# Tomatoe soup and grilled cheese **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 3, 2015, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769 "2015-02-03T22:55:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![justmeetee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@justmeetee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justmeetee)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/1 "2015-02-03T22:55:54Z")
Can you have one without the other? And what kind of cheese? Can it be cheddar or swiss or must it be american? And is condensed tomatoe soup from a can acceptable? If so should you make it with water or milk? Whole? 2%? Skim? Would half and half or cream make it more rich and creamy? Should the soup be served in a cup or bowl? Do you have to use a spoon or can you just slurp it? If you add a slice of tomatoe and some bacon is it still a grilled cheese or has it become a bacon sandwich with tomatoe and cheese thats been grilled? And if it’s now a bacon sandwich do you still want the soup to be tomatoe? If you’re going to dip should you cut the sandwich in half? Or just pull it apart? Cut it straight across or corner to corner? Should it be made with white bread or whole wheat? Rye? Multi grain? And is it tomatoe or tomato? Oh the hell with it. Anyone got the number for Pizza Pit? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/2 "2015-02-03T22:59:20Z")
I can answer one of your questions for sure: it’s “tomato”! 🙂 I grew up on white bread and American cheese, and usually with no soup. If I were choosing today, I’d have to go for white bread, swiss cheese, tomato and bacon. And Creamy Tomato soup. I can however have one without the other. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/3 "2015-02-03T23:03:06Z")
> [@justmeetee](#): > > … And what kind of cheese? Can it be cheddar or swiss or must it be american? And is condensed tomatoe soup from a can acceptable? If so should you make it with water or milk? Whole? 2%? Skim? Would half and half or cream make it more rich and creamy? > Should the soup be served in a cup or bowl? Do you have to use a spoon or can you just slurp it? If you add a slice of tomatoe and some bacon is it still a grilled cheese or has it become a bacon sandwich with tomatoe and cheese thats been grilled? And if it’s now a bacon sandwich do you still want the soup to be tomatoe? If you’re going to dip should you cut the sandwich in half? Or just pull it apart? Cut it straight across or corner to corner? Should it be made with white bread or whole wheat? Rye? Multi grain? > … You are going to have to step out of line, and let the people behind you order. 🙂 (To answer one of your questions: If I must have tomato soup, I don’t require a grilled cheese.) ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/4 "2015-02-03T23:04:15Z")
Love grilled cheese in dozens of forms. Hate tomato soup. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/5 "2015-02-03T23:22:13Z")
> [@justmeetee](#): > > Can you have one without the other? Yes. You can have a grilled cheese sandwich without tomato soup. But I never eat tomato soup unless I’m having a grilled cheese sandwich (and as soon as the sandwich is gone the rest of the soup goes in the trash). > [@](#): > > And what kind of cheese? Can it be cheddar or swiss or must it be american? Any kind of cheese can be used that will melt with some consistency or combined with another cheese that will. Personally, I would never willingly eat American cheese but I’m a snob that way. > [@](#): > > And is condensed tomatoe soup from a can acceptable? Is to me. Since I don’t like tomato soup in any other context no reason to get fancy. And the smoother/creamier the better since it is really just there to get sucked into sandwich bread. > [@](#): > > If so should you make it with water or milk? Whole? 2%? Skim? Would half and half or cream make it more rich and creamy? I just do whatever the can says. > [@](#): > > Should the soup be served in a cup or bowl? Anything big enough for the sandwich to be dipped into. > [@](#): > > Do you have to use a spoon or can you just slurp it? No spoon needed because tomato soup on its own is gross. Only that which is attached to the sandwich gets consumed. > [@](#): > > If you add a slice of tomatoe and some bacon is it still a grilled cheese or has it become a bacon sandwich with tomatoe and cheese thats been grilled? Whole relatively uncooked tomatoes are the work of the devil so should never be anywhere near something that will be eaten. I don’t eat pork so no bacon. But if I do add something to a grilled cheese sandwich (like sliced turkey breast) then I do still consider it a grilled cheese if it is thoroughly melted and served closed face. At some point if you add enough the other ingredient would dominate and no longer be a grilled cheese sandwich. > [@](#): > > And if it’s now a bacon sandwich do you still want the soup to be tomatoe? No, once I’ve added other stuff to the sandwich I no longer have any interest in tomato soup with it. Regardless of how many extraneous e’s the soup has. > [@](#): > > If you’re going to dip should you cut the sandwich in half? Or just pull it apart? I’m still waiting for a ruling from the Global Sandwich Eating Governing Body so until then I just pull it apart or dip the corner of a whole sandwich in. If still hot, all cutting in half does is give the cheese time to get somewhere other than in the sandwich. > [@](#): > > Cut it straight across or corner to corner? Should it be made with white bread or whole wheat? Rye? Multi grain? Just about any kind of bread can work and I’ve found pretty much any of them can produce a good sandwich. > [@](#): > > And is it tomatoe or tomato? What am I, your spellcheck? Oh the hell with it. Anyone got the number for Pizza Pit? [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/6 "2015-02-03T23:27:44Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > Love grilled cheese in dozens of forms. Hate tomato soup. OMG, same here. Tomato soup is hideous no matter how you spell it. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/7 "2015-02-03T23:37:32Z")
Tomato soup from a can, \*not \*diluted with water or milk. (Hold the toe.) Cheese can be a nice sharp cheddar or Swiss. Bread may be sourdough, wheat berry, whole wheat, Jewish rye, multigrain or whatever. Cut the sandwich? What am I, a kid? Dunk that sucker whole! ---
**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 3, 2015, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/8 "2015-02-03T23:40:34Z")
Campbell’s Cream of Tomato soup made with whole milk, 18% cream, and a gob of butter. Maybe sprinkle in some hot red pepper sauce or paprika to liven it up a bit. Grilled cheese: white bread and Velveeta, sauteed in butter over low heat. Cut in half diagonally and dip in soup until consumed. Finish the soup with a handful of crushed Saltines. Polish off with a glass of whole milk and some Oreos. Twist the cookies open and lick the cream filling for maximum decadence! :o ---
**Author:** ![Tara57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Tara57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tara57)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/9 "2015-02-03T23:46:11Z")
Grilled cheese sandwiches must be cut along both diagonals to make four triangles. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/10 "2015-02-04T00:07:24Z")
Okay, I can understand people hating tomato soup from a can, but tomato soup made from fresh tomatoes, basil and heavy cream? How could you not like that! 🙂 I will not eat that stuff from the can but I am willing to eat soup made from from peeled whole tomatoes from a can. Also, I’m a grilled cheese sandwich slut. I don’t believe I’ve ever met a grilled cheese sandwich I didn’t want to eat. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/11 "2015-02-04T00:28:59Z")
Tomato soup must have saltines with butter on them. :: d&r:: ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/12 "2015-02-04T00:46:03Z")
I’ll eat grilled cheese without tomato soup (it’s a fairly common meal for me, in fact), but very seldom the reverse. And for my money, the ideal grilled cheese sandwich is sharp cheddar on rye, with a sprinkling of rosemary. After it’s cooked, you can pull it open and add pickles or sliced tomatoes in the middle, but not if you’re eating it with soup. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/13 "2015-02-04T01:00:19Z")
I miss Dan Quayle. (unironically) ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/14 "2015-02-04T02:37:59Z")
I don’t really like tomato soup. I’ll use whatever cheese we have in the fridge for Grill Cheese sandwiches. We never buy American Cheese, so our sandwich cheese is one of the following: Sharp Cheddar Provolone Hot Pepper Mexican Chihaua (I forget the spelling) Colby Swiss Muenster We also make Mexican Grilled Cheese a lot (Quesadillas). ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/15 "2015-02-04T02:43:36Z")
My fave grilled cheese sandwich uses sourdough bread, lightly salted butter, and 5 year old white cheddar. Paired with cream of tomato in the winter. But other cheeses can be delightful, too. Monterey Jack with dill makes a tasty treat, as does gruyere. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/16 "2015-02-04T02:49:24Z")
The cheese toasties from my youth were white bread and American cheese. This coupled with Campbell’s tomato soup made with whole milk and served with Ritz was the nectar of the gods. While my palette has matured, I still love this combination and treat myself a few times a year. ETA: Correction: VELVEETA cheese! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/17 "2015-02-04T03:13:01Z")
Tomato soup walks a fine line. Too much seasoning or thickness and it starts to taste like watered-down marinara. Too little and it’s bland. Condensed tomato soup is fine for dipping a grilled cheese, but not to eat on its own. My current favorite (store bought) soup to go with a grilled cheese is the red pepper & smoked gouda soup that’s part of Campbell’s hipster soup pouch lineup. Still tastes a little of canned soup, but it’s smooth, flavorful, and really pairs well with a grilled cheese. ---
**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 4, 2015, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/18 "2015-02-04T03:26:30Z")
> [@Ruby](#): > > The cheese toasties from my youth were white bread and American cheese. This coupled with Campbell’s tomato soup made with whole milk and served with Ritz was the nectar of the gods. > > While my palette has matured, I still love this combination and treat myself a few times a year. > > ETA: Correction: VELVEETA cheese! 🙂 When I was 20, I had a girlfriend who ate Velveeta grilled cheeses. Forty years later, I can’t have one without thinking of her. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/19 "2015-02-04T04:08:59Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > Tomato soup walks a fine line. Too much seasoning or thickness and it starts to taste like watered-down marinara. Too little and it’s bland. Condensed tomato soup is fine for dipping a grilled cheese, but not to eat on its own. What about tomato basil soup? Too much like sauce? Tomato cheddar soup - yum. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769/20 "2015-02-04T04:17:34Z")
Together they are fine but I really prefer my tomato soup with rice in it ---- or as we called it around our house “gore and maggots”. (What can I say? I come from a strange family.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tomatoe-soup-and-grilled-cheese/711769.md?page=2)