Skip The Basic Grilled Cheese — Make It British Style For 10x The Flavor

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As a British person, I feel like I have some authority on the subject of "toasties," the British version of what Americans know as a grilled cheese. A proper, old-school British toastie starts with the machine it's made in, a small countertop sandwich press with two deep triangular plates that clamp the buttered bread shut into sealed triangles that keep all the fillings inside. The grill should create a sandwich that's obnoxiously crunchy outside and molten inside (burning your mouth is a rite of passage).

The same sandwich could be cooked in a skillet, but it would definitely not be the same, plus these machines are easy enough to find. There's the Hamilton Beach Electric Sealed Sandwich Maker Grill for $34.99 on Amazon, for example, a perfect purchase for any anglophile who's ready to take their love of Britain up a level.

Another way British toasties differ from American grilled cheese is that a grilled cheese is typically just that: cheese. However, it's common to see the likes of ham and cheese, tomato and cheese, and onion and cheese toasties. You can always upgrade your grilled cheese sandwich with extra additions, but when you add other ingredients, Americans may call that a grilled sandwich or a melt instead. 

For any decent toastie experience, it's all about the cheddar. Regardless of what else is going in, a good, sharp, aged cheddar remains a reliable foundation. Pair this sharp, salty cheese with a spread or condiment that brings contrast. Branston pickle is a perfect example because it brings vinegar, sweetness, spices, and chopped vegetables to give the sandwich some acidity and extra texture. A smear of Marmite or Vegemite (Marmite's Australian counterpart) takes this principle in a different direction by adding some concentrated savoriness.

Worcestershire sauce is more commonly added to "cheese on toast," another British staple that's basically an open-faced toastie, but a few splashes of the best store-bought Worcestershire sauce inside a cheesy toastie still gives it a salty, fermented hit. English mustard is a common addition to a ham and cheese toastie because it gives the sandwich a little fieriness, which stops it from feeling too heavy. In true British fashion, there's also brown sauce (also known as HP sauce), which is more commonly served with breakfast-themed toasties, such as bacon and cheese, egg and cheese, or sausage and cheese. Lastly, unlike mustards and pickle condiments, sauces, such as brown sauce or ketchup, are served on the side for dipping, not inside the sandwich.