Awesome Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

In my family, we've been making grilled cheese sandwiches in the oven for as long as I can remember. I had never had them any other way until high school. We don't bake them as in this recipe, though -- we put them under the broiler. If you do it this way, however, watch them closely because they cook _fast_. Some tips: Where there is butter, the bread will take longer to cook. This means, for best results, put the most butter around the crust and little to none in the middle. Done that way, the crust won't burn before the sandwich is ready. Also, if using a thick slice of cheese, or a pair of american singles, you might want to melt the cheese with the sandwich open-faced before closing it, buttering and baking/broiling as indicated. I find that the cheese sometimes doesn't get melted completely otherwise. I have had grilled cheese sandwiches made the "traditional" way many times, though I grew up on them this way. To me, there is no comparison; the oven gives a nice, crispy texture that I have been unable to duplicate any other way.

I love the texture of these sandwiches. They're crispy and flavorful instead of soft and squishy they way ones on the stove are. I doubt I'll be making grilled cheese sandwiches any other way from now on, even when making only one. They're great. However, I did find that 5 minutes per side was plenty in my oven.

this is a great idea! And a tip for anyone who is left with soggy-bottom bread: elevate the sandwich OFF of the baking sheet. Slip you sandwich onto a cooling rack,and put the rack on the baking sheet. PRESTO! total-surface ventillation. thanks, michelle :-)