Grilled cheese sandwiches are a traditional dish of all generations of America. What’s better than crispy hot toast, accompanied by rich melted cheese? While they look simple, they are more complicated than you think. Sunset Bar and Grill has a simple question for you “What is the difference between a grilled cheese and a melt?” Whether you are curious about the answer or not, if so, let’s find out with us!
1. What’s the difference between a grilled cheese and a melt?
Grilled cheese is known as bread, cheese, and spread. But a melt has another item. That’s what makes them different!
Although having a similar appearance and preparation, grilled cheese and melted cheese still have differences. Some obvious similarities are that they are slices of cheese sandwiched between two crispy toasted sandwiches.
- For grilled cheese, that should be enough. You just need to sandwich the cheese between 2 slices of bread and bake or pan-fry them until crispy and brown.
- As for melted cheese, it is a mixture of cheese and fat of meat (such as tuna, beef, etc.)
Melted cheese sandwich has added protein like meat or tuna
Grilled cheese is usually for young people to eat because it consists entirely of bread and cheese, along with mayo or butter to brown the bread. In some areas of the United States, you can get grilled cheese stuffed with tomato or vegetable slices.
Grilled cheese bread is baked on both sides while melting the cheese block placed in the middle. It is usually done on a frying pan or grill. There’s no hard and fast rule for the type of cheese you must use, but some good choices are cheddar, Monterey Jack, American, Swiss, or Fontina.
On the other hand, melted cheese refers to any hot sandwich that has melted cheese. It can be a melted patty, a melted turkey, a melted tuna, or a cheeseburger. So, unlike grilled cheese where melted cheese is the main ingredient in addition to bread, melted cheese has other ingredients and the cheese acts as a supplement.
Grilled cheese is usually made on a pan or grill using low heat to get the perfect crust. The melted cheese is baked for 5 to 8 minutes until the cheese is melted. It is recommended to bake on both sides so that you have a more crispy feeling when you bite into the sandwich.
2. The sandwich used in grilled and melted cheese
Traditional grilled cheese is made with white sandwich bread, however, some people may prefer to use brown bread instead. Melted cheese can be made using different breads like sourdough, burgers, etc.
While you can use any type of bread to melt the cheese, you need to consider the right proportions. If you apply too much tuna salad with mayonnaise without having the right amount of bread, this will not reduce the fishy taste or the fatness of the dish.
The percentage of bread required for a perfectly melted cheese also depends on the type of sandwich you’re making. For example, you will need a thicker breadboard for an open-sided sandwich and a standard size for a closed-faced sandwich.
Furthermore, thick and rustic bread with a tougher outer shell should be made into thinner slices than fiber white bread. So, the size of the bread used in an open-faced sandwich is usually twice the size used in a closed-faced sandwich, as the tuna salad remains the same.
3. The best cheese for a grilled cheese sandwich
American is the most common cheese in this recipe
American
Yes, Americans are on this list, and yes, we call it cheese, and it’s the best that has ever been or ever will be. We don’t like this one-of-a-kind cream cheese on everything, but if you see us making burgers or breakfast sandwiches, we’re melting American all over.
Mozzarella
You know the deal with mozzarella. This is the champion of all cheese and an important part of pizza. Mozzarella, whether fresh or low in moisture, has an incredibly pure flavor, so it makes a quick, clean ice cream that goes well with everything from meatballs to grilled veggies.
Cheddar
Cheddar melts well on a toasted sandwich and has a crowd-pleasing flavor. Look for a crisp white cheddar to take the flavor up a notch or experiment with flavored cheddars like spicy jalapeño or smoked hickory. You can pre-cut or slice your own.
You can combine cheddar cheese with another cheese with a smoother melt texture, like Comte, Gruyere, or Fontina for your sandwich. Fillings that pair well with cheddar include sliced apple, bacon, turkey, mustard, chutney, cranberry sauce, and pickles
Gruyère
Gruyere is the cheese of choice for classic French croque sandwiches and for good reason. Can’t resist the sweet, sweet taste of this cheese. Two similar kinds of cheese that are equally delicious are Comte and Appenzeller.
The grilled cheese sandwich filling that pairs well with Gruyere includes caramelized onions, mustard, sliced pears, ham, and sautéed mushrooms.
Fontina
Made from Italian cow’s milk, this classic cheese has a slightly intense taste. However, some people are huge fans of the fontina in grilled cheese and frittatas.
Provolone
Provolone is the star of many sandwiches, bringing its uniquely delicious brand to everything from Italian heroes to Philly-style roast pork. Its flavor is rich and buttery, and it more than stands on its own.
Taleggio
Another Italian cow’s milk product. Taleggio has a washed rind, which brings a more pungent aroma to the table, but its flavor is much more mellow, with a hint of nutty, sweet fruit and a hint of fun. We like to mix mango with other cheeses in dishes like macaroni and cheese, tomato pie, quick buns, and savory pies to make the flavors more complex.
Raclette
Have you ever seen halves of cheesecake heated with a razor so that they all fall onto a mountain of potatoes or vegetables or meat below? Maybe in Switzerland? Yes, it could be raclette. It’s Swiss (or French) cow’s milk cheese that brings sweet, fruity flavors to the table. Again, it’s cream-colored as hell, which seems to be the theme here.
4. Common mistakes that ruin your grilled cheese
The grilled cheese sandwich is a classic. Perfectly melted and rich cheese, sandwiched between two slices of golden, crispy, fatty bread – it’s simple, comforting, and utterly timeless. It was one of the first things we learned to cook and one that we carried with us throughout the years.
But as basic as this sandwich is, there are a few hanging points that can stop you and the grilled cheese of your dreams. Don’t let it happen to you.
To have a perfect grilled cheese sandwich you should avoid these mistakes
Do not use enough fat to coat the bread
Part of what makes this sandwich great is the crispness and crunch of the butter that comes from the toast. When not enough butter or mayo is used to coat the bread, the bread will dry out and may bake unevenly.
Pro tip: We like to use butter and melt it in a pan, but you can use butter, mayonnaise, or a combination of the two. Melt in a pan or spread on bread, it all works. To completely coat both slices of bread, it is important that you use enough fat.
Adding too much cheese is not a good idea
When it comes to grilled cheese, one thing is too much cheese. And when that happens, your sandwich will go from delightfully greasy with a little melted cheese, to unevenly ripened cheese that spills over the sides of the bread in greasy layers. It’s not appetizing or interesting.
Pro tip: This classic sandwich is all about finding the right balance between delicious bread and melted cheese. Use a generous 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of cheese, and you’ll be well on your way to grilled cheese perfection.
Cut the cheese too thick
When sliced too thickly, the cheese simply won’t fully ripen, which means you won’t get the delicious, creamy texture your heart demands.
Pro tip: Thinly sliced cheese is a good start, but there’s still a better method: grated cheese. It melts evenly and faster than the slices and you are guaranteed to have the right balance between the toast and the melted cheese.
Use cheese that doesn’t melt well
When it comes to grilled cheese sandwiches, not all cheeses are created equal. Some are actually made for grilled cheese, while others just don’t go well with this sandwich. Avoid using hard, aged cheeses, like Parmesan or Pecorino. Dry, shredded cheeses like goat or feta are not good either. While they’re delicious, they don’t melt well and won’t give you the greasy cheese that makes up this sandwich.
Pro tip: Use cheese with a good melt quality, like American, Swiss, Monterey Jack, cheddar, or Fontina.
Cook at too high a temperature
It can be hard to accept, but a good grilled cheese requires patience. So resist turning the dial at high temperatures. It won’t cook your bread any faster. Instead, you’ll just have burnt bread on the outside and unripe, unleavened cheese on the inside.
Pro tip: Less and less is the secret to a perfectly cooked cheese sandwich. Place the watch face on the stove between low and medium heat so the sandwich cooks evenly and deliciously.
Final Words
Hopefully, through this article, you have understood the answer to the question “What’s the difference between a grilled cheese and a melt?” The most obvious difference is that the ingredients of melted cheese will be richer. And grilled cheese sandwiches will give you the most original cheese flavor experience. However, they are all delicious dishes and are always loved by everyone.