Can You Really Make Grilled Cheese With A Hand Iron?

Grilled cheese is one of those recipes that is a trifecta of appealing meals: It's affordable, easy, and requires so few ingredients. For this reason, it's perfect for anyone with little time, a tight grocery budget, or someone who doesn't have much room for storing ingredients in a small kitchen — bread, butter, and cheese go a long way.

The grilled cheese sandwich reportedly started out as just one piece of bread topped with cheese, but it evolved into two bread slices during The Great Depression when it became a hearty meal using very few ingredients. Kraft Singles were introduced in the late 1940s, which paved the way for the future of sliced cheese — and solidified the grilled cheese's place in society.

Grilled cheese might evoke childhood, but many people enjoy the sandwich as much now as when they were kids. When it comes to preparation, it's traditionally grilled on a stovetop, but tight quarters, such as a college dorm, have led to the rumor that grilled cheese can be made with only an iron. Is it true?

Technically, a grilled cheese can be made with an iron, but before you run to the laundry room to test the cooking method, there is one additional item that needs to be involved: aluminum foil. It's not a good idea to put a butter-loaded piece of bread directly onto an iron, because it makes cleanup messier (and you could be fishing butter out of those steam holes for days afterward).

Rather, you can lather the bread in butter as always, but prior to toasting up the sandwich with the iron, wrap it in a layer of aluminum foil. This way, you trap the heat in, which helps to melt the cheese, and also prevents your iron from getting a butter bath. Lightly iron the sandwich, checking it regularly to make sure it is toasting up as desired. Once the sandwich is well-toasted, remove it quickly from the foil to prevent it from getting too soggy. If you don't have an ironing board for whatever reason, you can use a towel to absorb the heat.

The classic grilled cheese is made with white bread, butter, and your preferred cheese, but if you don't have any butter on hand, you can swap it with mayonnaise for the same toasted effect (some people swear it's even better than butter). When it comes to what's on the sandwich, though, don't be scared to get creative with a spin on the classic. Certain cheeses complement each other, such as cheddar and gruyere, so pairing the two on one sandwich will amplify their flavors.

Toppings like bacon and tomato are well-known, but for a little spice, add pickled jalapeños or chipotle peppers. Plus, concepts like buffalo chicken or the Philly cheesesteak can easily be translated into grilled cheese. For the former, just add chopped chicken and buffalo sauce along with your favorite cheese, and for the latter, shred some steak and fry some onions, then top the sandwich with provolone (or cheese whiz, if you want to be as traditional as possible).