The Best Bread For Grilling Sandwiches With Soft Cheese
There's something magical about the simplicity of a grilled cheese sandwich. There's not much else to the recipe besides pan-toasting two slices of bread with butter and cheese in between, and yet it's one of the crown jewels of comfort food. Sure, there exist more decadent variations of the meal, but the real quality of a classic grilled cheese comes down to these three ingredients. Everyone has their own favorite bread to use, but may we suggest an English muffin due to how its holes allow for maximum seepage of melted soft cheese?
The key to making the perfect grilled cheese sandwich is to pair the right bread with the right cheeses so that they can complement each other's strengths. Gruyere and cheddar are arguably two of the most appropriately melty cheeses for the snack, but sometimes being adventurous and choosing a soft cheese over these hard varieties will yield deliciously positive rewards. If you opt for this route, English muffin slices will fill up nicely with that rich, buttery texture that comes from cheeses like brie, camembert, or Chevre.
The miracle of the English muffin
Using English muffins for grilled cheese sandwiches isn't a radical concept. After all, cheese is a common topper and filler of bread, especially in the context of breakfast. Look no further than the McMuffin to witness the legacy of the crumpet-like baked good. English muffins also make for an ideal vessel for holding spreads like jam, jelly, and butter due to their characteristic "nooks and crannies," a phrase that major English muffin producer Thomas puts on the company's packages. This refers to the crumbly texture that is revealed upon slicing open an English muffin, due to the rising air and lack of baking soda inside these unleavened treats.
These tiny pockets become a vehicle for anything put on top or stuffed inside these buns, which means that the flavor of whatever you're eating essentially becomes infused inside the bread. It's why English muffins are such popular breakfast foods as well, as all that scrumptious bacon grease and American cheese get soaked up without making your meal too soggy. If it's later in the day, try making a burger with an English muffin instead and watch the miracle in motion as the beef juices sop in.
Why soft cheese works best for English muffins
Hard cheeses that you have to slice into are fine choices for a grilled cheese with English muffin buns, but they won't melt into the nooks and crannies as well as soft cheese will. Creamy textures will sink effortlessly into the air pockets, even without toasting the bread first. Warming up the bread and cheese on a stovetop pan will only allow softer cheeses to really sink deeper into the crumbly surface of an English muffin.
For added tastiness, get your muffins in sourdough form with cornmeal sprinkled on top, two additional elements that have the benefit of pairing excellently with melted cheese. Sourdough bread on its own is a prime choice for grilled cheese since its slight tanginess balances out the mild, nutty flavor of melty cheese, especially brie, while its firmer structure also holds up the fillings. Additional ingredients like ham, spinach, and caramelized onions in more elaborate grilled cheese recipes will also pair well with an English muffin. And, of course, the classic pairing of tomato soup will only brighten the wonders of an English muffin grilled cheese even more.