The Common Mistake That Prevents Grilled Cheese From Melting
Ooey-gooey grilled cheese is a classic childhood favorite that many people still love well into adulthood. There are so many ways to kick the sandwich up a notch, too, like making an elevated grilled cheese with cinnamon raisin bread or using coconut oil to get the perfect crisp. A common struggle when making grilled cheese, however, is getting the cheese to a nice and melty consistency without burning the bread. One mistake people make when they assemble their grilled cheese is using cheese slices that are too thick. The secret to making a great grilled cheese is using thin cheese slices and cooking it low and slow, so that the cheese gets perfectly melted and the bread gets just crispy enough.
One of the best ways to achieve super thin cheese slices is by slicing the cheese yourself from a block. To do this, you'll need an adjustable cheese slicer. Not only does it allow you to make thin slices, but it also ensures your slices are uniform, so you're not left with areas of your sandwich that are thicker than others.
The best cheese types for grilled cheese sandwiches
Another option that can be helpful is grating your cheese before assembling your sandwich. Because the pieces will be thin and uniform, they'll melt quicker and more evenly. Many people already have a grater at home even if they don't have a cheese slicer, so this is a good budget-friendly option if you find that your grilled cheese often doesn't get melty enough.
The cheese you pick for your grilled cheese matters, too, as hard cheeses typically don't melt very well. No matter how thinly you slice hard cheese, it's not going to give you a good melt, and this approach can leave you wanting more. Some popular hard cheeses to avoid include parmesan, aged goudas, and aged cheddars. Instead, opt for softer cheeses that tend to melt easier and better. Some popular options include American, Swiss, Gruyère, Comté, Colby, Monterey Jack, young cheddars, young goudas, pepper jack, provolone, and brie. You can try mixing and matching your cheese as well to add an extra flavor boost. Of course, this will result in a pretty hefty grilled cheese that might require some extra finesse to make sure it melts without burning your bread.
Cooking techniques for a gooey grilled cheese
This advice to use thinner cheese slices is all good and well if you're just making a basic grilled cheese with a couple of slices on it. However, if you really want a loaded grilled cheese, you might have trouble getting your cheese to melt, even if you use thin slices or grated cheese. In this case, you can benefit from using a low and slow cooking method. One technique to try is to cook your grilled cheese on low on the stovetop and put a lid on your pan. This will help the heat stay in as the cheese melts, while not cooking the bread too fast so it doesn't get burnt. Another option is to reverse sear your grilled cheese. First, cook your grilled cheese on low in the oven. This will help melt the contents so it's nice and gooey inside. Then, put the sandwich in a pan to quickly get a toasted and crispy outside.
Even if you're not loading up with a ton of cheese, patience is the name of the game. Cooking a grilled cheese too quickly almost always results in either burnt toast or unmelted cheese. With patience and thin cheese slices, you're well on your way to a delicious sandwich.