review prompted even more shock.

“WHAT IS GOING ON IS THIS A PRANK,” commented one TikTok user, gaining more than 23,000 likes in support.

“I am completely confused … why have Americans only just discovered THE MAIN USE OF BUTTER,” another comment said, which had almost 40,000 likes.

Many in disbelief at butter on bread being labelled a “new food hack” thought the review was satire.

Aussie media personality Abbie Chatfield's reaction to the review has been viewed millions of times. Picture: TikTok / @abbiechatfield

Australian media personality Abbie Chatfield recorded her own reaction video showing her in a state of confusion and shock, which has been viewed 3.4 million times in just 17 hours.

“Americans be broken on so many levels, this is the kettle thing all over again,” commented one person, referencing the time the internet ruthlessly mocked the US for “discovering” electric kettles last year.

The New York Times had published an article with the headline: “A swift and easy way to heat water without using a stove”. It shared a list of the publication’s top product picks and urged readers to “consider the electric kettle”.

On the buttered sandwiches topic, many Australians wanted to know what Americans used butter for, if not bread.

“Americans use butter all the time, but we don’t usually put it on a cold sandwich,” one said.

Another clarified it varied depending on location: “I’m from the dead centre of the US and have never put mayo on a sandwich, ALWAYS use butter.”

Australians were still blown away by those just trying it for the first time.

“The wildest use of the phrase ‘food hack’ I’ve ever heard,” one Aussie added, gaining more than 22,000 likes.