# Grilled cheese sandwich-what the heck am I doing wrong? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459 "2014-02-16T03:45:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/41 "2014-02-16T17:01:18Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > That’s “cheese toast”. Entirely different thing. XO white cheddar and Marmite, broiled in a toaster oven. Mmmmmmmmmmmm! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/42 "2014-02-16T17:09:39Z")
I’ve been using the ‘lite’ version of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter for my grilled cheese sandwiches, and they turn out fine. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/43 "2014-02-16T17:12:22Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > That’s “cheese toast”. Entirely different thing. In American, any non-meat dish that is “grilled” is pan-fried in oil or butter, but probably butter. I’m intrigued now. As a Scottish person, I am by nature attracted to artery-clogging tasty foodstuffs 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/44 "2014-02-16T17:13:34Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > XO white cheddar and Marmite, broiled in a toaster oven. Mmmmmmmmmmmm! 🙂 Very much so! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/45 "2014-02-16T17:23:16Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > In American, any non-meat dish that is “grilled” is pan-fried in oil or butter, but probably butter. > [@pulykamell](#): > > A “griddle” in US English is a flat top “grill,” not a grate or grid iron. To me (native Californian now living in the PNW), ‘griddle’ sounds a little old-timey. I actually have two griddles (a cast-iron one, and a Teflon one for camping), but never use them. ‘Grilled’ has to be gleaned from the context. You can grill something on a grate, or grill it on a flat-top grill. So as **pulykamel** says, a grilled cheese sandwich would be cooked on a flat-top grill. Since most people don’t have a flat-top grill, we use a frying pan/skillet. > [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > All this talk of pans and frying is boggling my mind. Don’t you use the grill (broiler?) to make cheese on toast? As has been said, different things. We’re talking about cheese _in_ toast – a sandwich. For cheese _on_ toast… well, I use what we call an English muffin. I toast the halves in the toaster, spread them with margarine and Vegemite, top with cheese, and put them under the broiler. My dad used to make grilled ham and cheese sandwiches for lunch when he was on the mid-watch. He’d ‘butter’ the bread with margarine and put two slices of American cheese and a sandwich-sized Oscar Meyer ham steak between the dry sides, and then cook them on the grate in the toaster oven. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/46 "2014-02-16T17:23:36Z")
Because we are assuming knowledge and experience you don’t have, **Baron Greenback** , you might want to check out a recipe. There are even videos! > **[Grilled Cheese Sandwich](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/23891/grilled-cheese-sandwich/)** > > Learn how to make a grilled cheese sandwich in a nonstick pan with buttered bread and sliced Cheddar; serve with tomato soup for a comforting classic. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/47 "2014-02-16T17:41:39Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Civilised people put dill pickle slices in their grilled cheese sandwiches. Absolutely not. If it contains anything other than bread, cheese, and butter/margarine it is not a grilled cheese sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/48 "2014-02-16T17:58:49Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > MAYO?!! On a grilled cheese?! I think I just threw up in my mouth, eeck Seriously? It’s mostly oil. I use it on grilled cheeses all the time if my butter is cold. You wouldn’t know unless I told you first. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/49 "2014-02-16T18:03:37Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Seriously? It’s mostly oil. I use it on grilled cheeses all the time if my butter is cold. You wouldn’t know unless I told you first. I can totally see it, especially if you make your own mayonnaise like I do. Nothing but eggs, oil, lemon juice and a pinch of salt. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/50 "2014-02-16T19:02:55Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > All this talk of pans and frying is boggling my mind. Don’t you use the grill (broiler?) to make cheese on toast? In American kitchens, the broiler (heat from above) is either inside the oven or below it, at floor level. We don’t use the broiler to make simple things like toasted sandwiches. And unless you have a very fancy kitchen, it’s unlikely that there’s a separate grill (heat from below a gridiron surface rather than a smooth flat surface) – our grills tend to be in the back yard and powered by charcoal or propane gas (in cylinders). So if we want to grill something indoors we do it on top of the stove on the burners on a frying pan, skillet, or griddle. The term “grilled cheese sandwich” is a bit of an anomaly in that if we were cooking anything that way, we would probably call it “pan fried” it “pan toasted.” ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/51 "2014-02-16T19:32:36Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > In American kitchens, the broiler (heat from above) is either inside the oven or below it, at floor level. We don’t use the broiler to make simple things like toasted sandwiches. I get what you are all talking about now. 🙂 I’d call it a toastie - I’ve got one of [these](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=toastie+maker&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=wiT&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=hxEBU-_qGsng7Qa13IG4BA&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAg&biw=1440&bih=754#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=5j_eYGAzXEMFLM%253A%3B0CWQix0KVH0I2M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ffussfreeflavours.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2011%252F12%252FWaring-Deep-Fill-Toastie-Maker.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ffussfreeflavours.com%252F2011%252F12%252Fproduct-review-the-waring-deep-fill-toastie-maker%252F%3B500%3B500) (well, similar), but I suspect I’m not alone in owning one and rarely using it as it’s a bugger to clean. I’m going to give the recipe Brynda posted a try 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/52 "2014-02-16T19:52:47Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Do what I did, and make some grilled cheese sandwiches. Then eat them. I don’t have anyway to do that, not even an iron/ironing board. ☹ I will just sit in the corner and weep quietly as I suffer in silence. :D;) ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/53 "2014-02-16T21:43:41Z")
You all can thank me later for how to do a proper grilled cheese sandwich. Ingredients: [ul] [li]Scali bread[/li][li]White american cheese[/li][li]Shredded parmesan cheese[/li][li]Real butter[/li][li]Cayenne pepper[/li][li]Good salsa[/li][/ul] Plop a chunk of butter in a frying pan on 7 and let melt. Place e slices of cheese on bread, then sprinkle with cayenne pepper. Close with other piece of bread. Plop into frying pan. Add Parmesan cheese to top of bread and cover pan. Cook about 2 minutes. Remove cover, flip sandwich. Add more Parmesan cheese to exposed side and recover for about 90 seconds. Serve on plate with salsa. [Photo](http://dmf109.smugmug.com/Photography/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-w9m8mwM/0/M/CA_10201220472336-M.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/54 "2014-02-16T22:39:09Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > You used sliced bread instead of flour tortillas, of course. That’s a quesadilla! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2014, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/55 "2014-02-16T23:52:50Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > You all can thank me later for how to do a proper grilled cheese sandwich. > > Ingredients: > [ul] > [li]Scali bread[/li][li]White american cheese[/li][li]Shredded parmesan cheese[/li][li]Real butter[/li][li]Cayenne pepper[/li][li]Good salsa[/li][/ul] > > Plop a chunk of butter in a frying pan on 7 and let melt. > > Place e slices of cheese on bread, then sprinkle with cayenne pepper. Close with other piece of bread. > > Plop into frying pan. Add Parmesan cheese to top of bread and cover pan. Cook about 2 minutes. > > Remove cover, flip sandwich. Add more Parmesan cheese to exposed side and recover for about 90 seconds. > > Serve on plate with salsa. > > [Photo](http://dmf109.smugmug.com/Photography/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-w9m8mwM/0/M/CA_10201220472336-M.jpg) I don’t always jump up from the keyboard to make **sparky!**'s recipes, but when I do, [they’re delicious](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9460062@N07/12576282433/sizes/m/in/photostream/). 😃 (Scali-\> French bread, because it’s what I had, and white cheese- \> yellow cheese, ditto.) ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/56 "2014-02-17T00:57:58Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I don’t always jump up from the keyboard to make **sparky!**'s recipes, but when I do, [they’re delicious](http://www.flickr.com/photos/9460062@N07/12576282433/sizes/m/in/photostream/). 😃 > > (Scali-\> French bread, because it’s what I had, and white cheese- \> yellow cheese, ditto.) Both french bread and yellow cheese are worthy substitutes. Just don’t go trying to use any highfalutin cheese as the filler; good ole american in plastic wrappers is best! And the parmesan on the outside adds a good crunch and some salt. BYW: that looks delicious. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/57 "2014-02-17T03:23:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Or, is it possible that They just changed something important in the margarine making processes with the banning of transfats? Perhaps even regular margarine has issues now.] Honest to god, I really think this may be the case, or they’re just adding more water to keep the price down. BUT, today I used butter (nuked for 10 sec. and brushed on) and got the PERFECT grilled cheese. I honestly don’t care to butter the entire pan because then (GACK) I have to wash the whole pan instead of just wiping out the one grease spot. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/58 "2014-02-17T04:34:25Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > For me, as an American, that’s a little different. While the name is a bit odd, to me, a “grilled cheese” needs to be cooked in a fat of some sort (preferably butter), and fried in a pan or a griddle. Perhaps “fried cheese sandwich” would be a better name. I’ve never actually seen a “grilled cheese” that is properly grilled (over fire). If it’s not buttered and fried then, to me, that’s not a “grilled cheese,” that’s just a toasted cheese sandwich. Perhaps the “grilled” in “grilled cheese” is more properly “griddled.” (A “griddle” in US English is a flat top “grill,” not a grate or grid iron.) We have always broiled our GCS. Lightly toast one slice of bread, put cheese in, top with buttered bread, put under broiler until bread gets toasted. You have to watch it like a hawk, however, but it makes better sandwiches. Super fast cheat method: Toast bread, insert cheese, nuke until cheese is melted. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/59 "2014-02-17T04:36:37Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > [li]White american cheese[/li] “American cheese” aka cheese food- is what _real cheese_ eats. Colby Longhorn is the best. I’d only use american cheese for a kid. ---
**Author:** ![crucible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@crucible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crucible)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2014, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459/60 "2014-02-17T04:41:37Z")
any cheese slice will do, dense bread, butter…but I need thinly sliced onions for it to be a real success. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grilled-cheese-sandwich-what-the-heck-am-i-doing-wrong/681459.md?page=4)