Grilled cheese facts for kids
Cross section of a grilled cheese sandwich
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| Main ingredients | Cheese, bread |
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| Ingredients generally used | Butter, margarine, mayonnaise |
| Variations | Grilled cheese, cheese dream, cheese toastie |
A grilled cheese sandwich is a yummy hot sandwich. It's made by putting one or more kinds of cheese between two slices of bread. Then, you cook it until the bread gets golden brown and crispy, and the cheese inside becomes warm and melty. People often use butter or other fats to cook it in a pan or on a griddle. Even though some people add other things, the main parts are always the bread and cheese!
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History
Grilled cheese sandwiches have been around for a while! A similar open-faced sandwich called the "cheese dream" became popular in the United States during the Great Depression. This was a tough time in the 1930s when many people didn't have much money.
Later, during World War II (1939-1945), U.S. Navy cooks were making "American cheese filling sandwiches" for soldiers. This shows how popular and easy to make these cheesy sandwiches were, even a long time ago.
How to Make a Grilled Cheese
Making a grilled cheese sandwich is pretty simple! First, you choose your favorite cheese, like cheddar or American cheese. You place slices of cheese between two pieces of bread.
To make it extra tasty, some people spread a thin layer of butter or mayonnaise on the outside of the bread. This helps the bread get nice and crispy and adds flavor.
You can cook your sandwich in different ways:
- On a griddle (a flat cooking surface).
- In a frying pan on the stove.
- In a special machine called a panini grill or a sandwich toaster. In places like the United Kingdom, these are often called "toasties."
The goal is to cook it until the bread turns golden brown and the cheese inside is perfectly melted and gooey. Sometimes, people add other ingredients like peppers, tomatoes, or onions for extra flavor.
Grilled cheese is often eaten as a quick snack or a delicious lunchtime meal. It goes great with a side of salad, soup (especially tomato soup!), or french fries.
Grilled Cheese Restaurants
In the United States, some restaurants, food carts, and food trucks actually specialize in making grilled cheese sandwiches! They take this simple sandwich and make it fancy or unique.
For example, "The Grilled Cheese Grill" in Portland, Oregon, uses old vehicles as their restaurants and focuses on gourmet grilled cheese. "The Grilled Cheese Truck" started in Los Angeles, California, and travels around, serving special "chef-driven" grilled cheese sandwiches. There's even "The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen" in San Francisco, California, that is all about this cheesy favorite.
Grilled Cheese in Pop Culture
Grilled cheese sandwiches have even made it into pop culture!
- The most expensive commercially available sandwich ever recorded by Guinness World Records is a grilled cheese sandwich! It's called the "Quintessential Grilled Cheese" and costs $214 at Serendipity 3 in New York, USA.
- In the movie Chef, there's a memorable scene where the main character enjoys a grilled cheese sandwich.
