Kamil Perry
The grilled cheese sandwich is a classic, but it has many names and variations around the world. In the UK, it is known as a toasted sandwich or a cheese toastie, while in Australia, it is called a jaffle. In the United States, the grilled cheese has a long history, with the open-faced cheese dream becoming popular during the Great Depression and Navy cooks broiling American cheese filling sandwiches during World War II. Today, some US restaurants, food carts, and food trucks specialize in gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. No matter the name or location, the key component is melted cheese, with some variations including additional ingredients such as peppers, tomatoes, or onions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Grilled cheese |
| Other names | Toasted sandwich, cheese toastie, jaffle, panini, Reuben sandwich, quesadilla, croque monsieur, Welsh rarebit |
| Description | A hot cheese sandwich |
| Preparation | Slices of cheese between slices of bread with a cooking fat such as butter or mayonnaise |
| Cooking method | Frying pan, griddle, or sandwich toaster |
| Cooking temperature | Until the bread browns and the cheese melts |
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What You'll Learn
Toasted sandwich
A toasted sandwich, also known as a grilled cheese, is a hot sandwich with cheese as its key ingredient. The sandwich is typically prepared by heating slices of cheese between slices of bread with a cooking fat such as butter or mayonnaise on a frying pan, griddle, or sandwich toaster. This is done until the bread browns and the cheese melts. The grilled cheese sandwich goes by many names and comes in many forms around the world. In the UK, it is commonly called a cheese toastie, whereas in Australia, it is known as a jaffle.
The French croque monsieur is a baked or fried ham and cheese sandwich made with brioche-like or buttery bread. It is often topped with béchamel sauce for added richness. Another French variation is the croque madame, which differs from the croque monsieur by having a fried egg on top.
The Welsh rarebit, also known as Welsh rabbit, is a distinctly British creation that originated in the 18th century. It consists of a hot cheese-based sauce served over slices of toasted bread. The dish does not contain rabbit, despite its name, and is sometimes referred to as a British or Scots rabbit.
The Reuben sandwich is another variation of the grilled cheese that typically includes corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on rye bread. It is often grilled or toasted to melt the cheese and combine the flavours.
The grilled cheese sandwich is a versatile dish that can be adapted to different cultural and regional preferences, resulting in a variety of names and forms around the globe.
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Cheese toastie
The grilled cheese sandwich goes by many names and comes in many forms around the world. In the UK, a grilled cheese sandwich is known as a "cheese toastie". A cheese toastie is typically prepared by heating slices of cheese between slices of bread with a cooking fat such as butter or mayonnaise on a frying pan, griddle, or sandwich toaster. The sandwich is cooked until the bread is browned and the cheese is melted. While it is called a "grilled cheese", the sandwich is rarely grilled and is most often pan-fried.
The history of the grilled cheese sandwich dates back to the 19th century. Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, published in 1861, included a recipe for a grilled cheese sandwich made with brown bread, butter, and slices of "a nice fat Cheshire or any good rich cheese". The book recommended placing the sandwiches in the oven and serving them once the bread was toasted.
Over time, the grilled cheese sandwich has evolved and taken on different forms. In the United States, during the Great Depression, the "cheese dream" became popular. This was an open-faced grilled cheese sandwich that provided a comforting and affordable meal during difficult economic times. During World War II, Navy cooks were also known to prepare "American cheese filling sandwiches", as described in U.S. government cookbooks.
In other parts of the world, the grilled cheese sandwich has its own unique variations and names. For example, in Australia, a grilled cheese sandwich is known as a "jaffle". The French have their version called a "croque monsieur", which is a baked or fried ham and cheese sandwich made with brioche-like or buttery bread and often topped with béchamel sauce.
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Jaffle
A grilled cheese sandwich is known as a "jaffle" in Australia. It is a hot cheese sandwich typically prepared by heating slices of cheese between slices of bread with a cooking fat, such as butter or mayonnaise, on a frying pan, griddle, or sandwich toaster. The sandwich is cooked until the bread is browned and the cheese is melted. While it is called a "grilled" cheese, it is rarely prepared through grilling and is most often pan-fried.
The term "jaffle" is thought to have originated from the word "gaufre," which is French for "waffle." The word "gaufre" is also the root of the word "jaffle," which was originally used to describe a type of iron or machine used to cook waffles. Over time, the term "jaffle" evolved to refer specifically to a grilled cheese sandwich in Australia.
In other parts of the world, a grilled cheese sandwich may also be called a toastie in the UK, a panini in Italy, a quesadilla in Mexico, or a croque monsieur in France. Each of these variations has its own unique preparation methods and ingredients, but they all share the common element of melted cheese.
The history of the grilled cheese sandwich dates back to the 1800s. An 1861 English recipe book, Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management, includes a recipe for brown bread and butter sandwiches with slices of "a nice fat Cheshire or any good rich cheese" that are heated in an oven and served when the bread is toasted. During the Great Depression in the United States, the "cheese dream," an open-faced grilled cheese sandwich, became a popular dish.
Today, the jaffle, or grilled cheese sandwich, remains a beloved comfort food in many parts of the world, offering a simple yet satisfying combination of melted cheese and toasted bread.
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Cheese dream
The cheese dream, an open-faced grilled cheese sandwich, became popular in the US during the Great Depression. It is also known as a "toasted sandwich", "cheese toastie" (in the UK), or "jaffle" (in Australia). Despite the name "grilled cheese", the sandwich is rarely grilled and is most often pan-fried. It is typically prepared by heating slices of cheese between slices of bread with a cooking fat, such as butter or mayonnaise, in a frying pan, on a griddle, or in a sandwich toaster. The bread browns and the cheese melts.
The cheese dream is similar to other dishes from around the world that feature melted cheese, such as the Italian panini, the French croque monsieur, the British Welsh rarebit, and the Mexican quesadilla. The Welsh rarebit, also known as "Welsh rabbit" or simply "rabbit", is a distinctly British creation that consists of a hot cheese-based sauce served over slices of toasted bread. The French croque monsieur is a baked or fried ham and cheese sandwich made with brioche-like or buttery bread and often topped with béchamel sauce.
The history of the grilled cheese sandwich dates back to at least the 19th century. The 1861 English recipe book, Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management, includes a recipe for placing sandwiches of brown bread and butter with slices of "a nice fat Cheshire or any good rich cheese" into an oven and serving them when the bread becomes toasted. During World War II, US government cookbooks described Navy cooks broiling "American cheese filling sandwiches".
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Panini, Reuben sandwich, quesadilla, croque monsieur, or Welsh rarebit
A grilled cheese sandwich goes by many names and comes in many forms worldwide. Here are some other names for a grilled cheese:
Panini
An Italian panini is a type of grilled cheese sandwich. It is typically made with artisan bread and various cheeses, such as Jarlsberg®, and can be served with additional toppings such as bacon or prosciutto. A panini is usually prepared using a panini press, but it can also be cooked in a pan.
Reuben Sandwich
The Reuben sandwich is another variety of grilled cheese. While it typically contains additional ingredients like corned beef or pastrami, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing, cheese is a key component.
Quesadilla
A quesadilla is a Mexican dish that can be considered a variation of a grilled cheese sandwich. It is made by filling a tortilla with cheese, folding it in half, and cooking it on a griddle until the cheese melts and the tortilla is toasted.
Croque Monsieur
The croque monsieur is a French grilled cheese sandwich. It is typically made with brioche-like or buttery bread, baked or fried ham, and cheese. It is often topped with a béchamel sauce for added richness.
Welsh Rarebit
Welsh rarebit, also known as Welsh rabbit, is a British creation that consists of a hot cheese-based sauce served over slices of toasted bread. This dish is less common globally than the others mentioned, but it is a distinct and unique variation of a grilled cheese sandwich.
While the specific ingredients and preparation methods may vary, all these dishes share the key element of combining bread and cheese to create a delicious, comforting meal.
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Frequently asked questions
Grilled cheese sandwiches are also known as toasted sandwiches, cheese toasties, or jaffles.
A toastie is a squished version of a grilled cheese sandwich made in a toastie maker.
In Italy, a grilled cheese sandwich is called a panini, in Mexico, it's a quesadilla, and in France, it's a croque monsieur.
A croque monsieur is a baked or fried ham and cheese sandwich made with brioche-like or buttery bread. It is often topped with béchamel sauce.
