3 min read
Few foods deliver the carefree comfort of childhood quite like a grilled cheese. Beloved by diners of all ages, this sandwich makes a satisfying lunch, dinner, or afternoon snack — and requires only a few simple ingredients.
But choosing the right cheese isn’t always as simple as it seems. The best choice needs to melt smoothly while delivering plenty of flavor. Sometimes, the secret to getting both is using two kinds of cheese.
“The best grilled cheese usually combines a cheese that melts easily with one that brings a sharper, more pronounced flavor,” says GH Food Producer Tina Martinez.
Why you should use more than one type of cheese
You can use a single type of cheese in your sandwich, but mixing two or more has its advantages. “One cheese can provide creaminess and meltability, while another adds sharpness or a more distinctive flavor,” says Martinez.
Meltability
Perhaps the most important quality to consider is how well a cheese melts. After all, the sandwich’s signature feature is that ooey-gooey cheese pull.
“I think perfectly melted cheese is the key,” says chef, cookbook author and TV personality Eric Greenspan of New School American Cheese. “Cheese oiling off and breaking just ruins [the sandwich.] Simplicity demands perfect execution because there is nowhere to hide.”
In general, younger, fresher cheeses melt more smoothly than aged, drier varieties. “You either want a cheese with high moisture, or a cheese that has had its curds manipulated to be susceptible to melting,” says Isabelle Brosen, Assistant Manager of Events & Education at Murray’s Cheese.
“You want a cheese that becomes creamy and cohesive when heated — not one that stays stiff, greasy or rubbery,” says Martinez. Good choices include American, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, fontina, Gruyère and young Cheddar.
The flavor factor
Many easy-melting cheeses fall on the mild end of the flavor spectrum, which is why it can be nice to add a bolder cheese to the mix.
For instance, “mozzarella is the best melter for grilled cheese. It’s not got a lot going on in flavor, though, so I’d normally add it with other cheeses to bring the funk,” says cheese connoisseur and Pick & Cheese proprietor Matthew Carver.
Feel free to experiment. “Consider how assertive the cheese is, too: a mild cheese can provide the base, while a sharper or more flavorful cheese keeps the sandwich from tasting flat,” says Martinez. She recommends a sharp Cheddar, flavorful Swiss or pepper Jack.
The best grilled cheese combinations
Now that we’ve covered what to look for, let’s talk dream combinations. Here are a few of the experts’ favorite blends:
Mozzarella + strong Alpine + sharp Cheddar: “You cover all the bases here with moisture, meltability, and bold yet not overpowering flavors,” says Brosen. Blue cheese + goat cheese + grated Parmesan: “I love mixing in a blue for intensity and a goat for creaminess,” says Greenspan. He adds grated Parmesan on the outside for extra crisp.Stilton + mozzarella: Carver recommends adding a little mozzarella to soften Stilton’s famous bite. “The mozzarella helps to balance out some of that funk while also adding a bit of stringiness,” he says. Smoked mozzarella + mild Cheddar: “I love the high moisture and the surprise element of woody smokiness, but only use this in conjunction with other cheeses because I like the smokiness to be on the more mild end,” says Brosen. A mild Cheddar adds a familiar, creamy base.Raclette + Cheddar: Raclette melts as well as mozzarella, but has a more pronounced flavor, often described as rich, creamy, tangy, and slightly nutty in taste. “It offers the next best level of melting, but with a lot more flavor,” says Carver says. He suggests pairing it with Cheddar.
That said, you should find the combination that works best for you. The key is to find a balance between moisture content, meltability, and flavor profile. Get those elements right, and you’ll be that much closer to making the grilled cheese sandwich your younger self could only dream about.
