Two halves of a grilled cheese sandwich.
The Common Mistake That Prevents Grilled Cheese From Melting

NEWS

By ALICIA BETZ
The key to crafting a great grilled cheese lies in using thin cheese slices and cooking it slowly on low heat, ensuring the cheese melts perfectly while the bread becomes crispy.
For optimal results, thinly slice cheese from a block using an adjustable cheese slicer or grater. Additionally, choose soft cheeses, as hard cheeses may not melt effectively.
Some popular hard cheeses to avoid include parmesan, aged goudas, and aged cheddar. Instead, opt for softer cheeses like American, Swiss, young cheddar, and brie.
If you’re making a loaded grilled cheese; however, achieving proper melting may prove difficult even with thin cheese slices. In such cases, employ the low and slow cooking method.
Try cooking your grilled cheese on low heat on the stovetop with a lid on the pan to trap heat. This will assist the cheese melting process and keep your bread from burning.
Another option is to reverse-sear your sandwich. Begin by gently cooking it on low in the oven to facilitate cheese melting, then transfer it to a pan to quickly toast the bread.