-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 IYrpvuui7OMhgf83SM4lAA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000904280-03-000161.txt : 20030811
<SEC-HEADER>0000904280-03-000161.hdr.sgml : 20030811
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030811151144
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000904280-03-000161
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030807
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030811

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TASTY BAKING CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000096412
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BAKERY PRODUCTS [2050]
		IRS NUMBER:				231145880
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2801 HUNTING PARK AVE
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19129
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2152218500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3413 FOX ST
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19129

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OTOOLE NANCY K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001235322

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05084
		FILM NUMBER:		03834350

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TASTY BAKING CO
		STREET 2:		2801 HUNTING PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19129
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2152218500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TASTY BAKING CO
		STREET 2:		2801 HUNTING PARK AVENUE
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19129
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-07</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096412</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TASTY BAKING CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001235322</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OTOOLE NANCY K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TASTY BAKING CO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2801 HUNTING PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19129</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>V.P./Human Resources</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.78</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.78</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-08-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">33 1/3% of total shares will be exercisable on the first anniversary of the date of grant and annually therafter for the next two years.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nancy K. O'Toole</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----