LivingTravelHistory of the grilled cheese sandwich

History of the grilled cheese sandwich

The concept of the grilled cheese sandwich is not recent. Humans have been combining bread and cheese for centuries. Even the ancient Romans put together recipes for melted cheese on bread. Across the United States, you’ll find creative versions of a grilled cheese sandwich formally created in the early 1900s.

History of the American Grilled Cheese Sandwich

The modern grilled American cheese sandwich is a more recent invention. In the early 1900s, a young man named James L. Kraft was kicked out of his partner’s business and stranded in Chicago with just $ 65 to his name. Kraft bought a mule, bought cheese in bulk, and then sold it to local stores. He soon realized that the main drawback for his cheese customers was spoilage; most restaurants and store owners did not have refrigerators, so the cheese wheels had to be used within a day of cutting.

In 1915, Kraft invented a way to make a pasteurized, blended cheese that he called “processed cheese.” This pasteurized cheese could be transported across the country without spoiling. He patented his invention in 1916 and soon began selling Kraft cheese across the country. He sold packaged bulk cheese and grated cheese.

The first grilled cheese sandwich recipes were made by mixing shredded cheese with a binder, such as salad dressing, white sauce, or mustard, and toasting the sandwich between two slices of buttered bread. These were called “Toasted Cheese Sandwiches.”

During World War I, the United States Army purchased 6 million pounds of Kraft cheese. In World War II, Navy cooks made countless “American cheese filling sandwiches” for hungry sailors.

Depression-era families found processed cheese to be a cheap and filling meal. Kraft sold nearly 8 million cases of its macaroni and cheese during the Depression, under the marketing campaign that could feed a family of four for 19 cents. School cafeterias bought cans of tomato soup to pair with toasted cheese sandwiches to meet vitamin C and protein requirements for school lunches, leading to the classic children’s combination.

Grilled cheese sandwiches grow in popularity

Soon, grilled cheese sandwiches were everywhere. A 1934 Washington Post article explained: “Sunday night is barbecue time… Grilled cheese sandwiches are nothing new. We take them to pharmacies for lunch and to tearooms for dinner. But when the housewife begins to grill there is no limit to the combinations she can use and the delicious Sunday night dinners she can serve. Grilled tomato and cheese open sandwiches offer a combination of flavors that are sure to please the palate.

In 1949, Kraft Foods introduced Kraft Singles, individually wrapped slices of processed cheese, and it became even easier for home cooks to make grilled cheese sandwiches.

In search of creative grilled cheese sandwiches

Today, grilled cheese is making a comeback with gourmet versions appearing in restaurants across the country and people exploring international varieties of grilled cheese sandwiches.

In the United States, cheddar cheese has become the most popular cheese to use in sandwiches. But in Oregon, visitors have discovered grilled cheese heaven. In southern Oregon, Rogue Creamery, famous for blue cheese, brings together such interesting combinations as their homemade mild white cheddar cheese and a mild Rogue blue to create a remarkable sandwich. They offer recipes for even more creative options, like a Crispy Rosemary TouVelle Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

In Portland, Oregon, head to the popular Grilled Cheese Grill food truck complex on trendy Alberta Street. Inviting you to “come and taste your childhood,” they also have superior creative versions. Very popular is the famous «Cheesus». They replaced the bread with two grilled cheese sandwiches filled with Tillamook cheddar cheese and classic American cheese. The inside of the sandwich contains more traditional seasonings and a one-third pound burger.

Food & Wine magazine compiled a list of the best grilled cheeses in the US and it includes cheesy delicacies like the Crabby Melt from Grilled Cheese & Co in Catonsville, Maryland. The local chain serves a regional favorite made with local crab and jack cheese on top of the homemade “crab sauce.”

You could easily organize a road trip across the United States to sample the gourmet offerings of grilled cheese, the sandwich born as a simple sandwich of toasted white bread with American cheese.

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