How To Make A Grilled Cheese Like Martha Stewart This Fall

A grilled cheese is a classic nostalgic meal that's perfect for a fall afternoon. Not only is it delicious, but it's also fantastically simple, and all you need to make a cozy lunch is a few slices of bread and cheese. As they say, though, there's always room for improvement, and where better to turn for advice than Martha Stewart herself? Martha Stewart has plenty of cooking tips on seemingly everything from fluffy baked potatoes to lemon pound cake and more, and she doesn't disappoint when it comes to grilled cheese.

Ordinarily, a good grilled cheese uses either mayonnaise or butter on the exterior to give the bread crispy texture with extra-rich flavor. Martha Stewart's trick to that perfect grilled cheese uses both. Mayo on the outside keeps the bread from burning so easily while giving it additional flavor, while a bit of butter that's spread on the interior keeps the bread on that side plush and gives the cheese an extra smooth texture.

If you like, you can also mix together the mayonnaise and butter, then spread one tablespoon of the mixture per slice on the inside and outside of the bread. This way, you get the best of both worlds in terms of flavor, though you may not get the exact effect Stewart champions.

Mayo and butter aren't all the grilled cheese recommendations Martha Stewart has to offer. She has plenty to say about the entire sandwich, particularly when it comes to selecting the bread and cheese. While any combination of the two works wonders, Stewart believes that the best bread for grilled cheese is sourdough. It's not hard to see why, since its unique tangy flavor and soft texture make it a delicious option for most any sandwich. As for cheese, Stewart prefers a mixture of American and cheddar, though she's not opposed to fancier options like Gruyere.

While mayo or butter is best for the outside, they're far from the only condiments that can go inside a grilled cheese sandwich. Mustard is a relatively common addition to this nostalgic childhood meal, and Stewart recommends Dijon in particular. One far more unorthodox choice, but one Stewart is also a fan of, is a smear of fruit preserves. Any flavor works, so try out your favorites and see what complements your favorite grilled cheese recipe best.

And of course, Stewart has recommendations for more substantial fillings, too. Bacon is a delicious sandwich staple and one of her favorites, as are pickles, tomatoes, and less common options like tuna or sardines. She also recommends fresh fruits like the awesome combo of apples and cheddar cheese, as well as pears.