Patrick Oconnell
A grilled cheese sandwich is a classic, comforting dish. It's a simple pleasure, but there are a few tricks to making the perfect grilled cheese. The first step is choosing the right bread—it should be soft yet sturdy, and no more than 1/2-inch thick. White bread is a common choice, but sourdough is also popular for its tang. Next, you'll need to select a cheese with good meltability, such as American, cheddar, or gouda. You can use butter, mayonnaise, or a combination of both for a crisp, golden exterior. Some recipes suggest spreading the condiment on the outside of the bread, while others recommend placing it in the pan first. Once you've assembled your sandwich, it's time to grill! Place your sandwich in a pan over medium heat and cook until golden and crispy, then flip and repeat. Serve immediately for the ultimate gooey, cheesy treat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bread | Sourdough, white bread, whole-wheat, rye, potato bread, brioche, or regular bread |
| Butter | Salted or unsalted |
| Mayonnaise | |
| Cheese | American, cheddar, pepper jack, havarti, gruyère, raclette, gouda, mozzarella, or monterey jack |
| Other ingredients | Tomato, onion, jalapeño, mustard, fig jam, pickles, pesto |
| Pan | Cast-iron skillet |
| Stove setting | Medium to medium-low heat |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right bread
When it comes to choosing the right bread for your grilled cheese, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, it's important to select a type of bread that is soft yet sturdy, ensuring it's not too thick—around half an inch is ideal. This will help create a crispy texture, giving you that desirable golden crunch.
White bread is a classic choice for grilled cheese, but don't be afraid to experiment with other options. Sourdough is a popular pick, adding a tangy flavour to your sandwich. If you're feeling indulgent, brioche can be a delicious option, while whole wheat and rye offer a healthier twist. Even potato bread can be used for a unique take on the classic grilled cheese.
For an extra crispy exterior, consider toasting your bread in a toaster on bagel mode before placing it in the pan. This adds a nice crunch to your sandwich. If you're using butter, salted butter can enhance the flavour, but unsalted butter works just as well.
When assembling your sandwich, remember to keep the buttered sides on the outside. This will ensure that your grilled cheese cooks up beautifully golden brown and crispy. If you're using mayonnaise instead of butter, spread it on the outside of the bread for that perfect browning and extra richness.
Now that you've chosen the right bread, you're well on your way to crafting the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich!
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Butter or mayonnaise?
When it comes to making a grilled cheese sandwich, one of the most hotly debated topics is whether to use butter or mayonnaise. Both spreads have their pros and cons, and the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference.
Butter is the traditional choice for grilled cheese. It is creamy and decadent, with a lightly sweet flavour from the milk solids that transforms into a nutty, toasty flavour when cooked. It pairs well with cheese, as it shares many of the same ingredients. When spread on the outside of the bread, butter helps to create a crispy, golden crust and a perfect texture. However, butter can be more difficult to spread evenly, and it can burn more easily due to the milk solids.
Mayonnaise, on the other hand, has become an increasingly popular alternative to butter. It has a more neutral flavour profile, allowing the cheese and other fillings to shine. Mayonnaise also has a higher fat content, which can withstand high temperatures, making it less likely to burn. This gives you more time to achieve the perfect level of browning on your sandwich. However, some people may not like the idea of using mayonnaise due to its more savoury flavour and less creamy texture.
In terms of convenience, mayonnaise is easier to spread and yields a nicer texture. It also helps the bread to brown more evenly, creating a mouthwatering crunch. However, if you prefer the classic, creamy flavour of butter, you may not want to give it up.
Ultimately, the choice between butter and mayonnaise comes down to personal preference. If you're a traditionalist, you'll likely stick with butter for its flavour and texture. If you're looking for a more convenient option that browns more evenly, mayonnaise may be the way to go. Or, you could try a combination of both, spreading butter on the inside of the sandwich and mayonnaise on the outside, to get the best of both worlds.
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The best cheeses
When it comes to grilled cheese, the best cheeses are those that melt well. You can use any semi-hard cheese, but some melt better than others, achieving that signature gooey cheese pull.
A popular choice for grilled cheese is a combination of two cheeses: a mild melting cheese, like mozzarella, and a cheese with a stronger flavour, like vintage cheddar or Gruyère. Mozzarella is known for its excellent melt and stretch, while vintage cheddar and Gruyère offer a sharp, nutty flavour. Other good melting cheeses include Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, and Muenster.
For a more complex flavour, you can add a third cheese to the mix. Brie, raclette, and Fontina are all excellent melting cheeses that pair well with cheddar and Gruyère. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even add some sliced apples or a slather of fig jam to your grilled cheese for a gourmet touch.
If you're a fan of the classic grilled cheese flavour, American cheese is a great option. It's a processed form of mild, Colby-like cheese that melts evenly and has a familiar, comforting taste.
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Grilling techniques
Grilled cheese sandwiches are a classic comfort food. While there are hundreds of variations, the basic principles of grilling the sandwich remain the same.
First, choose your cheese. Classic options include American, cheddar, and gouda, but really any melty cheese will do. Low-moisture cheeses tend to melt better. If you're feeling fancy, try gruyère, brie, or havarti. You can even use a combination of cheeses. Next, select your bread. Sourdough, white bread, and brioche all work well, but any bread will do. Just make sure the slices are not too thick—about 1/2-inch thick is ideal.
Now, it's time to assemble the sandwich. If you're a purist, simply butter the outside of the bread and place the cheese in the middle. However, many people swear by using mayonnaise instead of butter for a crispier sandwich. You can also try adding dijon mustard, sliced tomato, onion, or even pickles to your sandwich for extra flavour.
Once your sandwich is assembled, it's time to grill it. Use a medium skillet, preferably one made from cast iron, and melt a tablespoon of butter in the pan over medium heat. Place your sandwich in the skillet and cook until golden brown and the cheese is starting to melt. Flip the sandwich with a thin metal spatula and cook until the other side is golden and the cheese is fully melted. If you're using a non-stick pan or a sandwich press, you may not need to flip the sandwich at all.
Finally, let the sandwich cool slightly, slice it if desired, and enjoy! Grilled cheese sandwiches are best served right away while the cheese is still gooey.
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Adding extras
There are many ways to elevate a grilled cheese sandwich by adding a few extra ingredients. If you want to stick to a classic grilled cheese, you can try adding sliced tomato, raw white onion, or jalapeño for a bit of heat. You can also experiment with different types of cheese, such as a combination of American and pepper jack, or Swiss cheeses like Gruyère or raclette.
For a more gourmet grilled cheese, try using a mix of Gruyere and brie cheese along with thinly sliced apples or a spread of fig jam. If you like pickles, you can add pickled red onions, radishes, or jalapeños for a tangy crunch. You can also experiment with different sauces—try replacing the mustard with pesto, for example, or another sauce you love.
Another way to elevate your grilled cheese is to experiment with different types of bread. While white bread is a classic choice, you can also try sourdough, rye, whole-wheat, potato bread, or even a brioche loaf. Just make sure the slices aren't too thick, so you get a nice crispy texture.
Finally, don't be afraid to play around with different cooking methods. Some people like to toast their bread in a toaster first before assembling the sandwich and cooking it in a pan. Others like to cook their grilled cheese in a sandwich press or on a skillet. You can also try cooking your sandwich with a combination of butter and mayonnaise for an extra crispy exterior.
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