Animation Source: Giphy
A Brief History
Grilled Cheese Animation Source: Giphy
The popularity of grilled cheese began in the early 1900s. Many cookbooks had different recipes for making grilled cheese sandwiches. In 1928 the invention of sliced bread increased the number of consumers that made the recipe at home. Many restaurants served grilled cheese on their menu.
During World War II the government published cookbooks for navy chefs with recipes on making grilled cheese sandwiches. Many early grilled cheese sandwiches were made with one slice of bread and cheese and called an open-faced grilled cheese sandwich.
In 1949 Kraft introduced wrapped individual cheese slices sold in supermarkets. Sliced cheese made it easier to make a grilled cheese sandwich at home. In the early days it was called a toasted cheese sandwich.
Kraft applied in 1916 for a patent to make processed cheese. In 2007, Kraft food budgeted 1.4 million to promote making grilled cheese sandwiches. Different countries have different types of grilled cheese recipes.
Different Types of Grilled Cheese
Croque Monsieur Sandwich Source: Kitchen Trails
In France a grilled cheese sandwich called Croque Monsieur uses several layers of ham and Gruyere cheese on crusty bread adding a white Mornay sauce over the ingredients. It was one of the first grilled cheese sandwiches ever made.
Grilled Cheese Source: Wikipedia
American Grilled Cheese
During the great Depression grilled cheese sandwiches made an inexpensive meal for families with a low income. Bread and cheese were a staple of the American diet, With the advancement of technology grilled cheese became a staple in homes and restaurants. Today we have a variety of recipes that use different types of cheese, vegetables, meat, and chicken.
Jaffle From Australia
A grilled cheese sandwich in Australia is cooked in jaffle a two-sided waffle or iron with metal plates. That is why the sandwich is called a jaffle. The waffle iron makes a sealed grilled cheese sandwich. There is a handheld jaffle maker held over a open fire and an electric iron model. The electric model has grooved plates that mold the sandwich and keep the ingredients from leaking out. They use different cheeses, vegetables and meat in their grilled cheese recipes.
Cornbread Grilled Cheese Sandwich Source: Flicker/Maggie Hoffman
Arepas Grilled Cheese Sandwich from Columbia and Venezuela
The arepas grilled cheese sandwiches are made on grilled corn cakes with queso fresco, cojota, or feta cheese. These sandwiches can be filled with meat, vegetables, or seafood. Some arepas are served using only one corn cake and other recipes use two.
Raclette Sandwich From The Swiss Alps and France
The raclette sandwich from the Swiss Alps and France is made by cutting a section from the cheese wheel to use to make the grilled sandwich. The raclette cheese is melted in raclette grill and meats and veggies grilled too. You scrap the veggies and meat onto a sliced baguette and then add the melted cheese. The meat used often in this sandwich is prosciutto and it is topped with mustard.
Quesadillas From Mexico
Quesadillas are the Mexican grilled cheese sandwich. They are made by grilling a tortilla filled with cheese, vegetables, and stewed meats. Most are served with guacamole and salas. The tortilla is filled and rolled to close it up. It is baked in the oven or cooked on the stove in a fry pan with no oil.
Italian Paninis From Italy
Italian grilled cheese is made on ciabatta bread or baguettes sliced in half. They use mozzarella, provolone or cheddar most often The sandwiches are made in a panini press, a grill pan, or heavy skillet. Often, they add bacon, ham, or mushrooms.
English Toasties From England
This is a traditional grilled cheese sandwich that use shredded sharp cheddar or sliced. The sandwich is cooked in a frying pan without butter but the inside of the bread is buttered. It produces a crunchy outside and gooey cheese inside. Cook on the stove over low heat and watch it carefully as it can burn.
How To Celebrate National Grilled Cheese Month
Grilled Ham and Cheese Photo Source: Public Domain Pictures
Try some new grilled cheese recipes with family and friends for lunch of dinner.
Go to a restaurant and try a new specialty grilled cheese sandwich.
Visit these website for some new grilled cheese recipes to try.
Have a grilled cheese party at home or work
21 Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipes The Pioneer Woman
Eleven Irresistible Sandwiches Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Something About Sandwiches
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches on Grilled Cheese Grill
Healthy Grilled Cheese Recipes on Eating Well
Grilled Cheese With Provolone, Sausage, and White Onion
For this recipe you will need a cutting board, knife, tin foil or parchment paper, baking sheet, knife for spreading butter, small bowl, spatula, and plates. In this recipe you bake the grilled cheese sandwich in the oven. If you are concerned about fat substitute olive oil for butter in the recipes. About 1 tablespoon per sandwich.
Ingredients:
1 pound of sweet sausage links cut in half horizontally
1 loaf of rye or sourdough bread
1 pound of sliced provolone cheese
1 stick of butter to butter the bread slices
1 medium white onion sliced thin
1/4 cup of sour cream
2 teaspoons hot paprika
Directions:
Defrost the sausage links and cut horizontally on cutting board. Wash cutting board with warm soap and water before using again. Put the sausage links on a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and bake or roast at 350 degrees for about 15 to 20 minutes before making sandwiches. . Be sure all links are well cooked. Remove links put aside and throw away foil or parchment paper and use a new piece for sandwiches.
Butter sliced bread on both sides and place on parchment paper. Put about 3 sliced sausage links per sandwich on one slice and the sliced provolone on the other slice of bread. Place as many slices as you can on the sheet and put sausage links on one slice and mozzarella cheese on the other. Let it bake for about 10 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
Meanwhile cut the ends off of the onion and remove the peel. Discard. Slice the onion very thin and put aside. Mix the sour cream and hot paprika in a small container to use as a spread. Remove the grilled bread with sausage and provolone cheese from the oven.
Using a spatula place one slice of break with sausage and one slice of bread with cheese on the each plate. Add the grilled onion and sauce to the sausage and place cheese side down on top of the sausage and toppings. Cut in half and serve immediately. This serves about 4.
Grilled Cheddar Cheese on Sourdough With Tomato
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwich Breadplus Butter Blog
You will need a sheet pan, foil or parchment paper, butter, knife, cutting board, oven, and small bowl.
Ingredients
1 package of grated cheddar cheese or chunk of cheese
1 loaf of sourdough bread
1 stick of butter
foil or parchment paper
2 or 3 medium sized tomatoes
On a sheet pan butter both side of sourdough bread and place on the sheet pan.
Add cheddar cheese to one side to melt. Slice the cheese or use shredded cheddar cheese from the package Soak the tomatoes about five minutes is bowl in warm water, drain and slice thin, Add the tomatoes to other slice without the cheese. Bake sandwiches for about 10 to 15 minutes. Check on the sandwiches be sure not to burn them. Take out of oven using a spatula put one slice with melted cheese on plate and other with tomatoes turned over on top of melted cheese. Serves 3 to 4 people.
Animation Gif Source: Giphy
References:
The Cheesy Chronicles: Exploring Famous Grilled Cheese Variations Through History, Grilled Cheese Grill by Nimrah Ally, March 2024
What is A Jaffee? Crafty Toasties by Jake, 2024
What Are Arepas? My Columbian Recipes, by Erica October 6, 2021
What A Cheesy Sandwich Looks Like In Places Around the World by Chelesa David, Business Insider, October 22, 2018