Frederic Melton
The grilled cheese sandwich is a classic comfort food enjoyed by many. Although it is unclear when exactly the first grilled cheese was made, the dish is believed to have gained popularity during the Great Depression in the 1930s. The inexpensive combination of bread and cheese provided a nutritious meal for many poor Americans. The grilled cheese sandwich was also a favourite among the Allied Armed Forces during World War II, further cementing its place in the American diet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | The Ancient Romans were the first civilization to make a cooked bread and cheese sandwich. However, the version we know today came about in the 1920s. |
| Reason | Inexpensive loaves of bread and processed cheese acted as a catalyst for public consumption. |
| Original Recipe | An open-faced sandwich with grated American cheese and toppings such as tomatoes, eggs, pineapple, and bacon. |
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What You'll Learn
The Ancient Romans cooked with bread and cheese
The Ancient Romans were the first civilisation to make a cooked bread and cheese sandwich, according to some sources. Indeed, ancient Roman texts mention similar recipes, and the Romans are said to have broadly directed the eating of bread and cheese together for dinner. French cookbooks from the same period also make reference to the combination of bread and cheese, with the French making their famous croque monsieurs (toasted bread, melted cheese, and ham) since the early 1900s.
The modern grilled cheese sandwich, however, is commonly traced back to the 1920s, when inexpensive loaves of bread and processed cheese became widely available, acting as a catalyst for public consumption of grilled cheese. In particular, the invention of the bread slicer by Otto Frederick Rohwedder, considered the "father of sliced bread", made distributing white bread easy and affordable. At the same time, processed cheese had been patented by James L. Kraft, an entrepreneur whose pasteurizing process ensured that cheese wouldn't spoil during transportation.
During the Great Depression in the 1930s, the grilled cheese sandwich became a staple of the American diet, as it was an inexpensive and nutritious meal. The sandwiches were typically made open-faced with grated American cheese, and sometimes included toppings such as tomatoes, eggs, pineapple, and bacon. Later, people began adding a second slice of bread to make the meal more filling, creating the sandwich as we know it today.
By the time of World War II, the grilled cheese sandwich was a favourite of the Allied Armed Forces, and it soon became a regular part of school cafeterias and home cooking. Government-issued cookbooks from this time refer to "American cheese filling sandwiches", which were prepared by Navy cooks in ships' kitchens. These sandwiches were usually served open-faced, with one slice of bread topped with grated cheese. It wasn't until the 1960s that the term "grilled cheese" first appeared in print, with earlier references calling it "toasted cheese" or "melted cheese" sandwiches.
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Grilled cheese gained popularity during the Great Depression
The history of the grilled cheese sandwich is a long and fascinating one, with ancient Roman texts and early French cookbooks mentioning similar recipes. However, the grilled cheese sandwich as we know it today, with sliced bread and processed cheese, gained popularity during the Great Depression.
During the 1920s, there was a huge increase in restaurant dining, and inexpensive loaves of bread and processed cheese became readily available. This acted as a catalyst for the public consumption of grilled cheese sandwiches. By the time the Great Depression hit in the 1930s, people needed cheap and filling food, and the grilled cheese sandwich fit the bill perfectly. It became a staple of the American diet, providing poor Americans with enough nutrition to get them through the tough times.
The earliest form of the grilled cheese was an open-faced sandwich, with grated American cheese on a single slice of bread. Popular toppings included tomatoes, eggs, pineapple, and bacon. Eventually, people started adding a second slice of bread to make the meal more filling, and thus, the modern grilled cheese sandwich was born.
During World War II, the grilled cheese sandwich was a favourite among the Allied Armed Forces, and it was included in US government-issued cookbooks for the Navy. This further solidified the place of the grilled cheese sandwich in American cuisine, and it soon became a regular part of meal planning in school cafeterias and homes across the country.
While the exact origins of the grilled cheese sandwich may be unclear, its rise in popularity during the Great Depression is undeniable. The combination of affordable ingredients and nutritious value made it a go-to meal for many Americans struggling during that difficult period in history.
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Processed cheese and sliced bread made grilled cheese accessible
The exact origins of the grilled cheese sandwich are unknown, but the Ancient Romans were the first civilisation to make a cooked bread and cheese sandwich. The French have been making their famous croque monsieurs since the early 1900s, but the modern grilled cheese sandwich is commonly traced back to the 1920s.
During the Great Depression, people needed inexpensive food to survive. Grilled cheese sandwiches, made with inexpensive loaves of bread and processed cheese, became a staple of the American diet. The cheese dream, an open-faced grilled cheese sandwich, was popular during this time. People eventually started adding another slice of bread to make the meal more filling. Poor Americans in the 1930s could usually afford a grilled cheese sandwich, which provided enough nutrition to get them through the day.
During World War II, the grilled cheese sandwich was a favourite of the Allied Armed Forces. Government-issued cookbooks instructed Navy cooks to prepare "American cheese filling sandwiches" in ships' kitchens. After World War II, Kraft Foods developed the first pre-packed sliced cheese, making it even more convenient for consumers to make grilled cheese sandwiches at home.
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Grilled cheese was a staple for the Allied Armed Forces in WWII
Grilled cheese, or a variation of it, has been around for centuries. The ancient Romans and French had it listed in their cookbooks, and the English recipe book Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management from 1861 includes a recipe for a grilled cheese sandwich. However, grilled cheese exploded in popularity during WWII, becoming a staple for the Allied Armed Forces.
During WWII, the US government used grilled cheese as a cost-effective meal for their military. The "American Cheese Filling Sandwich" was printed in government-issued cookbooks for the US Navy. The sandwiches were made with American cheese, and sometimes included toppings like tomatoes, eggs, pineapple, and bacon. The sandwiches were inexpensive, nutritious, and provided enough fuel to get people back to work.
After the war, the recipe was added to traditional American cookbooks, and Kraft Foods® developed the first pre-packed sliced cheese, making it even more convenient and consistent to make grilled cheese sandwiches. The advent of processed cheese, along with the invention of sliced bread in the 1920s, made grilled cheese sandwiches accessible to the masses.
The popularity of grilled cheese during WWII can also be attributed to the increase in restaurant dining in the 1920s, which made inexpensive loaves of bread and processed cheese readily available to the public. By the time WWII rolled around, grilled cheese sandwiches were a staple in the American diet, and it's no surprise that they became a favourite of the Allied Armed Forces.
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The term grilled cheese wasn't used until the 1960s
The ultimate comfort food, the grilled cheese sandwich is a beloved staple in many cultures. While the origin of the sandwich is uncertain, the term "grilled cheese" wasn't used until the 1960s. Before that, this sandwich was referred to as "toasted cheese" or "melted cheese" sandwiches.
The grilled cheese sandwich, in its simplest form, consists of bread and cheese. The idea of combining these two ingredients is not new, and it is believed that the Ancient Romans were the first to make a cooked bread and cheese sandwich. Over the centuries, various cookbooks, including French and Roman ones, have featured recipes for cooking bread with cheese.
In the early 1900s, the French had the "Croque Monsieur" on their menus, which included toasted bread, melted cheese, and ham. During the same period, the English had recipes for grilled cheese sandwiches, as evidenced by Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management (1861), which included a recipe for sandwiches with brown bread, butter, and Cheshire cheese.
The grilled cheese sandwich as we know it today, however, is often traced back to the 1920s, when two key innovations occurred. Firstly, in 1916, James L. Kraft, an entrepreneur, patented a process for producing processed cheese, ensuring it wouldn't spoil during transportation. This was followed by the invention of sliced bread in the 1920s by Otto Frederick Rohwedder, who is considered the "father of sliced bread." These innovations made the grilled cheese sandwich more accessible and affordable.
During the Great Depression, the grilled cheese sandwich gained popularity as an inexpensive and nutritious meal. It was often made open-faced with grated American cheese and toppings like tomatoes, eggs, pineapple, and bacon. Eventually, a second slice of bread was added to make the sandwich more filling. During World War II, the "American cheese filling sandwich" was included in US Navy cookbooks, and it became a staple in the diets of soldiers and civilians alike.
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Frequently asked questions
The grilled cheese sandwich, as we know it today, was popularised in the 1920s. This was due to the increase in restaurant dining, the invention of sliced bread, and the introduction of processed cheese.
Early grilled cheese sandwiches were open-faced, with grated cheese on a single slice of bread. Popular toppings included tomatoes, eggs, pineapple, and bacon. Eventually, a second slice of bread was added to make the meal more filling.
Yes, the Ancient Romans were the first known civilization to make a cooked bread and cheese sandwich. The French also had their famous croque monsieurs in the early 1900s.
