# In praise of the grilled cheese sandwich **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 12, 2016, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585 "2016-11-12T03:45:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/41 "2016-11-13T02:58:53Z")
If we are going to talk cheeses, I find that raclette makes an excellent one. Gets all nice and oozy. Mmmmmm. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/42 "2016-11-13T03:29:43Z")
Of course the BEST THING about a late night grilled cheese sandwich is that it will give you indigestion and fiendish nightmares that will completely take your mind off the fact that Trump was elected President. > **[Dream of the Rarebit Fiend](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_of_the_Rarebit_Fiend)** > > Dream of the Rarebit Fiend is a newspaper comic strip by American cartoonist Winsor McCay, begun September 10, 1904. It was McCay's second successful strip, after Little Sammy Sneeze secured him a position on the cartoon staff of the New York Herald. Rarebit Fiend appeared in the Evening Telegram, a newspaper published by the Herald. For contractual reasons, McCay signed the strip with the pen name "Silas". > The strip had no continuity or recurring characters, but a recurring theme: a chara... McKay was writing about rarebits, but they are simply an archaic form of the grilled cheese sandwich, which does the trick just as well. Hell, so does reheated pizza. The important thing is to get melted hot cheese into your gob. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/43 "2016-11-13T03:55:57Z")
Just had one tonight at Panera with a big bowl of tomato soup! Yum. Only lacking a pickle. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/44 "2016-11-13T04:35:34Z")
With bacon. Or sauteed mushrooms. Or both. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/45 "2016-11-13T09:42:05Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > If we are going to talk cheeses _What a friend we have in cheeses…_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/46 "2016-11-13T11:41:08Z")
Alton Brown: [Grilled Grilled Cheese Sandwich](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RllWJUvrxEY). ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/47 "2016-11-13T12:08:21Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > No one’s mentioned sweet pickles? I gotta have a few miniature sweet pickles on the side. Two bites of sandwich, then a bite of pickle. Good stuff. 😃 On the side? Dill pickle slices in the sandwich, under the cheese is where it’s at. Gooey cheese around a hot tangy dill pickle, that is heaven between two slices of toast. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/48 "2016-11-13T17:29:51Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Alton Brown: [Grilled Grilled Cheese Sandwich](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RllWJUvrxEY). Alton Brown is a sadist! 😉 Man, that looks good! ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/49 "2016-11-13T18:54:36Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Just had one tonight at Panera with a big bowl of tomato soup! Yum. Only lacking a pickle. Why didn’t you just ask for a pickle?? I was a GM for Panera (St Louis Bread Co.) for years and I KNOW they have plenty of pickles. Grill Cheese Sandwiches were a staple for DeadHeads on tour. My buddy and I rigged 24 inches gas stove to run on propane and took it on tour in '94 and '95…we financed our tour and came home with $$ by selling “gourmet” grilled three cheese sandwiches with a lime mustard. We also baked chocolate chip cookies after the show, and served up a “family meal” for our fellow camping partners nightly… tsfr ---
**Author:** ![MN\_Maenad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MN\_Maenad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MN_Maenad)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/50 "2016-11-13T22:46:11Z")
I made the mistake of reading this thread when I was hungry, so I went out and bought ham and cheese and DH just made me one of his Fabulous Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. I don’t know if I hate you all or love you. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/51 "2016-11-13T22:58:11Z")
Who here slices their cheese, and who grates it? I’ve always sliced, but wouldn’t grating make a smoother, quicker-melting sandwich? ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/52 "2016-11-13T22:59:23Z")
I always grate for quesadillas…which are pretty much a grilled cheese sandwich on tortillas instead of bread. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2016, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/53 "2016-11-13T23:16:02Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Who here slices their cheese, and who grates it? > > I’ve always sliced, but wouldn’t grating make a smoother, quicker-melting sandwich? You don’t want it melting more quickly. If you do that, it doesn’t have time to properly toast/fry/grill the bread. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2016, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/54 "2016-11-14T04:42:17Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Who here slices their cheese, and who grates it? > > I’ve always sliced, but wouldn’t grating make a smoother, quicker-melting sandwich? I often toast both sides of the slices of bread. Slices are easier to place on already hot bread, and grated melts too much before it’s browned enough. Since grated is less dense, you have to kind of pile it on, and it doesn’t hold together very well when you flip. Unless it melted already, and then it’s too melted when side two is done… ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/55 "2016-11-16T03:11:49Z")
Spread the butter on each side of the prepared sandwich before it goes into the pan, or melt the butter in the pan? Tell me quick. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/56 "2016-11-16T03:39:17Z")
It’s really personal preference. Melting first can sometimes cause spotty coverage on the bread with some not covered and some saturated. I usually have to use more and have to smear the bread around the pan. So I prefer to spread on the bread first. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/57 "2016-11-16T03:51:58Z")
I prefer just to do it in the pan. Throw about a tablespoon in, get it nice and melted, throw in the sandwich. When I flip, I throw about another tablespoon in, let it melt, and fry the other side of the sandwich. As long as you have enough butter, it gets all the bread. Plus I like mine extra buttery, anyway. Lately, I’ve also been putting a bit of butter on the inside of one of the slices and putting a thin smear of Vegemite on it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/58 "2016-11-16T04:48:15Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Spread the butter on each side of the prepared sandwich before it goes into the pan, or melt the butter in the pan? > > Tell me quick. I like to spread the butter on the bread. \*\*Rhiannon8404 \*\*prefers to melt it in the pan. After 23+ years, we are proof that mixes marriages \*can \*work. ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/59 "2016-11-16T16:17:20Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > On the side? Dill pickle slices in the sandwich, under the cheese is where it’s at. Gooey cheese around a hot tangy dill pickle, that is heaven between two slices of toast. Dill pickles on a grilled cheese? What, were you raised by Amish wolves?? 🙂 My college cafeteria always tried to put pickles on my grilled cheese, and I’d have to practically leap over the counter: “OH, NO PICKLES PLEASE!!” before they slimed it up with those disgusting things. Occasionally, I’ll jazz up the GCS by frying an egg first, then making that the nucleus of the sandwich. Good eatin’s. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2016, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585/60 "2016-11-16T18:49:41Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > Why didn’t you just ask for a pickle?? I was a GM for Panera (St Louis Bread Co.) for years and I KNOW they have plenty of pickles. Yep, Panera is generous with their pickles. As for an extra one and they give you a whole little cup full of pickle spears. I love my Panera. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-the-grilled-cheese-sandwich/771585.md?page=4)