Everything you gotta know about making the best grilled cheese sandwich!
Lid on or off?
There’s more to a good grilled cheese recipe than you might think!
Alison Bickel
A grilled cheese sandwich is the first thing a lot of people learn to cook.
It was the first thingIlearned to cook.
Maybe you didnt grow up grilling processed cheese on squishy sandwich bread.
Alison Bickel
Or maybe you know plenty well how to make grilled cheese, but you want to up your game.
Great newsthis grilled cheese party is open (and useful) to all experience levels!
For Memorable Grilled Cheese, Good Cheese Matters
The first big tip?
Alison Bickel
I dont recommend Velveeta.
Oooozy melted cheese is our goal.
What cheeses work best?
Alison Bickel
Melting cheeses, of course.
Such as:
A cheese thatstooflavor-packed can overwhelm the sandwich.
Cheese: Grated or Sliced for a Grilled Cheese Sandwich?
Alison Bickel
Grated cheese melts more evenly, plus it allows more even bread coverage.
That means you’re able to pack more cheese on every bite!
And if you are blending a few cheeses, you’re free to mix grated cheeses together better.
Alison Bickel
Dont feel like messing around with a cheese grater?
Fine, skip it.Youll still wind up with a grilled cheese sandwich.
You know what Im talking aboutthe cheese crispies.
Alison Bickel
How Much Cheese to Use
This is a very personal issue.
Its possible to overdo it, but no one wants a skimpy grilled cheese, either.
Theres plenty of space in the middle ground.
Alison Bickel
Three ounces (about 1 cup grated) gives you a more decadent grilled cheese.
Either way, grate as much cheese as you should probably pile loosely on both slices of bread.
A good, fluffy handful should do it.
Alison Bickel
Grilled cheese sandwiches happen in my house not because of meal planning, but lack of it.
Thats whats so great about them!
Sliced sandwich bread is classic.
Crusty artisanal bread is great, too.
Bread sliced over half an inch thick will impede optimal cheese melting.
For perfect grilled cheese every time opt for slices between 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch thick.
Have I made grilled cheese on hot dog buns before?
No, far from it.
But you get the picture.
Sometimes a sandwich isnt a work of art.
Do what works for you!
My favorite brands are Hellmanns/Best Foods and Dukes.
it’s possible for you to alsomake your own mayoits actually just as easy as making a grilled cheese!
Give mayonnaise a shot!
Use the same amount as you would butter.
If you are 100 percent Team Butter, I understand.
you could either butter the bread directly or melt a pat of butter in the pan.
In that case, melt it in the pan.
A flimsy skillet will grill your sandwich unevenly.
A skillet thats too small makes it hard to maneuver the sandwich.
For one sandwich at a time, I likea 10-inch cast-iron skillet.
I prefer a cast-iron pan.
Need to make a bunch of grilled cheese sandwiches all at once?
The Open Face Technique
For years, I assembled the sandwich and then grilled it.
But recently I came across a new technique I like a lot better.
Lets call it:Open-face grilling.
Open-face grilling allows the cheese to melt more thoroughly.
The tradeoff is you might only make one sandwich at a time.
But if its perfection you want, this is your method.
Open-face grilling makes it easy to insert accouterments like tomato slices or chutney midway through grilling.
The partially melted cheese bonds to the filling and keeps it from sliding around.
Moderate heat is the way to go.
The pan seems to hit a sweet spot around sandwich number two.
Dress up Your Grilled Cheese!
I am no purist, and I put all kinds of stuff on my grilled cheese.
Just dont overstuff it, or all the goodies will slip out.
What goodies, you say?
As the skillet heats, grate the cheese.
Spread one side of each slice of bread evenly with mayonnaise or butter.
Lay the slices butter-side-down in the preheated skillet.
Distribute the cheese evenly over both slices of bread.
Now, stay put!
The second you walk away is the second your sandwich will burn.
Look for the cheese to begin melting.
The time it takes will depend on your stove, your skillet, and the cheese you are using.
Lower-moisture cheeses like aged cheddar will take longer to melt.
It could take 2 minutes, or up to 5 minutes.
You dont want the cheese to be totally meltedjust halfway melted.
(If you want to add a filling, like sliced tomato, add it now.)
Usually, the second side takes less time than the first.
You may need to turn the heat down to medium-low to keep the bread from charring.
Peek in the sandwich to see if the cheese is fully melted.
