How To Prepare A Classic Grilled Cheese
If you want to make your sandwich healthier, try using whole wheat, multigrain, sprouted, or gluten-free bread.
How Does Grilling Cheese Not Melt
At the other end of the spectrum, a cheese that remains intact and doesnt melt on the grill has a rigid structure with no yield. The high heat causes the whey proteins to stick to the cheese proteins , which are then pressed together to create a high-protein, heavily textured, and inflexible cheese.
To Shred Or To Slice The Cheese
Shredding the cheese is a great option, but not always necessary. If you are using cheese that is harder like a gruyère and doesn’t melt quite as easy as cheddar or American, then shredding is your best bet to an even melt before burning the bread. If it’s cheddar or American, then slicing the cheese is totally fine.
There is a little hidden benefit to shredding cheese though, and that’s eating the little pieces of melted cheese that have fallen out of the sandwich and crisped up on the griddle.
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How To Prepare Grilled Cheese In A Microwave
Rules For A Perfect Grilled Cheese Every Time
There are two types of grilled cheeses in this world. First, theres the kind you make when you come home at 3 A.M. after a bit too much to drink, when all rules fly out the window and pretty much anything tastes deliciousincluding burnt bread surrounding unmelted cheese.
And then theres the grilled cheese you should be making at all other times: perfectly golden-brown bread, melty cheese, supreme satisfaction. To get this sort of sandwich, the rules are strict but justified. Because when it comes to something so simple, there’s not a ton of wiggle room between perfect sandwich creation and sub-par, time-of-desperation snack.
This is where we come in. Look no further for the rules of perfect grilled cheese.
Two things can happen if you rush the grilled-cheese-making process. In one scenario, you quite literally take the sandwich off the of the pan before the bread reaches a deep golden-brown. You may be hungry and tired, but accept that it takes a bit of time to get optimally toasted bread. Were also not that sorry, because it doesnt take too much time .
But more often, you toast the bread before the cheese melts. This happens when your heat is too high and your pan is too hot: Before the inside gets gooey, the outside blackens.
Heres the right way to do it: Start in a cold pan . This allows for the pan to heat up slowly, ensuring that the heat is evenly distributed as the cheese gently but surely melts and the bread develops the ideal crunch and color.
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Why Wont The Cheese Melt In My Grilled Cheese
Slicing the cheese too thick.
When sliced too thick, the cheese simply wont cook all the way through, which means you wont get that oozy, melty goodness you have your heart set on. It melts more evenly and quickly than slices, and youre guaranteed to have just the right balance of toasted bread and melted cheese.
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Would You Be Okay Using Itt Of Butter
If youd like to fry grilled cheese or scramble eggs, choose mayonnaise, rather than butter or if you prefer making mashed potato or garlic bread with mayo, you can grab it. Because of this swap, the breads and muffins of this type are ideal for quick breads and muffins however, they may contain a bit more fat.
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How To Make Grilled Cheese
Anyone can make an OK grilled cheese. But we want you to know how to make the BEST grilled cheese sandwich. As ever, its all about technique. Our grilled cheese recipe relies on a few key things:
- Low heat. You cant rush a great grilled cheese. Low heat allows the bread to toast slowly while the cheese melts.
- Butter AND mayo. Yes, were saying you need to make your grilled cheese with mayo! This is not the moment to skimp, friends! Any way you slice itwere diagonal people, ourselvesgrilled cheese is an indulgence. Just go ahead and go big! Make it perfect and enjoy.
- Shredded cheese. Shredded cheese will melt more quickly and evenly than sliced, so its perfect for making a grilled cheese sandwich.
- White bread. Classic, simple, and a great toaster. Its also really good at soaking up all of that melty butter and creamy mayo.
What Is Grilled Cheese
Grilled cheese can come in many variations, but it starts as cheese melted between two pieces of bread.
Your basic grilled cheese sandwich comprises two slices of white bread with American cheese. The sandwich is then cooked with butter in a pan until the bread becomes golden brown and the cheese begins to melt.
Upgraded grilled cheese sandwiches may use fancier bread, such as sourdough or ciabatta, and melt together unique types of cheeses like mozzarella or Monterey Jack.
The type of cheese and bread you select, the amount of butter or mayonnaise you use to crisp the bread, and which additional toppings you may choose all affect the nutrition and flavor of your grilled cheese sandwich.
Summary
Grilled cheese is a classic sandwich that can come in many varieties. Depending on the toppings, bread, and amount of cheese you use, the flavor profile and nutrition will vary.
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The Best Tip For A Perfect Grilled Cheese
My friends, this is a must. I make grilled cheese without butter! Swap out the butter on the outside of the sandwich for mayonnaise. Cook mayonnaise side down in the pan.
Your grilled cheese will come out perfectly golden with a crust that doesnt get soggy and is not greasy!
If the pan is too hot, the cheese wont melt before the outside is cooked. If you notice the cheese taking awhile, cover it with a lid. The steam will help melt the cheese so it cooks evenly!
What Cheese Is Best For Grilled Cheese
Almost any cheese will work on a Grilled Cheese Sandwich. However, you want to stay away from cheeses that dont melt or slice well. Avoid feta, blue cheese, goat cheese, queso blanco, and white cheddar. Additionally, avoid using pre-shredded cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is coated with a material that stops it from sticking together in the bag. Unfortunately, that material also causes it to not melt as well. It will be grainy and lumpy. So, use sliced cheese or slice your own off of a block! Some of my favorite cheeses for Grilled Cheese are:
- Sharp Cheddar
- Colby Jack
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The Best Pan For Grilled Cheese
The pan is just as important, if not more so, than the bread and cheese. A flimsy skillet will grill your sandwich unevenly. A skillet thats too small makes it hard to maneuver the sandwich.
For one sandwich at a time, I like a 10-inch cast-iron skillet.
Grilled cheese sandwiches dont really stick to the pan, so if you dont have a nonstick pan, its fine. I prefer a cast-iron pan.
The Best Cheese To Use
My top choice is sharp cheddar cheese because its combination of firmness and flavor. This cheese has a solid structure that holds together and stretches nicely when heated, and during its aging process, it undergoes complex flavor development as it ripens. Other fallback options with similar firm characteristics are swiss cheese, gruyere, gouda, Monterey jack, pepper jack, and mozzarella.
Plastic wrapped American cheese is a convenient choice, although its flavor tends to be saltier. Kids usually dont mind, but this may turn off some adults. Soft and spreadable brie while delicious, can get a bit greasy when melted. For a stronger flavored sandwich, you can sprinkle on Parmesan or blue cheese in combination with one of the mild-flavored firm cheeses.
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Make It Better: Add Bacon
Bacon makes literally everything better, including an already great grilled cheese. Bacon pairs particularly well with melty cheddar or American cheese, but add it to any classically-prepared grilled cheese of your choice. If you want to go all out, you can even add a fried egg to your sandwich for a NYC-inspired BEC grilled cheese.
Making More Than One Grilled Cheese At A Time
For me, its easier to use a 10-inch skillet and grill just one or two sandwiches at once. Unless you have an amazing stovetop with giant burners, its difficult to have even heat distribution across a very large skillet, leaving your sandwiches with pale patches.
Need to make a bunch of grilled cheese sandwiches all at once? Try it in the oven:
The sandwiches wont be quite the same, being baked rather than grilled, but theyll all be ready to serve at once.
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How To Make A Grilled Cheese Using A Panini Press
The Spruce / Grilled Cheese Social
| Potassium 124mg | 3% |
| *The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
Using a panini press is one of the fastest and easiest methods for creating the perfect grilled cheese sandwich. The heat is evenly distributed from both sides, the weight from the top of the grill presses the sandwich perfectly, and most importantly thereâs no flipping involved. But itâs important that you follow a few steps when using a panini press to make grilled cheese, like using the right amount of cheese and fillings to assure your sandwich doesnât fall apart in the maker.
This is a basic recipe calling for bread, cheese, and butter or mayo, but feel free to enhance the sandwich as you like, using different types of cheese and add-ins like tomatoes and bacon. Just be sure to use a sturdy enough bread to handle the heat and weight of the panini press.
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1tablespoonsalted butter, softened, or mayonnaise
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Techniques For Making A Better Grilled Cheese
Are you looking for some easy cooking techniques and strategies for making a better grilled cheese sandwich? Here are some of our best tips.
- Toast the bread on a skillet. Forget about toasting your bread in a microwave or oven. Cook your bread in some butter or mayo in a skillet instead! This will help the bread develop a crispy, flavorful crust while remaining soft on the inside. It will give your grilled cheese a much better texture!
- Use a cast iron skillet. A cast iron skillet will heat up easily and maintain a high temperature without fail. That means that cast iron is perfect for getting a nice sear on your grilled cheese sandwich. The best part is that you do not have to worry about a cast iron skillet losing heat when it is full. That means that you can make multiple grilled cheese sandwiches at the same time!
- Toast both sides of the bread. Dont forget to toast both sides of your bread for a better grilled cheese. Toasting both sides of the bread makes your grilled cheese even tastier and it also helps the cheese inside of the bread melt faster.
- Butter the pan, not the bread. If you are using butter to toast your grilled cheese sandwich then you should make sure to put the butter on the pan rather than the bread. You should add the butter to the pan a minute or two before you add the bread to the pan so that it has time to cook and develop a richer flavor. Just make sure not to let it burn!
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Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe
Theres Grilled Cheese and theres GREAT Grilled Cheese. Learn how to make the best Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a crisp, buttery exterior and gooey cheese center.
Try this combination of cheeses and the process for buttering and cooking the toast and you will be known for your Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. All you need is a Creamy Tomato Soup to dunk your sandwich into.
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We love hot sandwiches from our Crispy Chicken Sandwich to Philly Cheesesteak. This Grilled Cheese recipe is well-loved by the whole family. Who can resist that impressive cheese pull? Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is. All you need is a skillet and a spatula.
Make It Better: Channel A Cheese Board
One of the most underrated but necessary parts of a perfectly-curated cheese board is a bit of fruit to balance out all of the salty, pungent cheeses. So channel that next time you make a grilled cheese by combining bold blue cheese with sweet, crisp Asian pears. A touch of hot pepper jelly helps complete that cheese board vibe.
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Fun Fact: Aged Cheese Doesnt Melt As Well
While it cooks, Kelsey explains that aged cheese doesnt melt well, and compares Parmigiano-Reggiano with processed American cheese. American cheese has longer protein strands, resulting in cheese pulls, and it has a lot of moisture, so it melts beautifully. Parmigiano-Reggiano, on the other hand, is a dry cheese and has short protein strands, so you wont get that melt and pull you were expecting.
What Pan To Use
I prefer to use my cast iron skillet as it maintains a consistent heat better and gives a superior crispy surface. A nonstick skillet works well and prevents sticking if using sweeter types of bread. In either case, you want to use very moderate heat for making the sandwiches, about medium-low or low if the bread is toasting too quickly.
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The Breville Perfect Press
I have to say that I was a little skeptical about a kitchen appliance that was specifically for making griddled sandwiches. After the Breville Perfect Press, I’m totally convinced that it is worth having. It’s quicker, it melts the cheese faster and more evenly since it cooks from the top and bottom at the same time.
