Yahoo Lifestyle The Best Cheeses for Grilled Cheese, According to Aldi’s Cheese Buyer
In the dead of winter, when dark, cold days make me question whether anything good exists in the world and my soul turns pitch black, I develop an intense desire to eat grilled cheese.
It goes without saying that grilled cheese is the ultimate soul-revivifying dish. Grilled cheese is inherently very warm, from two pieces of buttery toasted bread to the melted cheese adhering them together.
Related: 31 Types of Cheese To Add to Your Next Charcuterie Board
My way of making grilled cheese is often improvised and on the spot and hardly ever bad, but in no way do I ever get what could be called the "ultimate" grilled cheese sandwich. But this winter I'd like to change all that. That's why I reached out to Kim Brazington, director of national buying at Aldi and a Certified Cheese Professional, to get the meltdown on all things grilled cheese.
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What is the Best Cheese for Grilled Cheese?
As the person tasked to oversee the entire cheese selection for Aldi stores nationwide, Brazington knows more than a thing or two about how help shoppers to make better cheese selections. Choosing the right cheese is a crucial step in making the perfect grilled cheese because the core components are bread and cheese, but it goes deeper than that. According to Brazington, you want to "get ideal meltiness, a satisfying cheese pull and flavor that hits just right."
Brazington explains that "from the classics to unconventional options for those feeling adventurous, my three favorite cheeses are Cheddar, American Cheese and Gruyère." Here's why.
Cheddar: This cheese is widely considered one of the most traditional choices for grilled cheese, and Brazington believes that's for a good reason. "It melts beautifully while allowing you to adjust the flavor and tanginess how you like it," Brazington says. "At Aldi, we have a wide assortment of cheddars including mild, sharp, flavored and aged. The Emporium Selection Applewood Smoked Cheddar is a great choice to bring in smoky and bold, rich flavors. "
American Cheese: This is another classic choice, and Brazington loves it because of its meltability, "which creates [that] iconic stretchy texture." What's more, American cheese is a crowd-pleaser, especially with kids.
Gruyère: For those who want to elevate their grilled cheese, Brazington says "Gruyère is the answer because of its smooth melt and nutty, slightly sweet flavor." She also thinks that the classic French cheese might be right on trend this year.
"As part of the Rocco era aesthetic revival, I also expect to see Gruyère taking over grocery shopping carts in 2025 along with other cheeses from this culturally rich period after the Renaissance including Gouda, Gloucester and Camembert." She recommended Aldi shoppers try the Emporium Selection Le Gruyère Cheese and Apple Smoked Gruyère Cheese.
Related: Best Cheese at Costco, According to Cheese Experts
Pro Tips for Making Grilled Cheese
The delight of good grilled cheese comes from picking good cheese but according to Brazington, it also can be a lot of fun to play around with different cheese combinations to figure out what you love—and what you don't. "For example, the sharpness of cheddar added to the nutty, creamy flavor of Gruyère creates a more complex taste than if you chose one," Brazington says.
Grilled cheese is low-stakes in that way. If you don't like how one sandwich comes out, you can easily wipe the pan and make a different one. Here are Kim's top tips for achieving grilled cheese perfection.
Grate the cheese to help it melt evenly so every bite has that delicious gooey-ness. This method is also the easiest way to mix cheeses to experiment with different flavor combos. But if you’re in a time crunch, sliced cheese can still get the job done.
Substitute butter with mayonnaise to get that crispiness and picture-perfect golden color on the outside of the bread.
While it’s important to choose the right cheese, the right bread matters too! Brazington especially loves Aldi's Specially Selected Brioche and Sourdough breads. "The textures and flavors help round out the perfect grilled cheese," she says.
Related: Best Whole Grain Breads, According to Dietitians
More Genius Grilled Cheese Tips
Looking for more sandwich inspiration? We've even more easy, cheesy tips, tricks and recipes.
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