Ask Bonnie

Summertime means grilling, and when most people think of grilling, they think of hot dogs and hamburgers. This season, why not move a classic from the top of your stove to the top of your grill?

According to The Food Timeline, an independent research project devoted to food history, grilled cheese as we know it today first surfaced around the 1920s, when affordable white bread and inexpensive American cheese were first available to consumers. Because the sandwich was both economical and easy to make, grilled cheese became a staple on Navy ships and in school cafeterias. Not only was it scalable, it was also quite tasty.

Cookbook author and cheese expert Laura Werlin never outgrew her love for this kid-friendly sandwich. In fact, she wrote a whole book on the subject; ‘Great Grilled Cheese: 50 Innovative Recipes for Stovetop, Grill, and Sandwich Maker.’ To her, grilled cheese “evokes memories from an early age, not just eating it but playing with it as well.” She cites comfort and good taste as the two reasons the sandwich has such a hold on people.

When we think about making grilled cheese, most of imagine someone holding a spatula over a frying pan in the kitchen. But grilled cheese can also be literally grilled.

“Not everyone likes hot dogs and hamburgers,” Laura explains. “Grilled cheese is not only a vegetarian alternative, but a kid alternative, too — perhaps for the kid in all of us.” Furthermore, the outdoor grill has a greater surface area, allowing the grill master to make several sandwiches at a time.

So what do you need to know to make actual grilled cheese, instead of the stovetop method? For starters, a gas grill is best. After that, you’ll need to brush your grill rack with oil, set the heat to medium-high, and then cook it up just like you’d do in a pan. It’s just as easy, and tastes twice as good.

According to Laura, the best thing about grilled cheese is the possibilities. Calling it “a neutral template,” she urges novices to experiment with ingredients they like — from different cheese to even fruits and jam. “Slice an apple and put it on a grilled cheese,” she suggests. “Try anything you want — very rarely will you end up with a bad result or something you don’t like.”

Whether you still like your grilled cheese the kid way — white bread, American cheese and two buttered slices, or if your grilled cheese has grown up with you, the sandwich will always remain an American classic. And with its addition to your summer grilling menu, it’s sure to become an American summertime classic as well.