Sliced bread is a loaf that has been sliced mechanically before sale, the convenience that transformed bread-eating in the twentieth century. Uniform slices fit the toaster, make neat sandwiches, and remove the skill of slicing from the home, which is why the phrase the best thing since sliced bread became shorthand for any great innovation. Commercial slicing uses high-speed band blades, and the loaf is often baked in a pan for the square profile that slices evenly. Critics note that pre-sliced bread must be formulated for the process, sometimes at the expense of character, and that it stales faster once cut. Still, for toast and sandwiches, its convenience is unmatched, and it remains the default loaf in many countries.