Bushra Griffith
Grilled cheese sandwiches are a delicious and easy meal to make. While the classic recipe calls for white bread, sliced cheese, and butter, there are many ways to elevate this simple dish. For example, you can use different types of bread, cheese, and spreads to create unique flavour combinations. You can also cook your grilled cheese in a variety of ways, from using a skillet on the stove to grilling it over a fire.
Where to Grill Grilled Cheese
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bread | Sourdough, white bread, brioche, ciabatta, or any type of bread |
| Butter | Salted or unsalted |
| Cheese | Cheddar, mozzarella, American, Swiss, Monterey Jack, Gruyère, Havarti, pepper Jack, or any melty cheese |
| Other ingredients | Mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, vegetables, fruits, pickles, sauces |
| Cooking method | Stovetop, skillet, griddle, pan, broiler/grill, sandwich press, toaster |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Grilled cheese on the grill
Grilled cheese sandwiches are a classic, and grilling them outdoors is a great way to add a smoky flavour to the comfort food we all know and love. The process is simple, and you can tweak the ingredients to your liking.
First, you need to choose your bread. Sourdough, white bread, brioche, and ciabatta are all popular options, but you can use any bread you like as long as it's sturdy enough to handle the heat. Avoid thinly sliced, delicate breads as these will fall apart. You can also use English muffins, challah, rye bread, or even a roll.
Next, you'll need to select your cheese. Classic options include American, yellow cheddar, or mild/sharp cheddar, but you can also get fancy with Fontina, Brie, Gruyere, Provolone, Havarti, Jack cheese, Manchego, or Gouda. The key is to choose a melty cheese. You can also grate the cheese in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Now, it's time to assemble your sandwiches. Butter one side of each slice of bread (or use mayonnaise) and place the slices buttered-side/mayo-side down on a cutting board. Pile your cheese on half of the slices, then cover them with the remaining slices, making sure the buttered/mayo sides are facing up. If you want to add extra fillings, such as sliced tomatoes, onions, roasted peppers, or pickles, mix them with the cheese before placing the second slice of bread on top.
When you're ready to grill, preheat your grill to medium heat (325-375 degrees Fahrenheit) and clean the grates with a grill brush. No need to grease the grates. Place your sandwiches on the grill, press down firmly with a sturdy spatula, and close the lid. Cook for 3-4 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure even cooking and no scorching. Flip the sandwiches and cook for another 3-4 minutes on the other side. If the bread is toasting too quickly, move the sandwiches to indirect heat or turn off the heat on one side of the grill.
Your grilled cheese sandwiches are ready when the bread is golden and the cheese is melted. Cut the sandwiches in half, sprinkle with salt if desired, and serve immediately. Enjoy the crunchy exterior and gooey interior of your freshly grilled grilled cheese!
Grilled Cheese Burrito: What's Inside This Delicious Dish?
You may want to see also
Using a skillet
Grilled cheese sandwiches are best cooked in a skillet, griddle, or pan on the stove. A medium-sized skillet is best, preferably cast iron as it heats more evenly and browns food well. First, melt a tablespoon of butter in the skillet over medium heat until it foams. You can use either butter or mayonnaise on the bread—or both—but never use pre-spread bread! It is best to spread it yourself, ensuring a crispier exterior. Butter lovers should use salted butter for extra flavour. Mayonnaise also works great for achieving an extra crispy exterior, and it adds a layer of creaminess and saltiness.
Before placing the sandwich in the skillet, it is important to prepare the bread and cheese. Any type of bread works, but the slices shouldn't be too thick, too thin, too soft, or too holey. Sourdough is a popular choice for grilled cheese sandwiches because of the tang it adds, but white bread, brioche, and even ciabatta also work well. As for cheese, it is best to use two types: one for flavour and one for the stretch, or cheese pull. Good cheeses for flavour include vintage cheddar, Gruyère, raclette, or fontina. Cheeses that provide a good stretch include mozzarella, provolone, or gouda. It is also important to grate your own cheese instead of using pre-grated cheese, as this will ensure a smoother and more even melt.
Once the butter in the skillet has melted and is foaming, place one sandwich in the skillet and cook until golden brown and the cheese has started to melt. Turn the sandwich over with a thin metal spatula and cook until the other side is golden and the cheese is fully melted. Wipe out the skillet with paper towels and repeat the process with another tablespoon of butter and the remaining sandwich. Grilled cheese sandwiches are delicious with all sorts of sides, but they pair particularly well with tomato-based soups and stews.
Grilled Cheese: A Classic Melted Sandwich, Defined
You may want to see also
The best bread for grilled cheese
When making a grilled cheese sandwich, the choice of bread is as important as the cheese and other fillings. The right bread can make or break your sandwich. The interior of the bread should make contact with the pan so it can get crispy. The interior is more porous than the crust, making it ideal for soaking up the flavours of melted butter and/or mayonnaise slathered on the outside of the sandwich.
For the ideal grilled cheese, look for bread with a soft-but-hearty texture with even slices of medium thickness (about 1/4 inch). Any bread works, but you should make sure the loaf is sturdy enough to handle the heat. Thinly sliced, delicate breads will quickly fall apart. Pre-sliced bread is a great option because the uniform thickness helps ensure even heat distribution through the sandwich when cooking. Sandwich bread tends to be soft and light, which is perfect for a grilled cheese.
Some people prefer the classic choice of plain white sandwich bread. However, others prefer to add a little tang to their grilled cheese with sourdough bread. The slightly sharp flavour of sourdough is a great contrast to the richness of the cheese and butter in the sandwich. Look for a loaf with a uniform texture, as the large holes in a rustic loaf may allow melty cheese to leak out.
If you're looking for a mix of sweet and savoury, cinnamon raisin bread is an unorthodox but tasty choice. For a soft but sturdy bread that will brown quickly, try buttery brioche. If you want to add extra flavour, rye bread is a good option, getting its taste from rye berries and the addition of caraway seeds. Potato bread is another option that pairs well with extra sharp cheddar.
The Perfect Pairings for Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Choosing the right cheese
First, you'll want to choose a cheese that melts well. A grilled cheese sandwich is all about the melted, gooey cheese and that satisfying cheese pull. Look for low-moisture cheeses, as they tend to melt better and create that desired stretchy texture. Classic options include American cheese, which has a nostalgic flavour and an excellent melt, or cheddar, which comes in various sharpness levels and colours to suit your taste.
If you're feeling adventurous, try a combination of two types of cheese—one for stretch and one for flavour. Mozzarella, for instance, is an excellent choice for its stretchy, non-greasy melt, but it has a mild flavour. Pair it with a sharper, more robustly flavoured cheese like vintage cheddar, Gruyère, or raclette. These Alpine-style Swiss cheeses are known for their exceptional melting abilities and nutty, salty flavours. You can also experiment with Havarti, Monterey Jack, Colby, Swiss, or pepper Jack for unique flavour profiles.
For a truly gourmet experience, indulge in a combination of Gruyère and brie, along with thinly sliced apples or a slather of fig jam. This pairing creates a sophisticated grilled cheese with a touch of sweetness. Another tip is to grate your own cheese instead of using pre-shredded cheese, as freshly grated cheese melts more smoothly and evenly, resulting in a superior melt.
Lastly, consider the overall flavour profile you want to achieve. If you're a purist, a simple grilled cheese with just the right cheese can be heavenly. However, if you want to elevate your sandwich, think about adding complementary ingredients. Pickled red onions, radishes, or jalapeños can add a tangy, spicy kick. Sautéed spinach, caramelized onions, or roasted red peppers can also enhance your grilled cheese experience.
Starbucks' Grilled Cheese: A Mystery Supplier Revealed
You may want to see also
Butter or mayonnaise?
When it comes to grilled cheese, the choice of spread can be a heated debate. While some swear by butter, others have started using mayonnaise, claiming it yields a nicer texture and a crispier exterior.
Butter has long been the traditional choice for grilled cheese sandwiches. Its creamy, decadent texture and sweet milk solids, which transform into a nutty, toasty flavor when cooked, make it a perfect complement to the cheese and bread. Softened butter also spreads more evenly, ensuring a crispier exterior to the sandwich. It is important to use butter at room temperature so that it spreads evenly and doesn't tear the bread. Additionally, butter is a more natural choice as it shares many of the same ingredients as cheese.
However, in recent times, mayonnaise has emerged as a popular alternative. Mayonnaise adds an extra layer of creaminess and saltiness to the sandwich. It is also more convenient and has a higher smoke point than butter, so you don't have to worry about burning milk solids and can take your time to achieve the perfect golden brown crust. The higher fat content in mayonnaise also means it is more forgiving than butter and can withstand higher temperatures without burning.
Ultimately, the choice between butter and mayonnaise comes down to personal preference. While some prefer the classic, nutty flavor that butter adds to the sandwich, others may opt for the convenience and creaminess that mayonnaise provides. If you are looking for a crispier sandwich, either option will do the trick, but mayonnaise might be easier to work with. If you are worried about burning your grilled cheese, mayonnaise might be the better option.
Regardless of your choice, the key to a great grilled cheese sandwich is to use a hearty, sturdy bread that can handle the heat, and a melty cheese like American, Cheddar, or Gruyère. Shredded cheese will also melt quicker and more evenly than sliced cheese, resulting in the perfect cheese pull.
Cheese Conundrum: Is Grilled Cheese Actually Bad?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
You can use any type of bread, but it's important to make sure the slices aren't too thick or too thin. Sourdough is a popular choice, but white bread, ciabatta, brioche, and even plain sandwich bread will work just as well.
The best cheeses for grilled cheese are those that melt well, such as American, cheddar, mozzarella, pepper Jack, Havarti, Gruyère, Monterey Jack, or Swiss.
You can use either butter or mayonnaise on grilled cheese. Butter is traditional, but mayonnaise helps the bread brown and adds a salty, crispy texture.
Grilled cheese can be cooked in a skillet, griddle, or pan on the stove. For a deeper, smoky flavor, you can also cook grilled cheese on a charcoal or gas grill.
Yes, you can add vegetables like spinach, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, or roasted tomatoes. You can also add mustard, pesto, or pickles for a pop of flavor.
