Starbucks' Grilled Cheese: What's The Cheesy Secret?

Starbucks' grilled cheese sandwich is made with a combination of mozzarella and white cheddar cheese, sandwiched between slices of sourdough bread. The sandwich is coated with a parmesan butter spread, which gives it a salty, crispy texture. The Starbucks grilled cheese sandwich is a popular item on their menu and can be easily recreated at home with a few simple ingredients.

Mozzarella and white cheddar are the two cheeses inside the sandwich

Mozzarella and white cheddar are the two cheeses inside the Starbucks grilled cheese sandwich. The sandwich is made by spreading a mixture of butter, parmesan, and garlic powder on the outside of each slice of sourdough bread. The cheese is then layered on the non-buttered side of the bread, with two slices of sharp cheddar and one slice of mozzarella. The sandwich is grilled on a skillet or griddle pan over low to medium-low heat for about 5 minutes on each side, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

The combination of mozzarella and white cheddar creates a gooey, stringy, and tangy texture with a sharp bite. The butter-parmesan crust adds a crispy, salty, and garlicky flavour to the sandwich. The sourdough bread provides the perfect tanginess to complement the cheeses.

The Starbucks grilled cheese sandwich is a popular item on their menu, surprising customers with its addictively yummy and quality taste. It is a simple yet fancy sandwich that can be easily customised with different types of cheese and add-ons such as bacon, rotisserie chicken, or thinly sliced apples.

The key to achieving the perfect melt is to keep the heat low and slow so that the cheese melts before the bread browns too quickly. This prevents the sandwich from becoming soggy and ensures that the cheese is fully melted and stretchy.

The outside of the sandwich is coated in a parmesan butter spread

The outside of the Starbucks grilled cheese sandwich is coated in a parmesan butter spread, which gives the sandwich a crispy, salty, and buttery texture. To make the spread, you'll need softened butter, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder or a crushed garlic clove. Mix these ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth. You can also add a pinch of salt if your butter is unsalted.

Once you have your spread ready, it's time to assemble the sandwich. Start by spreading the mixture generously on the outside of each slice of sourdough bread. On the non-buttered side of the bread, layer your cheese. You can use a combination of mozzarella and white cheddar cheese, or get creative and use other melty cheeses like provolone, havarti, or fontina.

After your sandwich is assembled, it's time to cook it. Heat a skillet or griddle pan over medium-low heat and place your sandwich in the pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted. If the bread is browning too quickly, lower the heat and cover the pan with a lid or a cookie sheet to help the cheese melt.

The parmesan butter spread adds a delicious crispy texture and a salty, buttery flavor to the grilled cheese sandwich. It's a simple way to elevate a classic sandwich and make it extra special.

The bread used is sourdough

The bread used in the Starbucks grilled cheese sandwich is sourdough. Sourdough is a type of bread that has a tangy flavour and a chewy texture. It is made with a sourdough starter, which is a mixture of flour and water that has been fermented by wild yeast and bacteria. This gives the bread its characteristic sour taste and also helps to preserve it. Sourdough bread is often thicker and chewier than other types of bread, making it ideal for grilled cheese sandwiches as it can stand up to the weight of the cheese and withstand the heat of the grill without falling apart.

Sourdough bread has a long history and is believed to be one of the oldest forms of leavened bread. It is thought to have originated in ancient Egypt, where the wild yeast present in the air would have naturally fermented the dough, giving it a sour taste. Sourdough bread remained a staple in European cuisine for centuries, and it was brought to the United States by European immigrants. Today, it is still a popular type of bread that is enjoyed all over the world, including in the form of Starbucks' grilled cheese sandwiches.

When making a Starbucks grilled cheese sandwich at home, it is important to use thick slices of sourdough bread. This is because the bread needs to be substantial enough to hold the weight of the cheese and to prevent it from becoming soggy. The thickness of the bread also helps to create a crispy, toasted exterior while ensuring that the inside remains soft and chewy.

In addition to its practical benefits, the use of sourdough bread in the Starbucks grilled cheese sandwich also contributes to its unique flavour profile. The tanginess of the sourdough complements the sharpness of the white cheddar cheese and the gooey texture of the mozzarella cheese. The sourdough bread is also coated in a garlic parmesan butter spread, which adds a crunchy texture and a salty, savoury flavour to the sandwich.

Overall, the choice of sourdough bread in the Starbucks grilled cheese sandwich is a key component that elevates this simple dish. The thickness, tanginess, and chewy texture of the bread make it the perfect vessel for the melted cheese, while the garlic parmesan butter spread adds a delicious savoury kick.

The sandwich is cooked in a skillet or frying pan

To make a Starbucks grilled cheese sandwich, you'll need a skillet or frying pan, as well as the following ingredients:

• Sourdough bread
• Butter
• Parmesan cheese
• Garlic (either powder or a clove)
• Mozzarella cheese
• Sharp white cheddar cheese

Start by making a butter spread. Add the softened butter to a bowl and melt it in the microwave for around 10-15 seconds. Then, add in the parmesan and garlic, and mix until smooth.

Next, it's time to build the sandwich. Spread the garlic parmesan butter on the outside of each slice of bread. On the non-buttered side, add two slices of sharp cheddar and one slice of mozzarella.

Now, it's time to cook your sandwich. Heat a large nonstick skillet over low heat and place the sandwich inside, cooking for around 5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and toasted. It's important to keep the heat low to ensure the cheese melts before the bread browns too quickly.

Once your sandwich is golden brown and the cheese is melted, remove it from the skillet, slice it in half, and enjoy your homemade Starbucks grilled cheese!

The sandwich is cut in half before serving

The Starbucks Grilled Cheese sandwich is a popular menu item, and it's easy to recreate at home. The sandwich is cut in half before serving, and this is important for a few reasons. Firstly, it makes the sandwich more manageable to eat. A whole grilled cheese sandwich can be messy and difficult to bite into. By cutting it in half, it becomes more portable and convenient for customers who may be on the go.

Secondly, cutting the sandwich in half allows the melted cheese to stretch and create that signature "gooey" texture that is so appealing in a grilled cheese sandwich. The sight and smell of melted cheese oozing out of a freshly grilled sandwich are irresistible and can entice customers to purchase it. The act of cutting the sandwich also helps to distribute the cheese evenly throughout, ensuring every bite is packed with flavour.

Additionally, cutting the sandwich in half allows it to cool down slightly before serving. This is important for food safety reasons, as it prevents customers from burning their mouths on scorching hot cheese. It also ensures that the sandwich is served at the perfect temperature, where the cheese is still melted but not so hot that it burns the mouth.

Cutting the sandwich in half is also a practical step that makes it easier to package and serve. A whole grilled cheese sandwich might be too bulky to fit into standard sandwich packaging, but by cutting it in half, it becomes more compact and easier to wrap and secure for serving. This is especially important for Starbucks, as they often package their food items to-go, and a neatly cut and packaged sandwich is more appealing to customers.

Finally, cutting the sandwich in half creates a visually appealing presentation. Customers can see the layers of cheese and bread, and it adds a sense of uniformity to the sandwich. It also allows for easier customisation, as customers can request additional toppings or spreads to be added to one half of the sandwich, creating a unique flavour profile.

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