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Who doesn't love a grilled cheese sandwich?

2008-09-03

I can't think of a more perfect lunch, especially as fall rolls around, than a warm, melty, golden brown grilled cheese sandwich. It's one of those comfort foods that I grew up eating. My dad used to make them for me and he magically seemed to toast them just right every time. Then it became one of the first things I learned to cook on my own (just after cinnamon toast!).

And now, as an adult, it's still one of my favorite things to eat. Of course, as my likes, hobbies, and preferences have varied and diversified with age, so too has my taste in grilled cheese, which of course leads to today's question.

What's the best type of cheese for a grilled cheese sandwich?

Ladylilikins from Boston believes that the best cheese for a grilled cheese sandwich is, "anything that melts." Kevin from Boston postulates, "Hmmm, if there's ham on it, then swiss is really good. If there is no ham, I'd go with american (regardless of whather that counts as cheese, I like it!)." And Taryn from Atlanta exclaims, "I'm a traditionalist: good ol' sharp cheddar."

Being a dedicated grilled cheese lover myself, how can I possibly argue with Ladylilikins? If it's cheese and it melts, why not slap it between two pieces of bread and throw it in a pan? Of course, meltability is something that the tentative grilled cheese cook doesn't always take into account. Some cheese just melts better than others, and if it doesn't really melt, is it really a grilled cheese? For instance, I love a good toasted sandwich with ham and brie (and how about a ham and brie crepe? yum!), but brie isn't one of your more meltable cheeses. Is that still a "grilled cheese sandwich"? Perhaps, perhaps not, but I suppose that's a question for the cheese academics (and the rest of us can just eat it!).

Speaking of ham and brie sandwiches, there are lots of great things besides cheese to add to those grilled cheese sandwiches: ham, tomatoes, onions, chicken...the list goes on. It's important, however, to add elements which compliment your cheese instead of detracting from or overpowering it (coming at the grilled cheese issue from the side of a cheese lover!). So Kevin makes a good point when using this as a factor in his answer. Ham and swiss makes a GREAT grilled cheese sandwich.

As for his qualms and self-effacement around his liking of american cheese, there's nothing wrong with a lovely grilled cheese sandwich made with american cheese. It's what I, and I would guess many of you, grew up eating. And yes, I still enjoy it from time to time. There's no cheese judgement here! My only caveat is that I prefer the whitish yellow american cheese, as opposed to the neon orange plastic-wrapped stuff. Of course, I've been known to enjoy a neon-colored bowl of lucky charms on occasion, so I'm still not judging!

Taryn's traditionalist comment is an interesting one in that I would think most Americans think of american cheese as traditional for a grilled cheese sandwich. Although, for adults, cheddar may be the most common (not having any kind of data to back that one up...). Regardless, sharp cheddar is probably my own favorite cheese for a grilled cheese sandwich: salty, melty, and poignant. Oh yeah! Of course, I'm always happy to try just about any cheese on a grilled cheese sandwich at least once!

For more grilled cheese sandwich cheese suggestions, check this out!

Next week, we regress to our wonderfully cheese-filled childhoods, asking, "Did you eat cheese growing up? What kind?" Of course, I seem to have already prejudiced the answer...oh well! Until next week, may your bries be creamy and your cheddars sharp!


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