The Grilled Cheese Vs Burger: Which Came First?

The grilled cheese sandwich, sometimes known as a toasted sandwich, cheese toastie, or jaffle, is a hot cheese sandwich made by heating slices of cheese between slices of bread. The grilled cheese sandwich we know today is thought to have originated in the United States during the 1920s, when loaves of bread were inexpensive and processed cheese was readily available. However, similar recipes are mentioned in ancient Roman texts, and the French have been making their famous croque monsieurs since the early 1900s.

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The grilled cheese sandwich was popularised in the 1920s

Although the idea of putting bread and cheese together has been around since ancient times, the grilled cheese sandwich we know and love today was popularised in the 1920s. In the United States, loaves of bread were inexpensive and processed cheese had gained popularity, becoming readily available to the people. The grilled cheese quickly became a basic part of the average person's diet.

The 1920s also saw the invention of a bread slicer by Otto Frederick Rohwedder, considered "the father of sliced bread", which made distributing white bread easy and affordable. Shortly before that, processed cheese had been patented by James L. Kraft, an entrepreneur whose revolutionary pasteurising process ensured that cheese wouldn't spoil, even when transported long distances.

The grilled cheese sandwich remained popular through the Great Depression of the 1930s, due to its inexpensive ingredients. During World War II, the sandwich made its way into cookbooks found in the chef's kitchens. Government issue cookbooks tell us that Navy cooks broiled hundreds of "American cheese filling sandwiches" in ship's kitchens. The sandwich was economical, easy to make, and met government nutrition standards.

The term "grilled cheese" didn't make an appearance in print until the 1960s; before that, it was always "toasted cheese" or "melted cheese" sandwiches. However, recipes for similar sandwiches have been around for much longer. As early as 1902, a recipe for a "Melted Cheese", designed to be cooked in a hot oven, appeared in Sarah Tyson Rorer's "Mrs Rorer's New Cook Book". A recipe published in 1929 in Florence A. Cowles' "Seven Hundred Sandwiches" called to broil the ingredients to make "Toasted Cheese". "Toasted Sandwich", published in 1939 in "The Boston Cooking School Cook Book", encouraged preparers to broil the ingredients or even sauté them in a frying pan coated with butter.

The term 'grilled cheese' was first used in the 1960s

The grilled cheese sandwich was first made in the 1920s, but the term 'grilled cheese' was not used until the 1960s.

The grilled cheese sandwich, sometimes known as a toasted sandwich, cheese toastie, or jaffle, 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, until the bread browns and the cheese melts. Despite its name, the sandwich is rarely prepared through grilling; it is most often pan-fried.

The grilled cheese sandwich we know today is thought to have originated in the United States during the 1920s. At the time, loaves of bread were inexpensive and processed cheese had gained popularity, becoming readily available to the people. The grilled cheese quickly became a basic part of the average person’s diet, and it remained popular through the American Great Depression of the 1930s due to its inexpensive ingredients.

However, it wasn't until the 1960s that the term 'grilled cheese' was used to describe this sandwich. Before that, it was known as a toasted cheese or melted cheese sandwich. In the late 1960s, the sandwich began to be printed as 'Grilled Cheese' on menus.

The grilled cheese was made popular by the invention of sliced bread

While the idea of putting bread and cheese together has been around since ancient times, the grilled cheese sandwich we know today was made possible by the invention of sliced bread. In 1927, Otto Frederick Rohwedder, considered "the father of sliced bread", invented a bread slicer that made distributing white bread easy and affordable. Shortly before that, in 1914, processed cheese had been patented by James L. Kraft, an entrepreneur whose revolutionary pasteurising process ensured that cheese wouldn't spoil, even when transported long distances.

The grilled cheese sandwich, sometimes known as a toasted sandwich, cheese toastie or jaffle, 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, until the bread browns and the cheese melts.

The invention of sliced bread and processed cheese made grilled cheese sandwiches more convenient and affordable, and they quickly became a basic part of the average person's diet. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, grilled cheese sandwiches remained popular due to their inexpensive ingredients.

While the term "grilled cheese" didn't appear in print until the 1960s, recipes for similar sandwiches, such as "melted cheese" or "toasted cheese", date back to the early 1900s. In 1902, Sarah Tyson Rorer's cookbook, *Mrs Rorer's New Cookbook*, included a recipe for a "melted cheese" sandwich, which was adapted by restaurants across the United States. In 1929, Florence A. Cowles' *Seven Hundred Sandwiches* included a recipe for "Toasted Cheese", and in 1939, "The Boston Cooking School Cook Book" featured a recipe for "Toasted Sandwich".

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The grilled cheese was made popular by the invention of processed cheese

While the idea of putting bread and cheese together has been around since ancient times, the grilled cheese sandwich we know today was made popular by the invention of processed cheese. In the 1920s, loaves of bread were inexpensive and processed cheese had gained popularity, becoming readily available to the people. The grilled cheese quickly became a basic part of the average person’s diet.

Processed cheese was patented by James L. Kraft, an entrepreneur whose revolutionary pasteurising process ensured that cheese wouldn't spoil, even when transported long distances. By 1914, J.L. Kraft & Bros. Company (the precursor to Kraft Foods) opened its first plant in Illinois. Shortly after, in 1920, Otto Frederick Rohwedder, considered "the father of sliced bread", invented a bread slicer that made distributing white bread easy and affordable.

The grilled cheese sandwich was also made possible by the invention of the sandwich toaster. Despite its name, the sandwich is rarely prepared through grilling; it is most often pan-fried. 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 when the bread becomes toasted.

The term "grilled cheese" didn’t make an appearance in print until the 1960s; before that it was always "toasted cheese” or "melted cheese" sandwiches. As early as 1902, a recipe for a "Melted Cheese," designed to be cooked in a hot oven, appeared in Sarah Tyson Rorer's *Mrs. Rorer's New Cook Book*.

The grilled cheese was popular during the Great Depression due to its inexpensive ingredients

While the idea of putting bread and cheese together has been around since ancient times, the grilled cheese sandwich we know today is thought to have originated in the United States during the 1920s. At this time, loaves of bread were inexpensive and processed cheese had gained popularity, becoming readily available to the public.

The grilled cheese quickly became a staple of the average person's diet, and its popularity continued to grow during the Great Depression of the 1930s. This was due to its inexpensive ingredients: poor Americans could usually afford a grilled cheese sandwich, which provided enough nutrition to get them through the day.

The sandwich was originally made open-faced, with grated American cheese and toppings such as tomatoes, eggs, pineapple and bacon. Eventually, people began adding another slice of bread on top to make the meal more filling.

During World War II, grilled cheese sandwiches were popular among Allied soldiers, who often requested them as part of their rations. The term 'grilled cheese' didn't appear in print until the 1960s, when it began to be used on menus.

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