How to get the cheese to melt on a grilled cheese?

Grilled cheese is the most time- consuming sandwich I make. Put two slices of bread in the pan on medium heat. Once they are warm, flip them both over and add cheese to the now warm side of each. Let that cheese get almost completely melted before you stack them into a sandwich.

Should I toast my bread before making grilled cheese?

For the best results, toast your bread first . A quick toast will help your bread develop the golden edges and luscious crisp that you're after. It'll also help prevent the bread from getting soggy, no matter how many fillings you add.

When making grilled cheese, do you butter both sides?

Standard procedure for grilled cheese is to butter the outsides of the bread before placing it in the pan — for more flavor, butter both sides, inside and out . This works quite nicely, adding flavor to the sandwich, while also preventing burning and sticking.

How does Gordon Ramsay make grilled cheese?

Using a cast iron-pan, add a touch of olive oil and get pan hot over medium-high heat and add sandwich. After about 30-45 second push sandwich so it crisps and cheese melts. Flip after about 2 minutes, once slices are nice and crunchy. Keep flipping and pushing down until cheese is melted.

What can you add to a grilled cheese to make it better?

The salt, fat, and crunch of bacon make it the perfect addition to the gooey and rich inside of a perfectly melted grilled cheese. Crispy, salty pork is especially delicious alongside classic grilled cheese ingredients like white bread and cheddar or American cheese.

Is it better to use butter or mayo for grilled cheese?

This often means going low and slow with the heat, and mayonnaise can quicken this process . Unlike butter, which burns quickly, mayonnaise is an oil-based fat with a higher smoke point. In other words, you can turn up the heat and the mayo won't burn your bread, allowing you to achieve a photo-worthy, golden exterior.

Why won't my grilled cheese get crispy?

Because that's what happens if you put a piping hot grilled cheese directly on a plate. Condensation builds up beneath the sandwich , undoing all your careful crisping and giving you a sandwich that might still be crisp on one side but is limp and unpleasantly moist on the other.

Is it better to butter the bread or pan for grilled cheese?

Butter your Bread, Not the Pan Instead of dropping a pat of butter into a hot skillet, butter the bread for more flavor and even browning. Generously spread one side of each bread slice with softened salted butter. Or, instead of butter, spread one side of each bread slice with mayonnaise.

Do you cook grilled cheese on high or low heat?

A skillet preheated to medium or medium-low is optimal (adjust yours accordingly). Start by placing one slice of buttered bread face down in the pan, top with shredded cheese. Add the second slice buttered side up. Cook 2-4 minutes per side until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted.

How many slices of cheese should you put on a grilled cheese?

Spread 1 side of each bread slice with butter. Layer 4 slices bread, buttered-side down, with 3 slices cheese.

What to add to grilled cheese to make it better?

Fruit: Add thin apple slices or pear slices for a little sweetness. Sweet Spreads: If you like sweet, you can also spread jam, chutney, or apple butter on the inside. Protein: Bulk up your grilled cheese with turkey, ham, or cooked bacon slices. Pickled: Add sliced pickles or pickled red onions.

Is it better to make a grilled cheese sandwich with butter or oil?

Ina encourages using a mix of butter and olive oil because butter adds a rich flavor to dishes while the olive oil helps prevent the butter from burning.

The Best Way to Make Grilled Cheese, With Tips From a Pro (2024)

There’s no better sandwich than a perfect grilled cheese. Truly. The crispness, the gooeyness, the overall satisfying richness of each bite… grilled cheese reigns supreme. It just needs to be made correctly. And it’s not hard!

“The key to perfection is the timing of bread getting toasted to golden brown, and cheese melting into an ooey gooey texture match,” says Megumi Takahashi from the Kraft Heinz Culinary Team. Takahashi prefers an electric griddle because the temperature can be set, and to help grill multiple sandwiches all at once. Setting the griddle to 350 degrees for two minutes on each side is her trick, but a skillet works too. “If you’re using a cast-iron skillet, it’s best to preheat the skillet over medium-low heat so that the skillet is evenly heated without getting too hot. You don’t want to end up with burnt bread before cheese gets the chance to melt into perfection,” she says. Nonstick skillets work as well.

To serve, you’ll want to cut your grilled cheese, for that beautiful cheese pull moment. Cut it into rectangles or triangles, or, if you're feeling creative, Takahashi suggests making bite size sticks, (perfect for kids or party bites) or cutting the sandwich into little cubes to use as croutons on tomato soup.

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When it comes to grilled cheese, the options are endless. Here’s how to make it correctly:

How to Make Grilled Cheese

Start by getting all your ingredients ready. For each grilled cheese, you’ll need two slices of bread, at least 1 tablespoon of butter, and 2-4 slices of cheese (depending how gooey you like it). American, Cheddar, Swiss, muenster or Gouda all work well—feel free to mix and match your cheeses. Anything of medium consistency (not too hard, not too soft) will work well.

Over medium heat on the stove, preheat your cookware of choice—cast-iron skillets, stainless steel, and nonstick pans all work well. Note that the first two will result in a crisper bread. The skillet should be large enough to fit two slices of bread.
Melt butter in a preheated skillet. Add bread to coat in butter. Let toast for 1-2 minutes. If the bread has soaked up all the butter, add another pat (or a drizzle of olive oil). Flip the bread and add cheese on top of each slice. Some prefer using grated cheese, which melts faster. If that’s your preference, split ½ cup grated cheese of your choice between the two slices.
Let the bread cook for 2 minutes. Flip one slice on top of the other to make a sandwich, cook for another minute. Flip and serve.

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Grilled Cheese Recipes

Now that you know the grilled cheese basics, take a look at the below recipes for some delicious inspiration.

Parm-Crusted Grilled Cheese

The Best Way to Make Grilled Cheese, With Tips From a Pro (1)

Adultify the humble grilled cheese sandwich with this recipe’s tweaks. Mustard adds tanginess, and Parmesan on the exterior layer of bread creates a satisfying, umami-laden crunch. Get the recipe

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Broccoli-Cheddar Grilled Cheese

The Best Way to Make Grilled Cheese, With Tips From a Pro (2)

Broccoli and Cheddar cheese is always the perfect duo, and why shouldn’t it be combined on grilled cheese? Frozen broccoli works well in these too, as does leftover broccoli, for a quick but still veggie-rich meal.

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Muffaletta-Style Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

The Best Way to Make Grilled Cheese, With Tips From a Pro (3)

Pretty much any sandwich can be converted into a winning grilled cheese, and of course that goes for a muffaletta. Olives, cured meats, and provolone melt together well in this dinner-worthy grilled cheese.

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Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches With Chutney

The Best Way to Make Grilled Cheese, With Tips From a Pro (4)

Grilled cheese is always a star, but that doesn’t mean it always has to be the main course. These make-ahead mini grilled cheeses are gooey, sweet, and the perfect size for appetizers at a dinner party.

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The Best Way to Make Grilled Cheese, With Tips From a Pro (2024)

How to Make Grilled Cheese

Grilled Cheese Recipes

Parm-Crusted Grilled Cheese

Broccoli-Cheddar Grilled Cheese

Muffaletta-Style Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches With Chutney

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