Tips for the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich

Many members here have professeed a love for the grilled cheese sandwich. Today, Yahoo posted this article on how to grill the perfect sandwich, including finishing in a hot oven, if necessary...Never had problems getting the cheese to melt...I do like some of the variations at the end of the article.
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/5-tips-for-the-ultimate-grilled-cheese-2394160/
 
What do you think?

How can it be grilled cheese if it's cooked in a pan?
 
I agree with using sturdy bread.  A sandwich made with soft white bread doesn't cut it with me.
 
Somewhere around here is an old thread about how a grilled cheese sandwich ceases being such when other items are added, like "The Tuscan" mentioned in the story.  Adding prosciutto basically makes it an upscale grilled ham-and-cheese.
 
Brad

I think my grilled cheese gets about 6 slices of bacon broken to size, inside of the bread, grilled in garlic butter.

Like the idea of using the oven to make multiple sandwiches at one time.
Here's my "Tip of the Day":
Don't spread butter on the bread. Add the butter to the pan and melt it THEN add a slice of bread and swoosh it around to evenly coat the bread. Add the cheese(s). When the slice is toasted , remove it from the pan, add another slice of bread on top, add more butter to the pan if needed. Flip and put the untoasted side down and put it back in the pan. Cover with a lid to aid the cheese melting. And most important, NEVER use Margarine! 

A little mayo on the inside makes it tangy.
 

Brad_Olson


How can it be grilled cheese if it's cooked in a pan?
Brad

Because Panned Cheese just doesn't sound right!

I wsa probably 40 years old the first time I ever heard a toasted cheese sandwich called a grilled cheese sandwich.

I too love a wide variety of variations.....and I disagree, a grilled cheese sandwich can have lot's of other things added to the cheese....I like a grilled ham and swiss on rye...I also like a grilled cheddar and montery jack with a little salsa in it.

How can one manage to pry open a grilled, melted-cheese sandwich at the end to insert anything? 

Michael Hoffman


I wsa probably 40 years old the first time I ever heard a toasted cheese sandwich called a grilled cheese sandwich.

You obviously have lead a sheltered life!

ALLGOOD


A little mayo on the inside makes it tangy.

I thought there was only ONE person in the world that ate their grilled cheese with mayo, my BF. The first time I made them for him I ended up with butter all over my hand spreading the mayo on the inside of the bread. I will start melting the butter in the pan first.  I tried it once, wasn't so bad but I prefer mine the "boring" way.

Actually, I put the mayo on right when I put the cheese in it, before I put butter on the outside of the bread.  If you cook it at a high enough temperature it ends up fine that way and the mayo doesn't soak into the bread.

I've heard of people putting mayo on the outside,instead of butter. Does that work????

Foodbme

Michael Hoffman


I wsa probably 40 years old the first time I ever heard a toasted cheese sandwich called a grilled cheese sandwich.

You obviously have lead a sheltered life!

What makes you say that?

Not only do I enjoy the "toothsome country-style" bread to which the author refers, but I also love those wonderful Waffle House grilled cheese sandwiches made with lowly supermarket white bread!

The more aged the cheddar the better the sandwich. My favorite addition, in season Jersey tomatoes.
 
My father used a waffle iron - not Belgian, but small grids. So do I.  A great grilled cheese sandwich - and the cheese that drips off onto the iron gets all crispy and toasty.  Great nibbling along with the sandwich.
 
 

Michael Hoffman


I wsa probably 40 years old the first time I ever heard a toasted cheese sandwich called a grilled cheese sandwich.

Cheese wasn't around when you were 39!

MellowRoast


How can one manage to pry open a grilled, melted-cheese sandwich at the end to insert anything? 

In my case, the bacon goes on before grilling.

chewingthefat

Michael Hoffman


I wsa probably 40 years old the first time I ever heard a toasted cheese sandwich called a grilled cheese sandwich.

Cheese wasn't around when you were 39!

I know you didn't really miss the point. I knew them -- and still know them -- as toasted cheese sandwiches. That's because what you are doing when making one is toasting the bread on a flat grill or in a skillet, not grilling the bread. Unless, of course, you use an actual grill, and I doubt many people use grills to make such sandwiches -- although I'd bet that the coals would impart a delightful added flavor.

Foodbme

Brad_Olson


How can it be grilled cheese if it's cooked in a pan?
Brad

Because Panned Cheese just doesn't sound right!

 
 

Michael Hoffman


I wsa probably 40 years old the first time I ever heard a toasted cheese sandwich called a grilled cheese sandwich.

 
In England, it's always a "toasted cheese" sandwich.

Twinwillow

Michael Hoffman


I wsa probably 40 years old the first time I ever heard a toasted cheese sandwich called a grilled cheese sandwich.

In England, it's always a "toasted cheese" sandwich.

That's interesting. Those limeys finally got something right.

leethebard


I've heard of people putting mayo on the outside,instead of butter. Does that work????

 
Have done that a few times, works pretty good and nice for a change evey now and then.
I like a wide varity of "grilled chesse" also, but the classic remains the best. White bread and
Velveeta, it's just that gooey factor I guess.

A Pannini grill  does a good job on GCS.

Seriously, the very best thing about making a grilled (or toasted) cheese sandwich is, regardless of whether it's made on a flat top or a pan, IT ONLY TAKES 5 MINUTES!!!

Chewingthefat & Twinwillow:  You got that right.  With all this discussion, I prepared two of them this morning in a sandwich press.  And I've learned they're darn good using English muffins, too.

MellowRoast


Chewingthefat & Twinwillow:  You got that right.  With all this discussion, I prepared two of them this morning in a sandwich press.  And I've learned they're darn good using English muffins, too.

 
Mmm, the English muffin thing sounds, great! Gotta try it.

By the way, I make sure the inside of the muffin is grilled/toasted first before I put the whole thing together.  Provides me an extra-crunchy texture. 

Brad_Olson


How can it be grilled cheese if it's cooked in a pan?

I agree with using sturdy bread.  A sandwich made with soft white bread doesn't cut it with me.

Somewhere around here is an old thread about how a grilled cheese sandwich ceases being such when other items are added, like "The Tuscan" mentioned in the story.  Adding prosciutto basically makes it an upscale grilled ham-and-cheese.

Brad

Are you kidding?!?!Who makes a griiled cheese on an actual grill? Let the abuse begin.

If I'm correct, the term "grilling" actually refers to cooking on a flat top. Like in a diner.