Two halves of a grilled cheese sandwich.
The Common Mistake That Prevents Grilled Cheese From Melting

NEWS

By ALICIA BETZ
Two halves of a grilled cheese sandwich stacked.
The key to crafting a great grilled cheese lies in using thin cheese slices and cooking it slowly on low heat, ensuring the cheese melts perfectly while the bread becomes crispy.
Grated cheese on a slice of bread.
For optimal results, thinly slice cheese from a block using an adjustable cheese slicer or grater. Additionally, choose soft cheeses, as hard cheeses may not melt effectively.
Blocks of cheese on a plate.
Some popular hard cheeses to avoid include parmesan, aged goudas, and aged cheddar. Instead, opt for softer cheeses like American, Swiss, young cheddar, and brie.
Stacked halves of a loaded grilled cheese sandwich with cheese oozing out.
If you’re making a loaded grilled cheese; however, achieving proper melting may prove difficult even with thin cheese slices. In such cases, employ the low and slow cooking method.
A grilled cheese in a pan.
Try cooking your grilled cheese on low heat on the stovetop with a lid on the pan to trap heat. This will assist the cheese melting process and keep your bread from burning.
Two halves of a grilled cheese sandwich.
Another option is to reverse-sear your sandwich. Begin by gently cooking it on low in the oven to facilitate cheese melting, then transfer it to a pan to quickly toast the bread.