Bushra Griffith
Grilled cheese is a classic comfort food that is quick and easy to make. The key to a perfect grilled cheese is getting the bread to brown and
How to make grilled cheese in a pan
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bread thickness | 1-inch thick slices |
| Bread type | Sourdough, Italian country bread, egg bread, rye, Texas Toast |
| Butter | Softened, spread on the outside of the sandwich |
| Mayo | Full-fat mayo for flavor and creaminess |
| Spices | Creole seasoning, cayenne, paprika, onion powder |
| Cheese | Gouda, sharp cheddar, muenster |
| Pan type | Non-stick, cast iron, stainless steel |
| Pan temperature | Medium-low heat |
| Cooking time | 2-5 minutes on each side |
| Serving | Cut in half, serve immediately |
| Storage | Wrap tightly and store in the fridge for up to 3 days |
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What You'll Learn
Start with a cold pan
How to Make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich in a Pan
Starting with a cold pan is a great way to ensure your grilled cheese sandwich turns out perfectly. This method gives the bread time to heat up and the cheese time to melt before the bread browns and toasts, resulting in a sandwich with melted cheese and crisp bread. Here's a step-by-step guide to achieving grilled cheese perfection:
Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients and Pan
Start by choosing a heavy-bottomed skillet, preferably cast iron, but stainless steel or non-stick also work well. Put the pan on the stovetop but don't turn it on just yet. Slice your bread to about a finger-width thickness, which is similar to most commercially sliced bread. Grate your cheese and toss the varieties together in a bowl if you're using more than one type. This is also a good time to gather any extra ingredients you might want to add, such as apple slices, pickled jalapeños, or grainy mustard.
Step 2: Build Your Sandwich
Spread room-temperature butter on one side of each bread slice. If your butter is cold, it may rip into the bread, so soften it in the microwave for a few seconds. Sprinkle your cold pan with salt, then place one slice of bread, butter-side down. Build your sandwich by sprinkling on the cheese and adding any extra ingredients. Finally, top it with another slice of bread, butter-side up, and season with salt. You can cook more than one sandwich at a time, depending on the size of your pan.
Step 3: Turn on the Heat
Only after your sandwiches are in the pan, turn on the heat to medium. As the pan heats up, you'll smell the butter and cheese melting, and then you'll hear the sizzle of the bread crisping. This first side will take about five to seven minutes to go from cold and buttered to crispy and brown. Use a thin, flat spatula to flip the sandwich and cook the other side for four to five minutes.
Step 4: Serve and Enjoy
Once both sides are golden brown, transfer the grilled cheese sandwiches to a cutting board. Cut them in half and serve immediately for the ultimate melted, cheesy experience. Enjoy!
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Use butter, not mayo
When making grilled cheese, you can use either butter or mayonnaise to coat your bread. However, there are several reasons why you may prefer to use butter.
First, butter lends a creamy, nostalgic flavour to your sandwich. While mayonnaise has a more neutral flavour profile, butter's richness adds a sweet nuttiness to your grilled cheese.
Second, if you're making grilled cheese in a pan, you'll want to avoid burning milk solids. Butter has a relatively low smoke point, which means it starts to smoke and burn between 302 to 350 F. However, the fat in mayonnaise can withstand high temperatures, so you can take your time to brown your sandwich without worrying about burning milk solids.
Third, while mayonnaise is less expensive and more spreadable straight out of the fridge, you'll need to let it sit at room temperature and stir it into the butter if you want to combine the two spreads. This makes using a combination of butter and mayonnaise more time-consuming than using butter alone.
Finally, while celebrities like Joanna Gaines, Antoni Porowski, and Martha Stewart swear by mayonnaise as the secret to their sandwiches, the thought of using mayo causes some grilled cheese purists to recoil.
So, while you can use either butter or mayonnaise to make grilled cheese, you may prefer to use butter for its flavour, convenience, and tradition.
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Bread thickness matters
If you're using thicker bread, such as Texas Toast, you may need to adjust the cooking time to make sure the cheese melts properly. You can also secure the sandwich with toothpicks to prevent shifting during cooking. On the other hand, if your bread is too thin, it may become flimsy and fall apart. Regular sliced white bread will work, but some people prefer bread with more flavor and substance, such as sourdough, Italian country bread, egg bread, or rye.
To get the perfect grilled cheese sandwich, it's important to start with a cold pan and let the bread heat up gradually. This will help the cheese melt before the bread gets too toasted. You can also try sprinkling the pan with salt before adding the bread to enhance the flavor. When assembling the sandwich, coat just one side of each bread slice with softened butter to create a barrier between the bread and the pan.
Once your sandwich is assembled, place it in the pan and cook it over medium heat until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown. Be sure to flip the sandwich halfway through to ensure even cooking. With the right bread thickness and cooking technique, you'll end up with a delicious, crispy grilled cheese sandwich!
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Don't forget salt
When making grilled cheese, it's easy to forget to season with salt, but this can make a big difference to the overall flavour of your sandwich. Salt enhances the flavour of the cheese, so if your grilled cheese doesn't taste cheesy enough, a pinch of salt is a quick and easy way to fix it. You can sprinkle salt on the inside of your sandwich, or on top of the bread before you start cooking.
If you're looking to make the ultimate grilled cheese, there are a few other things to keep in mind. Firstly, the bread you use is important. Thick-sliced bread, like Texas Toast, is best. If your bread is too thick, the cheese won't melt properly, and if it's too thin, the sandwich will be flimsy. Aim for slices that are about 1-inch thick. You can also try toasting the bread in a toaster on the bagel setting before you start cooking to add an extra crunch. When it comes to spreading butter on your bread, make sure it's softened so that it spreads evenly and toasts without burning. You can soften butter by microwaving it for five seconds, or by placing it under an upside-down, recently boiled cup for 5-10 minutes.
Now, for the cooking. It's best to use a heavy-bottomed skillet pan, like cast iron or stainless steel. Start with a cold pan, and sprinkle it with salt. Then, place your bread, butter-side down, and build your sandwich on top, sprinkling on the cheese and any extras before topping with another slice of bread, butter-side up. Only turn on the heat once your sandwiches are in the pan. Start with medium heat so that the bread warms up and the cheese melts, and listen out for the telltale sizzle of crisping bread. It should take around five to seven minutes for the first side to crisp up, then flip and cook for another four to five minutes.
Finally, don't forget to let your grilled cheese cool slightly before you dig in!
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Flip at the right time
The key to a perfect grilled cheese sandwich is getting the bread to brown and crisp while melting the cheese to gooey perfection. The right time to flip the sandwich is when the cheese has just begun to melt and the bread is golden brown. This should take about 2 minutes.
If you are using a cold pan method, you will need to be patient as it will take around 5 to 7 minutes for the first side to turn golden brown. Once you smell the butter and cheese melting and hear the telltale sizzle of crisping bread, it's time to flip the sandwich. Use a thin, flat spatula to carefully turn the sandwich onto the other side and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes.
If you are using a hot pan, the process will be faster. Heat a large non-stick pan or griddle over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes. Place the sandwiches in the pan and cook until the edges start to show small bubbles of melting butter, which should take about 5 minutes. Flip the sandwich before the bottom blackens and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
For an extra crispy sandwich, press each sandwich firmly with a spatula after flipping to flatten it slightly. You can also try this technique with a hot pan by flipping the sandwich, pressing it with a spatula, and cooking for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute.
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