Sometimes it is through experience or trial and error that we develop cooking tips.  Family, friends, magazines,

websites, etc. all offer various cooking hints and tips.  This page will contain tips I have found helpful through the years.

Grilled Cheese Tips

I was asked, “How do I get my grilled cheese so crispy?”  As I was growing up, I did what I believe most people do when they make a grilled cheese.  I get some soft butter and spread on the outside of each piece of bread.  Place one buttered bread side down in the frying pan, load in the cheese, set on the second piece of bread – buttered side up.  Then, turned on the heat.

The more I cook the more I recognize the importance of a preheated pan, just as preheating the oven when baking.  One of my restaurant jobs was at an establishment called, “Round The Corner.”  After mastering the counter and front of the house jobs it was time to move to the kitchen.  One of the first jobs one learned in this kitchen was the flat grill.  I was responsible for toasting any bread or buns, and making the grilled cheese.  The flat grill was set to 350 degrees, and we had a container of melted butter set to the side of the grill.  The key to the grilled cheese was brushing the bread with melted butter and putting the sandwich on a hot grill.

The same may be done at home.  Start preheating your pan on medium to medium low.  While the pan is preheating melt some butter or margarine in the microwave (or use oil) and spread liberally on one side of the bread, load the cheese, place the other slice of bread on top of the cheese and liberally spread melted butter.

Everyone likes melted cheese in the middle in addition to the crisp bread.  Once you flip the sandwich, place a lid or some other item on top of the grilled cheese to hold the heat inside and nicely melt the cheese.

Now get grill’n!