Cheese sandwich

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Cheese sandwich
Cheese roll at The Original Tea Hut at High Beach, Essex, England.jpg
Grated cheese in a bread roll
Main ingredients Cheese, bread
Variations Grilled cheese, cheese dream, cheese toastie

A cheese sandwich is a sandwich made with cheese on bread. Typically semi-hard cheeses are used for the filling, such as Cheddar, Red Leicester, or Double Gloucester. A Guardian article called the cheese sandwich a "British lunchtime staple". [1] Using a pie iron or frying pan can transform the cheese sandwich into a cheese toastie.

Contents

When a meat sandwich is prepared, the cheese becomes the accompaniment, and the sandwich is known by other names such as ham sandwich, tuna sandwich, etc. If the cheese is melted on such a sandwich, the term melt sandwich is used.

History

While the original invention of the cheese sandwich is not known to be documented, some interpretations of William Shakespeare's 1602 play, The Merry Wives of Windsor , report that the line "I love not the humour of bread and cheese" was the first written reference to a cheese sandwich. [2] [3] [4]

In January 1889, in Greenville, Pennsylvania, Henry Hoffman, George Smith and Teddy Atkins took part in a cheese sandwich eating contest. Hoffman won the contest, eating 16 sandwiches in 15 minutes. [5]

Variants

Popular British variants include the cheese and pickle sandwich, the cheese and tomato sandwich and the cheese and onion sandwich. [6] [7]

Grilled cheese is a popular American cheese sandwich, in which the sandwich is heated until the cheese melts. [8] In the southern United States, the pimento cheese sandwich is a traditional favorite. [9]

An Italian variation is the carrozza, a mozzarella cheese sandwich coated in egg and flour and fried. [10]

Popularity

By 2014 the cheese sandwich was declining in popularity in the United Kingdom. A survey of 2,000 adults' eating habits by YouGov in December 2014 found that 55% of British adults had not eaten a cheese sandwich during the previous week. [11] [12] In response, in 2015 Anchor Cheddar launched a campaign, using a bus designed to look like a cheese sandwich, to encourage the consumption of this type of food. [13] [14]

In 2017, a survey by YouGov found that 36% of British people said that cheese is their favourite sandwich filling, [15] and in 2018, a survey of 2000 British people, found that a plain cheese sandwich was the most popular type of sandwich. [16] By 2020 however, a similar study showed that the plain cheese sandwich had become less popular and the bacon sandwich was the favourite. [17]

Health warnings

In 2008, the Food Standards Agency warned that one cheese sandwich contains more than half the recommended daily amount of saturated fat. [18]

In 2012, Action on Salt campaigned for cheese sandwiches to come with a health warning. The group reported, that the high quantities of salt, contained in the main ingredients of a cheese sandwich, could lead to children consuming an excessive amount. [19] [20] In response, the Dairy Council said that it was wrong to say that cheese sandwiches are not good for you. [21] Action on Salt later withdrew the press release, citing an error. [22]

Research

A study by Len Fisher at the University of Bristol in 2003 found that the optimum thickness for the filling in a cheese sandwich is dependent on the type of cheese used, and that the sandwich should be made with a light spread of butter or margarine to enhance the flavour of the cheese. [23] [24] This research has drawn criticism for being "frivolous". [25]

The 1903 British short silent documentary film, called The Cheese Mites , features a man making a cheese sandwich and examining it with a magnifying glass as its main storyline. [26] [27]

See also

Related Research Articles

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A cheesesteak is a sandwich made from thinly sliced pieces of beefsteak and melted cheese in a long hoagie roll. A popular regional fast food, it has its roots in the U.S. city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quesadilla</span> Mexican dish of tortillas with melted cheese

A quesadilla is a Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla that is filled primarily with cheese, and sometimes meats, spices, and other fillings such as chocolate, and then cooked on a griddle or stove. Traditionally, a corn tortilla is used, but it can also be made with a flour tortilla.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Processed cheese</span> Food product

Processed cheese is a product made from cheese mixed with an emulsifying agent. Additional ingredients, such as vegetable oils, unfermented dairy ingredients, salt, food coloring, or sugar may be included. As a result, many flavors, colors, and textures of processed cheese exist. Processed cheese typically contains around 50 to 60% cheese and 40 to 50% other ingredients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grilled cheese</span> Type of hot melted cheese sandwich

The grilled cheese is a hot cheese sandwich typically prepared by heating slices of cheese between slices of bread with a cooking fat such as butter or mayonnaise on a frying pan, griddle, or sandwich toaster, until the bread browns and the cheese melts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheese fries</span> Fast-food dish of fries and cheese

Cheese fries or cheesy chips is a dish consisting of French fries covered in cheese, with the possible addition of various other toppings. Cheese fries are generally served as a lunch or dinner dish. They can be found in fast-food locations, diners, and grills mainly in English speaking countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melt sandwich</span> Type of hot sandwich containing cheese

A melt sandwich is a type of hot sandwich containing a suitable meltable cheese and a filling of meat or fish. The sandwich is grilled on the stovetop until the cheese melts and the bread is toasted, or heated in an oven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American cheese</span> Type of processed cheese

American cheese is a type of processed cheese made from cheddar, Colby, or similar cheeses, in conjunction with sodium citrate, which permits the cheese to be pasteurized without its components separating. It is mild with a creamy and salty flavor, has a medium-firm consistency, and has a low melting point. It is typically yellow or white in color; yellow American cheese is seasoned and colored with annatto.

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Colby-Jack, or Co-jack/Cojack, is an American marble cheese made from Colby and Monterey Jack. It is classified as semi-hard in texture and is mild due to its two-week aging process. It is generally sold in a full-moon or a half-moon shape when it is young. The flavor of Colby-Jack is mild to mellow. Colby-Jack cheese is mainly produced in the states of Wisconsin and California. It is used in various dishes or as a topping to be melted. These dishes include burgers, pasta bakes, macaroni and cheese, casseroles and so on. It is predominantly used in the United States, and is not readily available internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pimento cheese</span> Spread consisting of cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, and pimento peppers

Pimento cheese is a spread typically made of cheese, mayonnaise, and pimentos and is typically served on crackers and vegetables or in sandwiches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ham sandwich</span> Common type of sandwich

The ham sandwich is a common type of sandwich. The bread may be fresh or toasted, and it can be made with a variety of toppings including cheese and vegetables like lettuce, tomato, onion or pickle slices. Various kinds of mustard and mayonnaise are also common.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheese on toast</span> British dish of melted cheese

Cheese on toast is made by placing sliced or grated cheese on toasted bread and melting it under a grill. It is popular in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, and in African countries.

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A Gatsby is a South African submarine sandwich consisting of a bread roll filled with chips and a choice of fillings and sauces. It originated in Cape Town and is popular throughout the Western Cape province. The sandwich is typically large and shared by several people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheese dream</span> Open-faced grilled cheese sandwich

The cheese dream is an open-faced version of the American grilled cheese sandwich made with bread and cheese; it is cooked with either oil, margarine, or butter. Other ingredients such as bacon, avocado, pineapple, eggs, or sliced tomato can be optionally added to the open-faced sandwich as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheese and pickle sandwich</span> British sandwich

A cheese and pickle sandwich is a British sandwich. As its name suggests, it consists of sliced or grated cheese and pickled chutney, sandwiched between two slices of bread. The bread may be spread with butter or margarine, and the sandwich may include salad items such as lettuce and rocket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuisine of St. Louis</span> Culinary culture of the Greater St. Louis area of Missouri, U.S.

The cuisine of St. Louis is largely influenced by the city’s German, Irish, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, and Vietnamese immigrant population and African Americans who migrated from the Southern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sailor sandwich</span> Sandwich with hot meat and cheese

A sailor sandwich is a hot meat and cheese sandwich popular at Jewish delis in Richmond, Virginia, area restaurants. Its core ingredients are hot pastrami, grilled knackwurst, melted Swiss cheese and hot mustard on rye bread.

References

  1. ↑ Tony Naylor (May 5, 2015). "How to eat ... a cheese sandwich". The Guardian.
  2. ↑ Sam Knight (November 24, 2017). "How the sandwich consumed Britain". The Guardian.
  3. ↑ "Who invented the sandwich and how?". web24.news. October 19, 2020.
  4. ↑ "The Merry Wives of Windsor" . Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Cheese sandwich eating contest". The Shippensburg Chronicle. Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. January 10, 1889. Retrieved December 31, 2020– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Kazmier, Penny (January 19, 2016). "In the U.K., the Branston Pickle adds crunchy, savory kick to sandwiches". Daily Herald. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  7. ↑ Punch. 1987. p. 57. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  8. ↑ Marty Meitus (January 3, 1999). "Old faithful grilled cheese, a depression-era standby, has returned". Rocky Mountain News. During the Depression, when Sunday Night Suppers became a popular way to entertain, the cheese dream began to appear on dining tables from coast to coast.
  9. ↑ Pimento Cheese: It's A Southern Thing Retrieved on December 5, 2023.
  10. ↑ White, M.; Friedman, A.; Keller, T. (2013). Classico e Moderno: Essential Italian Cooking (in Italian). Random House Publishing Group. p. 109. ISBN   978-0-345-54553-4 . Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  11. ↑ Christina Pullam (February 6, 2015). "The decline of a British favourite". The Mirror .
  12. ↑ "Arla farmers get on board to save the British cheese sandwich". Arla Foods. February 9, 2015.
  13. ↑ Claire Farrel (February 2, 2015). "Cheese sandwich bus to tour the country". The Grocer.
  14. ↑ News Desk (February 6, 2015). "Cheese sandwich bus heads for Exeter". Exeter Daily.
  15. ↑ Mathew Smith (May 19, 2017). "The great sandwich debate: rectangles or triangles?". YouGov .
  16. ↑ Olivia Petter (May 18, 2018). "Britain's favourite sandwich filling revealed in new survey". The Independent .
  17. ↑ Lorraine King (May 20, 2020). "Nation's favourite sandwich has been confirmed - and it's a bacon butty". The Mirror .
  18. ↑ "Cheese sandwich warning". Marie Claire. March 3, 2008.
  19. ↑ Ruki Sayid (November 29, 2012). "More salt in a cheese sandwich than a packet of ready salted crisps". The Mirror .
  20. ↑ "Cheese Survey". Action on Salt. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Dairy Council Calls Salt in Cheese Study 'Misleading'". The Ribblesdale Cheese Company. November 29, 2012. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
  22. ↑ Mark Astley (December 5, 2012). "CASH retracts cheese salt claim after admitting 'error'". Dairy Reporter.
  23. ↑ "Scientists 'perfect' cheese sandwich". BBC News . October 7, 2003.
  24. ↑ Len Fisher (September 24, 2003). Optimum Use of Cheese in a Cheese Sandwich (Report). British Cheese Board.
  25. ↑ Denise Winterman (September 24, 2009). "Is there any point to 'frivolous' academic research?". BBC News .
  26. ↑ Brooke, Michael. "The Cheese Mites". BFI Screenonline Database. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
  27. ↑ Rohrer, Finlo. "Cheese mites and other wonders". BBC News Magazine Database. Retrieved April 24, 2011.
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