There is no fixed number, but a good target is roughly four or five purposeful layers, each doing a different job. A well-built sandwich usually includes a hero filling, a cheese or a rich element, something crunchy and fresh, an acidic component, and a sauce, all held by well-chosen bread. The principle is function over height: every layer should earn its place by adding flavour or texture, not just thickness. Too few layers and the sandwich is one-note and dull; too many and it becomes impossible to bite cleanly, with fillings squeezing out of the sides. The real test is whether you can comfortably bite through the whole thing and taste everything together. Balance and structure matter far more than sheer quantity.

Yes, absolutely. Overloading a sandwich is one of the most common mistakes, and it usually makes it worse rather than better. Too many fillings create several problems: the sandwich becomes difficult or impossible to bite through cleanly, ingredients squeeze out of the sides and make a mess, and the individual flavours blur into a muddle where nothing stands out. Excess weight can also overwhelm the bread and destroy the balance between rich and fresh elements. A better approach is to choose one or two quality hero fillings and support them with a few purposeful layers for contrast and acidity. Restraint is a feature, not a limitation: a focused, well-structured sandwich almost always tastes better than an overstuffed one.