Grilled cheese
Hot melted cheese sandwich
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A grilled cheese, toasted cheese sandwich, cheese toastie (UK) or cheese jaffle (AU) is a hot cheese sandwich typically prepared by placing cheese between slices of bread and cooking with butter or mayonnaise on a frying pan, griddle, or sandwich toaster, until the bread browns and the cheese melts. Despite its name, it is rarely prepared through grilling.
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Cross section of a grilled cheese sandwich | |
| Main ingredients | Cheese, bread |
|---|---|
| Ingredients generally used | Butter, margarine, mayonnaise |
| Variations | Cheese dream |
| Other information | Traditionally served with tomato soup |
History
The 1861 English recipe book Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management includes a recipe for placing sandwiches of brown bread and butter with 1⁄2-inch (13 mm) slices of "a nice fat Cheshire or any good rich cheese" into an oven, and serving when the bread becomes toasted.[1]
The cheese dream, an open-faced grilled cheese sandwich, became popular in the United States during the Great Depression.[2] Cookbooks produced by the U.S. federal government describe U.S. Navy cooks broiling "American cheese filling sandwiches" during World War II.[3]
Preparation
A grilled cheese sandwich is made by placing a cheese filling, often cheddar or American cheese, between two slices of bread, which is then put on a pan to heat until the bread browns and the cheese melts. A layer of butter or mayonnaise is usually added to the outside of the bread for additional flavor and texture. Alternatives may include additional ingredients such as peppers, tomatoes, or onions.[4] Although cheddar and American cheese are used most widely, other variations of cheese like provolone or gouda are also used depending on the region and the local influences.[5]
A grilled cheese may also be made in a sandwich toaster, particularly in the United Kingdom where the dish is normally called a toasted cheese sandwich or cheese toastie.[6]
Retail
Some restaurants, food carts, and food trucks in the United States specialize in the grilled cheese sandwich. The Grilled Cheese Grill restaurants were a combination of reclaimed vehicle and food cart restaurants that focused on gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches in Portland, Oregon, US.[7] The Grilled Cheese Truck was an American food truck company serving gourmet "chef driven" grilled cheese sandwiches.[8] Variations include a rainbow grilled cheese, using colored cheese.[9]
Microwavable frozen toasted sandwiches are available in supermarkets in a variety of locations. One example is the McCain Micro Toastie, which was launched in supermarkets in the UK in 2002.[10]
