Grilled Cheese strictly an American thing?

I was talking to Tim today and I mentioned going to make a grilled cheese sandwich, but that I always muck it up and burn it, and he told me he had never heard of grilled cheese - only toasted cheese (which I've heard of).  So I was wondering if grilled cheese sandwiches are strictly an American thing?

For clarification purposes, here's how we each make them:

Tim's Toasted Cheese: Put bread under the grill, until it browns, then turn it, and place the cheese on the uncooked side until it bubbles and starts to brown.

Becca's Grilled Cheese: Butter two pieces of bread, heat frying pan on stove.  Place bread butter side down in pan, add slices of cheese, top with other piece of bread butter side up. Grill one side, flip. 

Are Grilled Cheese sandwiches called something else in the UK, or is this just an American type of food?  As a vegetarian, I rely on Grilled Cheese when I go out to eat with friends - almost all restaurants make them here! 

'Grilled cheese sandwiches' as you describe really aren't a UK thing.  We make our grilled cheese (or 'cheese on toast' as it is inventively called) the way that Tim has explained.  Of course, your grilled cheese isn't really grilled, it is fried! 

I must admit, when I first heard of the US way of doing these I balked at the amount of fat involved - cheese and butter seems unecessary.  When I tried it I also wasn't impressed, sorry.

My fave way of doing cheese on toast / grilled cheese sandwich is on a George Foreman grill. All cafe's in the Uk will do grilled cheese sandwiches, probably in a sandwich toaster, which is similar to George.


Vicky

Wait til ya try one with cheese and butter AND mayo!!

'Grilled cheese sandwiches' as you describe really aren't a UK thing.  We make our grilled cheese (or 'cheese on toast' as it is inventively called) the way that Tim has explained.  Of course, your grilled cheese isn't really grilled, it is fried! 

I must admit, when I first heard of the US way of doing these I balked at the amount of fat involved - cheese and butter seems unecessary.  When I tried it I also wasn't impressed, sorry.

My fave way of doing cheese on toast / grilled cheese sandwich is on a George Foreman grill. All cafe's in the Uk will do grilled cheese sandwiches, probably in a sandwich toaster, which is similar to George.


Vicky

I've made them on my "pocket maker" before And I agree, way too much butter involved with making them. My family tends to use butter flavored cooking spray to try to cut down on the fat content. 

I have made just cheese-on-toast before and quite enjoyed it, good to know it's available

Wait til ya try one with cheese and butter AND mayo!!

You're kidding me?!

Tim's Toasted Cheese: Put bread under the grill, until it browns, then turn it, and place the cheese on the uncooked side until it bubbles and starts to brown.

I would call these 'Cheese on Toast', which is not the same as US grilled cheese.

Becca's Grilled Cheese: Butter two pieces of bread, heat frying pan on stove.  Place bread butter side down in pan, add slices of cheese, top with other piece of bread butter side up. Grill one side, flip. 

I'd say that these are basically what are known as Cheese Toasties in the UK (which are not the same as 'Tim's Toasted Cheese')... except we usually make them in a cheese toastie maker rather than a frying pan.

Of course, your grilled cheese isn't really grilled, it is fried! 

genau.

My "American" grilled cheese is the same as Tom's grilled cheese.

I've never heard of making grilled cheese in a frying pan before. I agree that would be fried cheese.

To me, "fried" implies that at some point in the process the food was at least partially submerged in hot fat/oil - which grilled cheese sandwiches are not, even when made in a frying pan.  I agree that they're not strictly "grilled" either, though. 

I believe the term *may* have evolved dialectically, at least in some circles - my great grandmother always referred to them as "griddled cheese" and my family's always made them on a griddle pan rather than in a frying pan (with a minimum of butter - just enough so that the bread browns evenly).

okay, 'sauteed' then? 

When I make it the US way, in a pan,  I can never get the cheese to melt properly unless I let the bread go almost black. Is there a trick to it?

When I make it the US way, in a pan,  I can never get the cheese to melt properly unless I let the bread go almost black. Is there a trick to it?

lower heat, less butter

A very thin scraping of butter/marg should be applied on the outside of the sarnie, and it doesn't have to cover the entire surface area of the bread. It's just enough to add a little oil to the pan to turn the bread golden and provide some really nice crispiness.

I'd never heard of grilled cheese but Molly introduced me to these last November. I'd only eaten cheese toasties before but I prefer the US version, perhaps because it's a little unhealthier! Molly's not impressed with my insistance on having bacon in it thought!

Mmmmmm.....grillled cheese!!!   I love love love grilled cheeses from diners in the US.  Places like Friendly's in the Northeast and Pennisula Diner in Palo Alto.  The more butter the better.  Sourdough bread is my favorite.  Extra cheese - to die for!  Dip them in ketchup, OMG. 

I think they may just be my favorite food.  I make them at home sometimes and DH (english) has come around to my side of thinking that these are the best comfort food.  If you are burning them, definitely turn the heat down.  No higher than medium heat.  I also find it helps to pre-butter the bread, as opposed to melting butter in the pan.

I also love to put sliced ham or tuna on a grilled cheese sandwich.  And I am so with Karin regarding sourdough bread.  MmmmmmMmmmm.