Air-Fried Grilled Cheese

If a nice, even crispiness is your priority when it comes to grilled cheese, skip the stove and try the air fryer. You'll get a uniform texture and lovely melt without having to worry about burning your sandwich or any flipping mishaps.

Is Grilled Cheese Better in the Air Fryer or on the Stovetop?

While there's nothing wrong (and so much right) with grilled cheese cooked on the stovetop, grilled cheese made in the air fryer has a crispier texture as the bread becomes more thoroughly and evenly toasted. You also avoid the splattering and sputtering that comes with the stovetop grilled cheese territory.

What Kind of Cheese To Use for Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese sandwiches are all about the melty, gooey cheese so choose a cheese (or cheeses) that melts really well. Cheeses that are more aged, like parmesan or an aged gouda, tend to have less moisture and do not melt as readily as younger cheeses like mild to sharp cheddar, fontina, edam, or havarti.

Also avoid pre-shredded cheese for the best grilled cheese sandwich. Cheeses sold already shredded are often coated with a type of starch or cellulose, which prevents the cheese shreds from clumping but also has the less than desirable effect of inhibiting melting.

What Kind of Bread To Use for Grilled Cheese

All kinds of bread can work for grilled cheese, from soft white sandwich bread to rustic sourdough bread to Texas toast. It all depends on the grilled cheese experience you want. Rustic breads will have more chew, while sandwich breads will be softer. If you do use sourdough bread, pair it with a more flavorful cheese like sharp cheddar. You'll need the cheese to be able to stand up to the more pronounced flavor of the bread.

Additions To Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

For a grilled cheese with a little more substance, add any of the following to your sandwich:

• Roasted garlic spread on the inside of the bread
• Thin slices of tart apple
• Sliced dill or bread and butter pickles
• Pickled jalapeños
• Roasted Hatch chiles
• Pepper jelly, apple butter, or guava paste
• A smear of Dijon mustard
• Crisp cooked bacon
• Caramelized onions