“There’s no such thing as a grilled cheese sandwich. The cheese can only be melted not grilled…”
Many people believe that a “grilled cheese sandwich” is not correctly named. “I wonder why they call it grilled cheese though. You grill the bread, the cheese melts. Grilled bread with melted cheese. Fancy” was posted on X/Twitter by Tim Young on June 27, 2009. “WHY’S IT CALLED GRILLED CHEESE IF YOU AINT REALLY GRILLIN’ THE CHEESE? IT JUST MELTED CHEESE BETWEEN GRILLED BREAD! THAT HARD TO SAY THOUGH!” was posted on X/Twitter by Sinbad on November 13, 2010.
This was posted on Threads by johnw.stines on October 12, 2024, and it received over 600 comments:
“There is no such thing as a grilled cheese sandwich. The cheese can only be melted not grilled. It is the bread that’s grilled, usually with butter or mayo, and the cheese melts between the bread as its grilled. So it is truly a grilled bread with melted cheese sandwich. Another thing that has been named wrong.”
“Grilled cheese sandwiches aren’t even grilled. They are generally pan fried” is a related saying.
Wikipedia: Grilled cheese
A grilled cheese, toasted cheese sandwich, cheese toastie (UK) or jaffle (AU) is a hot cheese sandwich typically prepared by placing cheese between slices of bread and cooking with butter or mayonnaise on a frying pan, griddle, or sandwich toaster, until the bread browns and the cheese melts. Despite its name, it is rarely prepared through grilling.
X/Twitter
Tim Young
@timmy07
@ferlishious I wonder why they call it grilled cheese though. You grill the bread, the cheese melts. Grilled bread with melted cheese. Fancy
4:43 PM · Jun 27, 2009
X/Twitter
Sinbad
@officialsinbad
WHY’S IT CALLED GRILLED CHEESE IF YOU AINT REALLY GRILLIN’ THE CHEESE? IT JUST MELTED CHEESE BETWEEN GRILLED BREAD! THAT HARD TO SAY THOUGH!
2:12 PM · Nov 13, 2010
X/Twitter
Tim Flynn
@FlynnTimothy
Why do they call it grilled cheese? They grill the bread. They should call it grilled bread with melted cheese in the middle. #seanquote
12:56 PM · Mar 15, 2012
X/Twitter
Fred
@FrilentMusic
Grilled cheese is actually grilled bread with melted cheese. I’m going to call it grilled bread from now on.
7:29 PM · Jun 8, 2013
X/Twitter
tyesha♠️
@Tyeshaaa_nyree
Wonder why they call it a grilled cheese and we not grilling the cheese , should be called , grilled bread , and melted cheese ‘
2:27 PM · Aug 11, 2015
X/Twitter
JJ Healy
@Tippchef
Is it really a ” grilled cheese”? It’s really grilled bread with melted cheese. If it has more than cheese in it, it is Grilled bread with stuff. No need to thank me for clearing this up.
7:57 PM · Sep 2, 2020
X/Twitter
Mike Mentalpause
@mentalpause1
*bolts upright in bed..
Grilled cheese is a farce. It’s grilled bread w/ melted cheese
10:28 AM · Oct 20, 2023
Threads
johnw.stines
10/12/24
There is no such thing as a grilled cheese sandwich. The cheese can only be melted not grilled. It is the bread that’s grilled, usually with butter or mayo, and the cheese melts between the bread as its grilled. So it is truly a grilled bread with melted cheese sandwich. Another thing that has been named wrong.
Bluesky
FalconFlower
@falconflower.bsky.social
There’s no such thing as a grilled cheese sandwich. The cheese can only be melted not grilled. Its the bread that’s grilled, usually w butter or mayo, & the cheese melts between the bread as its grilled. So its truly a grilled bread w melted cheese sandwich. Another thing that has been named wrong.
Oct 12, 2024, 6:43 PM
Threads
gennefer
10/12/24
If you’re going to be annoyingly pedantic for engagement, at least be correct. Grilled cheese is technically pan fried, not grilled, but who cares because blankets of melted cheese between two buttery pieces of bread is fucking delicious.
(“There’s no such thing as a grilled cheese sandwich. The cheese can only be melted not grilled. It is the bread that’s grilled, usually with butter or mayo, and the cheese melts between the bread as its grilled. So it is truly a grilled bread with melted cheese sandwich. Another thing that has been named wrong” by johnw.stines is shown.—ed.)
X/Twitter
9mmSMG
@9mm_smg
That’s not a grilled cheese. That’s a melt. A grilled cheese is bread, butter (some use mayo and say it’s better, but I disagree) and cheese.
We can argue about what makes the best grilled cheese, but it’s subjective, though. To me, a grilled cheese is white bread, buttered and and American cheese. Yes, it’s trash “cheese,” but its home is the grilled cheese and a burger. Simple, easy, and perfect.
Quote
Rock
@rock716860
Sep 27
Sun-Dried Tomato, Spinach, and Ricotta Grilled Cheese
8:59 AM · Sep 29, 2025
X/Twitter
Jeff Mac
@Mac_The_Jazz
Why do they call it grilled cheese?
It’s clearly melted cheese on grilled bread
8:15 PM · Oct 29, 2025
Facebook
All You Can Eat
November 20, 2025 at 9:42 PM ·
I mean, I guess 🤣
(“There’s no such thing as a grilled cheese sandwich. The cheese can only be melted not grilled. It is the bread that’s grilled, usually with butter or mayo, and the cheese melts between the bread as its grilled. So it is truly a grilled bread with melted cheese sandwich. Another thing that has been named wrong” is shown on an image.—ed.)