The Art Of The Perfect Grilled Cheese
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A grilled cheese is a grilled cheese, right? I mean, it’s the first meal that most of us learn how to cook at home by ourselves. It’s the perfect midnight snack or soup-dipper. It’s great for kids, but is never turned down by an adult. It’s salty, gooey, crisp, buttery, and comforting in all the right ways.
You know before you even bite into a grilled cheese whether it’s going to be transcendent or not. In a really good one, the cheese slowly oozes from the edges. The bread’s face is an even golden brown that’s suffused with butter. Pick it up and you can feel the butter in the bread , while the crust is crisp yet flexes ever so slightly, revealing a layer of tender crumb underneath.
And that’s all before you shove that glorious cocktail of textures and fat into your mouth.
So, what are the secrets to the best grilled cheese?
We’ve learned a thing or two over the years. Here are our best tips and our favorite recipes.
Best Grilled Cheese Recipe
When done correctly, a classic grilled cheese sandwich has the perfect contrast between crunchy bread exterior and creamy melted cheese filling. Its one of those fast and easy meals to serve picky eaters. But when paired with a big bowl of tomato soup, its the ultimate adult comfort food.
To satisfy our immediate cravings, the misconception is to crank up the heat and get the cheese melted fast! However, its quite the opposite. To make sure the bread gets evenly toasted and the middle completely gooey, patience and low heat is the answer. Melted butter also helps with crispness, but not too much otherwise youll get greasy results. Ready to go over the science behind making this well-loved sandwich at home?
Incredible Gourmet Grilled Cheese Recipes
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Recipe. I seriously dont know anyone who would turn their noses up at a grilled cheese sandwich! Its perfect in its simplicity! Making them in the air fryer guarantees the most perfect results every single time, and clean up is a breeze too! Grab your air fryer and lets go!
Prepare garlic butter. In a small bowl, combine 5 tsp of room temperature butter with one clove of minced garlic, 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Spread ½ tsp of the garlic butter on the side of each bread slice. Step 2: Assemble the garlic bread grilled cheese sandwich.
Tips for this grilled cheese recipe. Your ingredients should be room temperature if you try to spread the bread with cold butter, it will rip it apart, cold cheese will take too long to melt, and turkey right from the refrigerator probably wont warm all the way through. Youll end up with a grilled cheese thats perfectly crispy on the outside, but cold on the inside.
The best grilled cheese sandwich has a crispy golden exterior, thanks to slathering the slices of bread with butter. This sandwich is perfect to prepare for lunch or dinner with tomato soup, tastes great as a snack, makes little kids happy, and brings adults pure joy. Seriously grilled cheese sandwiches are the epitome of comfort food.
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Oven Grilled Cheese Tips:
- Broiler temperatures differ from oven to oven, so keep an eye on the sandwiches until you get the hang of your oven. Also, white bread tends to toast up faster than whole wheat or gluten-free.
- Youll need a cookie sheet for this recipe. I prefer a heavy, rimmed baking sheet like this.
- If you forget to leave out the butter to soften, microwave it in 5 second intervals, checking after each, until its just soft enough to spread.
- You can use any melty cheese you like. I prefer cheddar or an Alpine style cheese, such as Emmentaler, Gruyere or Comté, but American works as well!
- For other build-your-own dinner ideas, check out my book, Build-a-Bowl!
*This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links to products I use and love . Thank you for supporting From Scratch Fast!
What Kind Of Bread Makes The Best Grilled Cheese

The kind of bread for the best Grilled Cheese Sandwich should be one that can hold its own with the fillings. I like a good, thick sliced sourdough, but you could use French, Italian, or a good ciabatta as well.
Mixing it up can really add some flair to your Grilled Cheese Sandwich. How about a nice pumpernickel raisin?
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Hamilton Beach Electric Panini Press Grill
It is an elegantly designed sandwich made to enhance your breakfast experience. Hamilton beach electric panini press grill is ideal for savory sandwiches and quesadillas. An upright storage feature of this sandwich maker makes it perfect to fit in small spaces.
A floating lid is featured on the Hamilton sandwich makes it able to press sandwiches of different sizes evenly. The stylish chrome finish enables this sandwich maker to blend perfectly with any counter.
Being a nonstick sandwich maker, you are assured of crisp and tasty results. It is advisable to preheat the sandwich maker for at least six seconds before using it.
Can You Still Buy Kraft Cheddar Cheese
Bega has now bought all of the Australian Kraft products, from Vegemite to Kraft Cheddar. But Mondelez has been quietly ditching Kraft for some time. First it vanished from Vegemite, then Philadelphia. Dr Wilkie told news.com.au these were the easy brands to change because the Kraft name played second fiddle.
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How Long Does A Sandwich Maker Take
Cooking is an art and kitchen appliances such as the sandwich maker just make things simple and easy. Normally the time taken by a sandwich maker to grill a perfect sandwich is 2 to 3 minutes.
But the time also depends on the type of sandwich and the amount of heat required by the user for their choice of crispiness.
Who Invented Grilled Cheese
While similar recipes are mentioned in Ancient Roman texts and, lets face it, the French have been making their famous croque monsieurs since the early 1900s todays notion of the grilled cheese is commonly traced back to the 1920s, when Otto Frederick Rohwedder, considered the father of sliced bread, invented a
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And The Best Cheese For Grilled Cheese Is
Were partial to regular old cheddar cheesesharp or medium, depending on your preference but a great grilled cheese sandwich can be made out of lots of different cheeses, and our grilled cheese recipe will work with almost any cheese you favor. Here are a few great melters to try:
- Monterey Jack. This mild, creamy white cheese is an even better melter than cheddar, and is extra lovely mixed with a little sharp cheddar.
- Gruyère. Nutty and delightfully salty, Gruyère is an Alpine-style cheese that is widely available in the U.S. and makes for a richly flavorful grilled cheese.
- Raclette. Another gorgeous Alpine-style cheese that is quite literally made for melting. This washed-rind cheese is funkier than Gruyère and will definitely take your grilled cheese into grown-up territory.
- Blue / Chevré. Tangy chevré or sharp blue cheeses can be delicious additions to a grilled cheese, but we like to use them sparingly and coupled with mild, melty cheeses like Jack or cheddar.
Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe
For the ultimate comfort food, nothing beats a grilled cheese sandwich. Pair it up with a bowl of creamy tomato soup and youve got a classic combo that is sure to satisfy.
This recipe is simple, quick, and makes the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich.
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Combine that with all of our tips and tricks, and youll have all the information needed to make all kinds of grilled cheese sandwiches, and experience the best of this iconic snack.
Keep scrolling to learn the best ingredients and more.
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Perfect Cast Iron Grilled Cheese
A grilled cheese sandwich is only as good as its ingredients: tangy sourdough bread, a blend of high-quality cheeses, and plenty of Challenge Butter slathered on each side. For this recipe, we recommend a cast-iron pan for its even distribution of heat we also suggest a variety of filling options, depending on your mood or what you have on hand.
Top 10 Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich Makers

One fact about grilled cheese sandwiches is that it is the most comfortable food available even though people have different opinions of the best grilled cheese sandwiches. Ultimately, they have a crispy crust and are also very delicious.
For a perfect sandwich, all you need is the best grilled cheese sandwich maker. Ideally, not all brands and designs available in the market today are equal. You can read through to find out more about the best grilled cheese sandwich maker that meets your needs.
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Pork Roll Egg And Bagel Grilled Cheese
This bagel grilled cheese features everything that is beautiful in the world: farm fresh eggs, artisanal cheese, trendy NYC bagels, locally made hot sauce, and responsibly made breakfast meat. Basically, this is a grilled cheese in a metaphorical leather jacket.
We have to admit that when we dreamt up a poundcake grilled cheese with fig jam and rosemary butter, we thought that was pure genius.
The buttery, sweet bread crisps up so beautifully and when paired with sweet and earthy fig jam, and creamy brie, well the combo gets even more delicious. We’ve served this sandwich for breakfast with a side of bacon, for dessert with powdered sugar on top, and pretty much any time that we’ve had poundcake around.
Best Bread For Grilled Cheese:
This is what making grilled cheese is all about!
- Use whatever bread you love, but make sure it is sturdy enough to hold the cheese in.
- White bread and sourdough are the most popular, but even a thickly sliced boule will make a perfect grilled cheese!
- Dark rye and pumpernickel pair well with lighter cheeses like Gouda or Havarti
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Which Vegan Cheese Makes The Best Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
I already shared my moms tips for how to make a perfect grilled cheese sandwich, but didnt say yet which was my favorite cheese. My mom and I tested thirteen different vegan cheeses to see which had the best flavor, texture, and meltability on grilled cheese sandwiches! Here are ten of the ones we tried:
We used my honee sunflower bread and Earth Balance Spread for all of the sandwiches:
My mom made two kinds at a time and we took notes as we went along:
Both the Chao Creamy Original and the Follow Your Heart American had really good flavor, but they took a long time to melt. Even with my moms techniques of preheating the bread and covering the sandwich, it was still hard to get these cheeses to melt sufficiently before the bread got too brown. They did both have a great melted texture once they finally melted, though.
Next, we tried Violife cheddar block and Daiya Cutting Board cheddar shreds:
Both of these had great flavor and they melted beautifully. The shreds were a pain to get to stay in place at first, but it was easy to flip the sandwich once they had started to melt. The melted texture was pretty close to perfect on both of these.
We compared the Violife provolone block and the Daiya provolone slices:
Next, we tried the Violife cheddar slices and the Daiya Swiss slices:
Finally, we tried the Follow Your Heart pepper jack and smoked Gouda slices:
1) Violife Provolone, Cheddar, and Gouda blocks
2) Violife Provolone and Cheddar slices
5) Daiya Cheddar slices .
Apple Butter Pepper Jack And Croissant Grilled Cheese
Grilled Cheese Social
With some spicy pepper jack cheese from Tillamook Cheese, a heaping spoonful of sweet and creamy apple butter, and a buttery and perfectly flaky croissant, this apple butter and pepper jack grilled cheese encompasses one of our favorite flavor combos: sweet and spicy . Its an excellent little treat that pairs nicely with an acidic Sauvignon Blanc.
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How To Make Oven Grilled Cheese
Oven grilled cheese might just change your life. Okay, that might sound a bit dramatic, but this simple method seriously changed mine! For years I toiled at the stove, making grilled cheeses in batches, splattering my stove in the process. No more, my friends. No more. With this method, I can not only make sandwiches for the whole family at the SAME TIME, but I can also customize them according to our different tastes. BOOYA! Dont miss the video below.
The Best Bread For Grilled Cheese
When it comes to bread, any loaf that you like will work well. What matters most is how you prepare if. For the best results, toast your bread first. A quick toast will help your bread develop the golden edges and luscious crisp that youre after. Itll also help prevent the bread from getting soggy, no matter how many fillings you add.
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Oven Baked Grilled Cheese For A Crowd
Speaking of friends, if youve never made a huge batch of grilled cheeses for a party, then you havent lived . Oven grilled cheese is the perfect way to feed a crowd, either as a casual dinner with a big pot of soup , or as an appetizer. For an elegant start to a meal, stuff the grilled cheeses with something fancy, such as caramelized onions and fig jam, then cut the sandwiches into small triangles before serving.
Does Grilled Cheese Freeze Well

Yes, you can freeze a cooked, or uncooked, Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Leave the tomato out, and do not coat the outside of the bread with butter.
When youre ready, you can pull the frozen sandwich and let it thaw, or prepare directly from the freezer. Butter both sides and grill on medium heat until toasty and melty, or use a panini press.
I cant believe anyone would have leftover Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. But this might be a timesaver if you make up a ton of bacon and have made an extra loaf of bread that youre not going to get to!
I would limit the amount of time the sandwich is in the freezer for best taste. 3 months max would be my estimate.
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To Mayo Or Not To Mayo
Oh the great debate. Should you add mayo to the outside of your bread or not? Honestly, its all about preference. I grew up keeping my grilled cheese sandwich super simple. Bread, butter, and cheeseno mayo.
If youd like to add mayo, be my guest! Add a tablespoon of mayo onto the outside of both pieces of bread before frying.
How Hot Does The Pan Need To Be For Grilled Cheese
For the perfect grilled cheese sandwich, you should set your electric griddle to 275 degrees Fahrenheit, that is. If you have an electric griddle, it should be really easy to adjust the temperature to the way you want it. Otherwise, you can use a saute pan and keep it at a low-to-medium heat for the best effect.
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What Is The Best Cheese For Grilled Cheese
Grilled cheese sandwiches are not the place for cheese judgement. Anything goes!
- A classic grilled cheese is made with American cheese and white bread !
- Real cheddar, a bit of provolone, creamy processed cheese, leftover brie from last nights party. Any and all varieties work!
- Pick your favorite or all of them! Smooth, creamy and oh so dreamy!
How Do You Use A Sandwich Maker
The Sandwich maker aids all types of cooks for a fast and easy way of making sandwiches. It all begins by following certain steps. These are-
1. The first step begins with plugging on the switch and keeping the lid of the sandwich maker closed. It should remain closed unless and until the indicator shows that it is perfectly heated and ready to use.
2. Since your maker is getting heated, lets put the focus on the bread and put some butter, cheese on top, and cover it with a slice of bread for perfect grilling.
3. Open the lid and spray some oil on the plates so that the bread slices dont stick during the grilling process and become hard to clean later.
4. Now carefully place all the sandwich preparation on the plates. I said carefully because you should not touch the plates as it is red hot and might burn your fingers if not dealt properly.
5. Now again close the lid and let your sandwich perfectly grill with the required heat.
6. The sandwich maker should be perfectly clamped so that there is even cooking throughout.
7. The sandwich maker grills your bread for 3-5 minutes and the lid is opened only when the indicators show it is ready.
8. After opening the lid after the stipulated time. The sandwich is gathered with the help of a spoon or spatula.
9. At last unplug the switch of the sandwich maker and keep the lid open unless all the heat is removed. Later a soapy sponge is used for cleaning.
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Types Of Cheese To Use
The most popular kind of cheese to use for grilled cheese is sliced American cheese or cheddar cheese. Our favorite cheese for this is Tillamooks medium-cut orange cheddar. Its not too sharp and its thick and creamy.
If youre a grilled cheese concessioner, the cheese is where its at, so get creative and make it your own! We prefer our cheese pre-sliced because its super simple, but you can always slice or shred block cheese, too. Here are more cheese options to try:
- white cheddar
- Colby jack