As simple as it may look, a Grilled Cheese Sandwich is one of the most loved sandwiches around the globe and I believe that is for one simple reason, they are the simplest to make and yet, when done right, make for an amazing breakfast.
And guess what, making them just got a whole lot easier and expensive.
Most people make grilled cheese sandwiches in toaster ovens and panini presses but they can be slightly expensive.
Now, you can also use a grill pan but if your bread isn’t crispy or the cheese doesn’t melt enough, are you really even eating a grilled cheese sandwich?
So what do you do if you don’t have a toaster?
Guess what, you can also use your 2-slice toaster and the results are just as impressive as a panini press or toaster oven. Here’s how to do it the right way.
How to Make Grilled Cheese in a Toaster
The first and foremost thing to do is to build up the sandwich right and you are not stuck with the same cheese and bread daily, here is a modified recipe that you will find finger-licking good.
Ingredients Needed:
- 2 slices of brown/white bread
- 2 slices of muenster cheese
- Tomatoes (optional)
- Deli meat like crispy Bacon or finely chopped speck
- 1 tbsp of good any spicy pickles
NOTE: If you are a vegan, Mushrooms, some corn along crispy nachos would make a fine replacement for meat.
Step 1: Flip your toaster to the side
For starters, this makes it easier to put in the bread. Plus, the cheese does not melt and drip into the toaster but rather sticks to the bread. This also reduces the hassle of cleaning post the toasting.
Make sure you tilt the toaster carefully. Most of our recommended toasters can easily be tilted but in case you have one that is old or not tiltable, you can turn to toaster bags that keep the ingredients intact even when the toaster is vertical.
Step 2: Place the Cheese Slices on the bread
Make sure the cheese slices are super thin and flat. Use a good cheese slicer if needed to get it than thin. You definitely do not want to be using shredded cheese as the cheese is instantly going to fall off around the toaster and fill up your entire kitchen with the dreaded burnt smell (trust me, that is something you definitely want to avoid).
Step 3: Let it toast
Once you have put on the cheese slices, place the bread into the tilted toaster for about 2-4 minutes on the lowest setting. Here’s where things get a little tricky so you will want to watch the toast like a hawk, especially if you are using an old toaster with hotspots.
The goal again is to avoid not only your sandwich from getting ruined but also preventing your neighbors from calling in the fire brigade due to the horrid burning smell.
Once the toasting is complete, the last thing you want your toaster to do is to lob out your sandwich a few feet away creating a mess on the countertop.
So please, and I can tell you from personal experience, you want to pop out the toast yourself once you think it is done and use a spatula or fork to get it out of the toaster.
Step 4: Assemble the Sandwich
Once you pull the bread out of the toaster it is all hands on deck and if you want your sandwich to taste right, the composition is important.
Yup, creating the perfect sandwich doesn’t mean simply throwing everything on it in a rush. Believe it or not, everything ingredient plays an important role so here’s how it is done.
For example, the reason the cheese is at the bottom is to create a moisture barrier.
So first and foremost, goes the tomatoes, Onion, or other veggies you might want to add.
Then comes the speck. Now, I find speck more flavorful than regular prosciutto or bacon (almost 100 times more flavorful) but either of them should also fit in just fine.
On top of the speck go the spicy pickles I mentioned. My suggestion is the Mercier Orchard’s pickles as they are the perfect combination of sweet and spicy giving the sandwich a different layer of flavor.
Before you cover the sandwich with the other bread, you can throw a bit of butter on the top for some extra creaminess.
Keep in mind that you will be notching up the calorie count with that but we are allowed a few cheat days now, aren’t we?
Tips to Keep in Mind when Using the Toaster
Tip 1: If you are using an old toaster, do not forget to check it out for hotspots (areas of the bread that burn faster than the rest). For this, just toast regular bread. You can also get a new 2-slice toaster (one of them costs lesser than $20 😉 ).
Tip 2: Do not insert any metal objects into your toaster to draw out an ingredient even when it is turned off as it can lead to an electric shock.
Tip 3: The time mentioned above for toasting is an estimate. It will depend on your settings and toaster so make sure to keep an eye on it and turn it off once the bread is crispy enough to your liking and the cheese has melted.
Tip 4: If you prepare a classic grilled cheese sandwich, these can easily last you for a week in the fridge and can be reheated in the toaster itself (just in case you have some leftovers).
Tip 5: Avoid using thick bread or at least slice them thin so they fit correctly and toasted evenly.
Tip 6: American cheese melts the fastest but irrespective of what cheese slice you use, make sure it does not hang by the side of the bread as it may drip down into the toaster or fall on the countertop.
Conclusion
This is just one of the recipes I have been using for quite a long time now and from my kids to my hubby, they love it. You can also try out other recipes but the toasting technique and safety tips remain the same.
If you have any questions about toasters or making grilled cheese sandwiches in a toaster, drop them in the comments section below.
