Patrick Oconnell
The grilled cheese sandwich is a beloved comfort food for many, but the exact origin of this simple yet delicious combination of bread and cheese remains a mystery. While it is difficult to pinpoint the first grilled cheese sandwich, the dish likely has a long history, with ancient Roman cookbooks advising the pairing of bread and cheese for dinner. The first dependable reference to a grilled cheese sandwich in print is from 1926, and the sandwich became very popular in the 1920s and 1930s, especially during the Great Depression when people needed cheap and filling meals. The grilled cheese sandwich was further popularized during World War II, when Navy cooks prepared American cheese filling sandwiches as instructed by government-issued cookbooks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Earliest known reference | 1861, in Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management |
| First dependable reference | 1926 |
| First became popular | 1920s |
| Became a staple | During the Great Depression |
| First printed on menus | Late 1960s |
| Type of cheese used | American, Kraft Singles, cheddar |
| Alternative names | Toasted cheese, melted cheese, cheese toastie (UK), jaffle (AU) |
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What You'll Learn
- The grilled cheese was likely invented collectively by the human race over time
- The sandwich became popular in the 1920s and 30s
- The first pre-packed sliced cheese was developed by Kraft Foods after World War II
- The term grilled cheese didn't appear in print until the 1960s
- Grilled cheese is now found on menus in delis and five-star restaurants
The grilled cheese was likely invented collectively by the human race over time
The grilled cheese sandwich is a hot sandwich made by heating slices of cheese between slices of bread. While the exact origin of the grilled cheese sandwich remains a mystery, it was likely invented collectively by the human race over time.
Food historians have noted that humans have been pairing bread with cheese for centuries. Ancient Roman cookbooks advised eating bread and cheese together for dinner. In the sixth century, the Greek physician Anthimus warned against "roasted" cheese, which was presumably cooked onto something. In the fourteenth century, a man went into a Paris tavern, ordered cheese and bread, melted the cheese in a cup, then dipped the bread in the cheese. In 1861, Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management included 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, serving them when the bread became toasted. In 1902, Sarah Tyson Rorer’s cookbook, “Mrs. Rorer’s New Cookbook”, featured a sandwich named the “melted cheese” sandwich. In 1926, the first dependable printed reference to a "grilled cheese" sandwich appeared.
The grilled cheese sandwich became very popular in the 1920s and 1930s, especially during the Great Depression, when people needed cheap and filling food. During this time, the sandwich was made with grated American cheese on an open face before eventually adding another slice of bread on top to make it more filling. The grilled cheese sandwich was also a favourite of the Allied Armed Forces during World War II, and it was included in U.S. government-issued cookbooks. After World War II, Kraft Foods developed the first pre-packed sliced cheese, making it even more convenient and consistent for making sandwiches. In the 1960s, the term "grilled cheese" started to appear on menus, although the sandwich continued to evolve.
While the exact origin of the grilled cheese sandwich may never be known, it is clear that it has a long and fascinating history, with humans combining bread and cheese in various ways over time.
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The sandwich became popular in the 1920s and 30s
The grilled cheese sandwich became popular in the 1920s and 1930s, with the first dependable reference in print found from 1926. This surge in popularity was catalysed by the huge increase in restaurant dining in the 1920s, as well as the affordability of the sandwich's ingredients: inexpensive loaves of bread and processed cheese. During the Great Depression, the "toasted cheese" sandwich was a staple of the American diet, providing a cost-effective meal. Poor Americans in the 1930s could usually afford the sandwich, which provided enough nutrition to get them through the day.
The grilled cheese sandwich was also influenced by earlier historical events. For centuries, the combination of bread and cheese has been popular, with ancient Roman cookbooks advising eating the two together for dinner. In the sixth century, the Greek physician Anthimus warned against "roasted" cheese, which presumably involved cooking cheese onto something. In the fourteenth century, a man went into a Paris tavern, ordered cheese and bread, melted the cheese in a cup, then dipped the bread in the cheese. In 1861, an English recipe book included 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, serving when the bread became toasted.
In the early 1900s, the French had a variation of the grilled cheese sandwich on their menus, known as the "Croque Monsieur", which included toasted bread, melted cheese, and ham. In 1902, Sarah Tyson Rorer's cookbook, *Mrs. Rorer's New Cookbook*, featured a "melted cheese" sandwich. In 1916, Kraft introduced processed cheese, and in the 1920s, sliced bread was introduced, making the process of sandwich-making faster and more convenient.
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The first pre-packed sliced cheese was developed by Kraft Foods after World War II
While the grilled cheese sandwich was invented collectively by the human race over time, the first pre-packed sliced cheese was developed by Kraft Foods after World War II. Founded by James Lewis Kraft, Kraft Foods® developed the first pre-packed sliced cheese a few years after World War II. This innovation, much like Otto Frederick Rohwedder's bread slicer, provided consumers with a more convenient and consistent way to obtain cheese slices, which then became the go-to for making "melted cheese" or "toasted cheese" sandwiches.
In 1916, James L. Kraft received a patent for "process cheese", a sterilized product made by heating cheddar at 175 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes while continuously whisking it. This invention extended the shelf life of cheese, making it a more shippable commodity. However, Kraft's brother Norman, who was the head of research at Kraft, wanted to make the product even more consumer-friendly by pre-cutting the cheese into slices. This idea proved challenging to execute, as slicing hot cheese was difficult due to its fluid and hot state. It took Norman and Kraft engineers 15 years to perfect the technology and bring pre-sliced cheese to market.
The manufacturing challenges were eventually overcome with the help of an elaborate contraption called a "chill roll". This machine resembled a large rolling pin and was used to create a long ribbon of cheese that could be cut into uniform slices. The slices were then stacked and packaged to create a peelable block. In 1950, Kraft introduced Kraft De Luxe Process Slices, the first commercially packaged cheese slices in the world. These slices were initially sold in blocks, and consumers had to separate the slices manually.
In August 1956, an engineer named Arnold Nawrocki patented an "apparatus for producing individually wrapped cheese slices." His invention addressed the issue of cheese slices sticking together and provided a method for wrapping each slice individually. Kraft later developed a similar technology, and in 1965, they introduced Kraft Singles, the individually wrapped cheese slices that became a staple in American households.
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The term grilled cheese didn't appear in print until the 1960s
Although the grilled cheese sandwich is a well-known dish today, the exact origin of the term "grilled cheese" is a mystery. The term did not appear in print until the 1960s, but the concept of cooking bread and cheese together has a long history.
The ancient Romans and Greeks are known to have combined bread and cheese in various forms. For example, in the sixth century, the Greek physician Anthimus warned against "roasted" cheese, which was likely cooked with bread. In the fourteenth century, a man in a Paris tavern was arrested for not paying for his meal of melted cheese and bread, which he dipped in a cup of cheese. This is considered the earliest example of fondue.
The French have a traditional open-faced grilled ham and cheese sandwich called a croque-monsieur, which was referenced as early as 1891. However, the term "grilled cheese" itself was not used to describe these dishes.
In the early 1900s, grilled cheese sandwiches became popular in the United States during the Great Depression and World War II. At this time, they were known as "toasted cheese" or "melted cheese" sandwiches. The term "toasted cheese" was also used in 1902 by Sarah Tyson Rorer in her cookbook "Mrs. Rorer's New Cookbook," where she included a recipe for a "melted cheese" sandwich.
It was not until the late 1960s that the term "grilled cheese" started to appear on menus and in print. The delay in the use of the term may be attributed to the advent of electricity and the after-effects of the World Wars, which introduced new cooking methods and influenced culinary trends.
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Grilled cheese is now found on menus in delis and five-star restaurants
The grilled cheese sandwich is now a menu staple in delis and five-star restaurants, but it has come a long way since its humble beginnings. The exact origin of the grilled cheese sandwich is unknown, but it is believed to have evolved from the long history of cooking bread and cheese together. The first recorded mention of a grilled cheese sandwich was in 1926, and it became popular in the 1920s, especially during the Great Depression when people needed cheap, filling meals. It was also around this time that sliced bread was invented, making sandwiches faster, more consistent, and more convenient to make.
During World War II, the grilled cheese sandwich was a favourite of the Allied Armed Forces, and it soon became a regular meal in school cafeterias and homes. The grilled cheese was initially made with grated American cheese and was served open-faced, before eventually becoming the closed sandwich we know today. The term "grilled cheese" didn't come into use until the 1960s, before which it was known as a toasted cheese or melted cheese sandwich.
The grilled cheese sandwich has become a versatile dish, with various breads, cheeses, and additional ingredients being used to create different versions. It is a comfort food for both children and adults and has become a gourmet item in some restaurants. The grilled cheese has also made its way into popular culture, with notable appearances in films like "Benny & Joon" and unique variations such as the "Grilled Cheeeeeese" sandwich at Walt Disney World, made with a sliced glazed doughnut instead of bread.
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Frequently asked questions
No one person invented the grilled cheese sandwich. It was invented collectively by the human race over time.
The grilled cheese sandwich was popularised in the 1920s, with the first dependable reference found in print from 1926. However, the term "grilled cheese" didn't appear in print until the 1960s.
A grilled cheese sandwich is typically made by heating slices of cheese between slices of bread in a frying pan, griddle, or sandwich toaster.
During the Great Depression, the grilled cheese sandwich became a staple of the American diet as it was inexpensive and provided enough nutrition to get people back to work.
