Grilled cheese sandwich

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This link to "toasted cheese" concerns a kind of sandwich. For the cheese dish often referred to as "toasted cheese," please see Welsh rarebit.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

A grilled cheese sandwich served with tomato soup.
Origin Information
Alternate Names(s):	Cheese Toast
Country of Origin :	United States (modern version)
Dish Information
Serving Temperature :	Hot
Main Ingredient(s) :	Cheese and Bread
Variations :	Multiple

A grilled cheese sandwich (also known as a cheese toastie or toasted cheese sandwich) is usually a form of toasted or fried sandwich that consists of two slices of bread, usually buttered, and cheese melted in between. There are various methods of preparation which vary depending on taste and convention. In the United States, it is most common for the assembled sandwich to be buttered on the outside and placed on a griddle, pan, cast iron skillet, or rarely, in a dedicated sandwich maker to be heated.^[1] Once the bread on the bottom half of the sandwich has reached a toast-like texture, the sandwich is flipped and continues cooking until the other side has toasted and the cheese has melted. Another method is to butter one slice of bread on both sides, grill the bottom side until the butter melts, then flip. Wait for the inside to be grilled, flip and add the cheese. Then butter the other slice of bread and grill, then place the slices of bread together. In the United Kingdom the sandwich would most commonly be grilled either under a grill (broiler) or, more usually, in a toasted sandwich maker, and possibly open-faced as cheese on toast. In the UK, the sandwich would not normally be cooked in the American fashion, using a frying pan.

Cheddar is most commonly used. In the US it is traditional to use American cheese,^[1] but other cheeses such as gouda, Velveeta and Swiss are also used. Some people choose to put mayonnaise on their sandwich before cooking. It may be supplemented with additional ingredients, most notably bacon and/or tomato, but also avocado, tuna, lunchmeat, sliced ham, pickles, herbs, spices, and condiments such as mustard, tomato sauce, or Worcestershire sauce. It is traditionally accompanied by tomato soup.^[1] Some recipes call for grilled cheese sandwiches to be served with ketchup as a condiment.

The grilled cheese sandwich is a variation on the very old combination of bread and cheese. The modern grilled cheese sandwich (American cheese and sliced white bread) began in the 1920s as an open sandwich. The additional slice of bread became common in the 1960s. In the early 1970s, a Canadian restaurant owner by the name of Dach Johnston was credited for the addition of bacon to the sandwich; however, evidence of this has not yet been proven.^[1]

The grilled cheese sandwich has grown rapidly in popularity during recent years, largely^{[weasel words]} as a result of the Grilled Cheese Invitational. The Grilled Cheese Invitational is a cook-off held yearly in Los Angeles, California where contestants attempt to cook the best grilled cheese sandwich in various categories. There is also an award for the overall most creative grilled cheese sandwich, called the "Spaz Award."^{[citation needed]}