The Perfect Patty Melt: Choosing The Right Cheese

A patty melt is a sandwich made with a beef patty, caramelized onions, and cheese, served between two slices of bread. While Swiss cheese is the most traditional choice, other popular options include American, cheddar, or provolone.

Swiss cheese

A patty melt is a type of sandwich, often served in diners, that combines a thin beef patty, caramelized onions, and melted cheese between slices of toasted bread. It is a combination of a grilled cheese sandwich and a burger, and it is pure comfort food.

When making a patty melt with Swiss cheese, it is important to toast the bread first to give the cheese a head start on melting. You can also try combining Swiss cheese with another type of cheese, such as American cheese, to increase the gooeyness of the sandwich.

In addition to Swiss cheese, other common cheeses used in patty melts include provolone, cheddar, and fontina. However, Swiss cheese is a classic choice that will give your patty melt a traditional flavour.

Provolone

When making a patty melt with provolone, it is important to toast the bread before adding the cheese. This helps to ensure that the cheese melts properly and that the bread does not become soggy. The key to a successful patty melt is to get all the elements to fuse together harmoniously, creating a cohesive whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

To start constructing your provolone patty melt, toast your bread of choice. A classic choice is rye bread, but you can also use white bread, sourdough, brioche, or Texas toast. Once the bread is toasted, layer on the provolone cheese. Two slices of cheese are usually recommended to ensure maximum meltiness.

Next, prepare your beef patty. Form the ground beef into a patty that is roughly the same size and shape as your bread. Season the patty with salt and pepper, or other seasonings of your choice, and cook it in a skillet until a dark brown crust forms on both sides. You can also add Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, or other seasonings to the beef for extra flavour.

While the patty is cooking, you can caramelize your onions. Slice an onion and cook it slowly in a skillet over medium to medium-low heat with some butter. Cook the onions until they are a deep brown colour and have a sweet and tangy flavour. You can also add a splash of vinegar to brighten the flavour.

Once your beef patty and onions are cooked, it's time to assemble the sandwich. Place the beef patty on top of the provolone-covered bread, and add the caramelized onions on top. If desired, you can also add some sauce, such as Thousand Island dressing, Russian dressing, or plain prepared horseradish. Finally, top with another slice of bread and grill the sandwich in a skillet until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

The result is a delicious, comforting sandwich that combines the best elements of a grilled cheese and a burger. The provolone cheese adds a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth texture that elevates the flavours of the beef and onions. Enjoy your provolone patty melt as a hearty meal, paired with a cold beer or a bright, acidic side dish.

American cheese

When preparing a patty melt with American cheese, it is important to toast the bread before assembling the sandwich. This can be done by toasting the inner-facing side of each slice of bread in butter, which not only warms the bread but also helps the cheese melt more easily and ensures a firm fusion between the bread and cheese.

The process of making a patty melt with American cheese follows standard steps. First, the onions are cooked and seasoned, then the ground beef is formed into patties and seasoned. Next, the bread is toasted and buttered, and the cheese is layered on top, followed by the cooked patty and caramelized onions. Finally, the sandwich is grilled or cooked in a skillet until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

Cheddar cheese

A patty melt is a simple sandwich with a complex flavour. It consists of a thin beef patty, caramelised onions, and melted cheese between two slices of crispy, toasted bread. It's a hearty sandwich and is considered pure comfort food.

The key to a good patty melt is the caramelised onions, which take time and patience to cook properly. You need to slowly cook the onions until their sugars break down, causing them to brown and become sweet and tangy. This process gives the patty melt a crave-worthy, complex flavour.

When making a patty melt, you can use any type of bread you like. Classic choices include rye bread, sourdough, or simple white or wheat sandwich bread. For the beef patty, form the ground beef into thin patties, season with salt and pepper, and cook in a skillet until browned.

To assemble the sandwich, spread butter on one side of the bread slices and place them butter-side down in a skillet. Top the bread with a slice of cheddar cheese, followed by the beef patty, caramelised onions, and another slice of cheddar. Place the second slice of bread on top, buttered-side up, and grill the sandwich until the bread is toasted and the cheese is melted.

Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese in your patty melt, such as Swiss, American, Mueller, or provolone. You can also add sauces like Thousand Island dressing, Russian dressing, or plain prepared horseradish to give it your own unique twist.

Fontina

When making a patty melt with Fontina, it is essential to use good bread. A sturdy slice of sourdough bread or rye bread can make all the difference. To build a patty melt, you can spread some mustard on the bread, add a cooked patty, a few slices of Fontina, and other toppings of your choice, such as sautéed spinach or caramelised onions. Then, add the top slice of bread, lightly buttered, and cook the sandwich until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted.

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