Main ingredients | Cheese, bread |
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Variations | Grilled cheese, cheese dream, cheese toastie |
A cheese sandwich is a sandwich made with cheese between slices of bread. Typically, semi-hard cheeses are used for the filling, such as Cheddar, Red Leicester, or Double Gloucester. A Guardian article described the cheese sandwich as a "British lunchtime staple." [1] Using a pie iron or frying pan can transform the cheese sandwich into a cheese toastie.
When a meat sandwich is prepared, the cheese becomes an accompaniment, and the sandwich is known by other names such as a ham sandwich or tuna sandwich. If the cheese is melted on such a sandwich, it is often referred to as a melt sandwich.
While the exact origin of the cheese sandwich is not documented, some interpretations of William Shakespeare's 1602 play, The Merry Wives of Windsor , suggest that the line "I love not the humour of bread and cheese" could be the first written reference to a cheese sandwich. However, this interpretation is speculative and not widely accepted as a definitive reference to a cheese sandwich. [2] [3] [4]
In January 1889, in Greenville, Pennsylvania, Henry Hoffman, George Smith, and Teddy Atkins participated in a cheese sandwich eating contest. Hoffman won the contest by eating 16 sandwiches in 15 minutes. [5]
Popular British variants of the cheese sandwich include the cheese and pickle sandwich, the cheese and tomato sandwich, and the cheese and onion sandwich. [6] [7]
The grilled cheese is a popular variation of the 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 then fried. [10]
By 2014, the cheese sandwich was declining in popularity in the United Kingdom. A survey of 2,000 adults' eating habits conducted 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 classic food. [13] [14]
In 2017, a survey by YouGov found that 36% of British people said cheese was their favorite sandwich filling. [15] In 2018, another survey of 2,000 British people found that a plain cheese sandwich was the most popular type of sandwich. [16] However, by 2020, a similar study showed that the plain cheese sandwich had become less popular, with the bacon sandwich emerging as the new favorite. [17]
In 2008, the Food Standards Agency warned that a cheese sandwich contains more than half the recommended daily amount of saturated fat. [18]
In 2012, Action on Salt campaigned for cheese sandwiches to carry a health warning. The group reported that the high quantities of salt in the main ingredients of a cheese sandwich could lead to children consuming an excessive amount. [19] [20] In response, the Dairy Council stated that it was incorrect to claim that cheese sandwiches are not healthy. [21] Action on Salt later retracted the press release, citing an error. [22]
A study by Len Fisher at the University of Bristol in 2003 found that the optimal thickness for the filling in a cheese sandwich depends on the type of cheese used, and that the sandwich should be made with a light spread of butter or margarine to enhance the flavor of the cheese. [23] [24]
This research has been criticized as "frivolous". [25]
The 1903 British short silent documentary film, The Cheese Mites, features a man making a cheese sandwich and examining it with a magnifying glass as its main storyline. [26] [27]
In the 2001 film Freddy Got Fingered, the main character Gord an aspiring cartoonist works at a cheese sandwich factory.
A hamburger, or simply a burger, is a dish consisting of fillings—usually a patty of ground meat, typically beef—placed inside a sliced bun or bread roll. The patties are often served with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, bacon, or chilis with condiments such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish or a "special sauce", often a variation of Thousand Island dressing, and are frequently placed on sesame seed buns. A hamburger patty topped with cheese is called a cheeseburger. Under some definitions, and in some cultures, a burger is considered a sandwich.
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 United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
A quesadilla is a Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla that is filled primarily with cheese, and sometimes meats, spices, and other fillings, and then cooked on a griddle or stove. Traditionally, a corn tortilla is used, but it can also be made with a flour tortilla.
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.
A grilled cheese, sometimes known as a toasted sandwich, cheese toastie (UK), or jaffle (AU-en), 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.
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.
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.
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.
Pimento cheese is a spread typically made of cheese, mayonnaise, and pimentos and is typically served on crackers and vegetables or in sandwiches.
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.
A steak sandwich is a sandwich prepared with steak that has been broiled, fried, grilled, barbecued or seared using steel grates or gridirons, then served on bread or a roll. Steak sandwiches are sometimes served with toppings of cheese, onions, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, and in some instances fried eggs, coleslaw, and french fries.
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, United States, and in African countries.
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.
The cuisine of Minnesota is a type of Midwestern cuisine found throughout the state of Minnesota.
Regional street food is street food that has commonalities within a region or culture.
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.
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.
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.