Despite Its Name, Using Too Much Filling Is A Grilled Cheese Nightmare

Think back to the beginning of your culinary journey. Chances are good that grilled cheese was the very first recipe you were introduced to by a parent, older sibling, or some other kindly relative. Grilled cheese sandwiches are easy to prepare; they require only a few ingredients that most people already have kicking around in their kitchen. They're also relatively simple when it comes to cooking. Butter the bread, assemble the sandwich, plop it in the pan, flip it, and you're all set. However, it often seems like the simplest recipes are the easiest to botch, even if you've been making them for decades. 

When it comes to grilled cheese, there are numerous pitfalls to avoid. If the pan is too hot, the bread is likely to burn. If you don't coat bread slices with a sufficient amount of fat (i.e., butter, mayo, or oil, depending on your taste), you won't get the right texture. 

The amount of cheese you use is another factor to consider. The best grilled cheese sandwiches are ooey, gooey, and melted to perfection in the middle. In this case, it might seem like adding more cheese to the sandwich is key to achieving the perfect filling, but that's not true. In fact, using too much cheese is a surefire way to derail your meal.

There are many schools of thought when it comes to making the perfect grilled cheese. However, all would agree that the best outcome is a soft, melty interior and a crispy, toasty exterior. It's suggested that you only add a single slice of cheese to your sandwich to ensure perfection. It's all about cooking time: a single cheese slice will melt quicker than two or three slices. As a result, using one slice helps you avoid burned bread, or even worse, an interior that's still firm.

In the event that a single slice simply won't cut it for the cheese lovers in your home, shredded cheese is the next best option. In this case, you can use up to one cup of grated cheese to ensure ultimate meltiness. You can use more shredded cheese than cheese slices, as shredded cheese will melt faster when cooking. That means both the bread and cheese will be cooked to perfection at roughly the same time. 

Now that you know how much filling to use, the next step is to determine the best cheese and bread options.

When it comes to the type of cheese you use, you'll want to avoid anything too hard or soft. Hard cheese takes forever to melt, while soft cheese contains lots of moisture, which can result in soggy bread. Accordingly, stick to options such as cheddar, Monterey jack, or Swiss, as these cheeses will melt down beautifully in the time it takes to toast the exterior of the bread. The flavor of the cheese is another aspect to consider, as anything too potent can ruin the appeal of this simple meal. If you want bolder flavors in your sandwich, combine a neutral-flavored cheese with a small portion of a more flavorful cheese into your shredded mix.

As for the bread, stay away from anything that's sliced too thick. Thick bread slices make it harder for cheese to melt, while also hiding the gooey cheese flavor as you eat. In general, slices should be no more than a ½ inch thick for optimum results. In addition to classic selections such as white or whole-wheat bread, you can also create a fancier sandwich by using crusty, artisan-style bread or brioche. You also can't go wrong with rye bread, which toasts beautifully. 

While there's a science to cooking, making the perfect grilled cheese sandwich is more akin to an art form. When your tools and technique are carefully chosen, you're bound to create a lunchtime masterpiece.