How to make grilled cheese without a stove?
What Makes This Recipe So Good
When you need a hot and gooey treat but want to avoid dirtying a stove or skillet, a grilled cheese sandwich is the perfectly easy option. For those who think the process involves complicated ingredients, think again.
You only need your basic, ridiculously simple ingredients: bread and cheese. One way to achieve that toasted perfection is by using a toaster. Lay the toaster on its side, and insert the sandwich so the cheese doesn’t drip as it melts.
Alternatively, a microwave can come in handy. Wrap the sandwich in a damp paper towel and microwave for about 30 seconds, turning once to get even heating. This method ensures crispy, deliciously melted cheese throughout.
If you’re looking to dress up your meal, options abound. Add extras like slices of tomato, deli meat, or crispy bacon only after the cheese has melted.
Make sure to open up the sandwich quickly, add your extras, close, and enjoy. These great results are the best way to make a grilled cheese without ever turning on the stove.
Chef’s Tips
For a perfect, hot, melty, gooey, crispy, toasted, grilled cheese without a stovetop, try these different methods. The air fryer version is a customizable option; just use your favorite bread and a blend of cheeses.
For a crunch and crispness that’s truly enjoyable, toasting the bread first is a crucial step. Depending on the texture difference you prefer, consider giving the bread time in the toaster or oven to reach your desired doneness.
If you barely want the bread toasted, hand toasting offers control over how much it toasts. For the microwave method, I recommend starting with 30 seconds if you need to microwave the sandwich until the cheese is just melted.
If it’s not melty enough for your liking, microwave additional seconds, check, and repeat as needed. Always be careful when taking the sandwich out of the microwave, as it can be very hot.
Toasted Grilled Cheese (No Stove Needed)
To make the crispiest, grilled cheese without a stove, you only need a few simple items: bread, cheese, and some basic equipment. Choose your bread—whether it’s potato, buttermilk, or whole wheat—and pair it with your favorite cheese such as Swiss, cheddar, muenster, or Havarti.
For a little extra flavor, add a pinch of garlic powder, though this is optional. To assemble, butter the outside of the bread slices with salted, softened butter. If using a toaster, place the sandwich directly on the slots and watch closely to avoid burning.
For a soft, melty center with a less crispy exterior, use a microwave. Place the sandwich on a microwave-safe plate, cover it with a paper towel slightly dampened with water, and microwave for a short time—usually about 30 seconds, checking halfway through.
This method melds the cheese beautifully without scorching the bread.
Toasted Grilled Cheese (No Stove Needed)
Ingredients
- Bread of choice: Potato, Buttermilk, or Whole Wheat
- Cheese of choice: Swiss, Cheddar, Muenster, or Havarti
- Salted, softened butter
- Garlic powder (optional)
Equipment
- Toaster
- Microwave-safe plate
- Paper towels
- Water
- Microwave
Method
Create the crispiest, grilled cheese with no stove in no time by choosing either a toaster or a microwave method. First, butter the outside of your selected bread and layer your chosen cheese slices inside.
Optionally sprinkle some garlic powder for extra flavor. If using the toaster, place the sandwich directly into it, monitoring closely to ensure the cheese becomes melty without burning the bread. For those preferring a softer texture, the microwave method works wonders.
Simply place the sandwich on a microwave-safe plate, cover it with a damp paper towel, and heat until the cheese is soft and melty. Either method delivers a delicious grilled cheese sandwich with minimal effort and no need for a stove.
Instructions
- Insert slices of bread into the toaster and toast to your desired doneness.
- Transfer the toast to a microwave-safe plate.
- Lightly butter one side of each piece of toast.
- Sprinkle garlic powder on the buttered side if desired.
- Place slices of cheese on top of one buttered piece of toast.
- Cover the cheese with the remaining piece of toast, buttered side facing down.
- Set aside.
- Wet paper towels, wring out excess water leaving the paper towels damp, not dripping.
- Spread the paper towels flat and wrap the cheese sandwich in the damp paper towels.
- Return the sandwich to the microwave-safe plate, with the sandwich on top of the seam of the paper towels to keep the sandwich wrapped.
- Place the plate in the microwave and microwave at full power for 30 seconds, then check the sandwich to see if the cheese is melted and the bread is soft and warm.
- If needed, return the sandwich to the microwave and continue heating in 15-second increments, checking for doneness until the sandwich bursts with melted cheese as desired.
- Carefully remove the grilled cheese from the microwave and serve immediately.
- Note: The sandwich will be very hot after microwaving, use caution when handling.
Notes
For a toast that brings out the best in your grilled cheese sandwich, typically, people prefer their bread to be barely toasted.
This allows the bread to give enough time in the toaster to achieve a light crispness without becoming too hard, which makes it ideal to pair with soft cheeses like mild cheddar, Swiss, provolone, muenster, havarti, or mozzarella that melt better and more easily than hard cheeses.
If you make a gluten-free version, use gluten-free bread and make sure the cheese doesn’t contain hidden gluten ingredients.
For those aiming for a low-carb diet, use low-carb bread. And if you need to make it dairy-free, use plant-based butter and dairy-free cheese to ensure everyone can enjoy this classic comfort food.
Nutrition Information
A typical serving of grilled cheese contains approximately 300 calories (kcal), with 15 g of protein, 18 g of fat (including 7 g of saturated fat and 0.5 g of trans fat), 28 g of total carbs, 2 g of fiber, and 4 g of sugar.
This leads to 26 g of net carbs. Additionally, it contains about 40 mg of cholesterol, 720 mg of sodium, 200 mg of potassium, 500 mg of calcium, and 2 mg of iron. The servings shown are approximate, as actual servings depend on your preferred portion sizes.
The nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect the information for a serving with the ingredients listed, excluding any optional ingredients. The actual macros may vary slightly depending on the specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of each serving, prepare the recipe as instructed, weigh the finished recipe, and divide the weight of the finished recipe by the desired number of servings. The result will be the weight per serving.
Easiest Way to Make Grilled Cheese Ever | Kids Can Make Recipe With No Stove
Celebrate National Grilled Cheese Day with the easiest way to make grilled cheese ever, a method so simple that kids can make their own grilled cheese without needing to turn on the stove.
As summer approached, I purchased a package of toaster bags from Amazon to try this perfect kitchen hack. Initially, I approached the product cautiously and questioned whether the toaster could really deliver the crunch factor of the traditional stovetop method.
However, the small investment felt like a good gamble and I was blown away by the results. These bags allow you to slip a sandwich inside and pop it into the toaster. Within minutes, you get the crispy perfection of a grilled cheese without any mess or risk, making it the perfect time to let everyone, especially kids, make their own meal safely.
Figure-Friendly Grilled Cheese Fix
To make grilled cheese that’s a bit more figure-friendly, apply light mayo on the outside of the bread instead of butter. The regular mayo, with water as its first ingredient, creates enough steam to ensure the sandwich doesn’t pull from the pan, yet still delivers a pan-perfect crunch.
This tradeoff allows you to feel better about your choices without sacrificing the melty, creamy delight of sharp cheddar oozing between slices of crispy sourdough bread.
What You Need to Make the Easiest Grilled Cheese Ever
A few weeks ago, I purchased packages of large toaster bags sold in bundles—a great find for anyone wanting to feed a hungry mob quickly. Cooking grilled cheese becomes super simple with these bags: just assemble your sandwich, put it in a bag, drop it into the toaster, and use the lowest setting.
The results are consistent even after dropping it in multiple times, proving the room to pack works fine. The simplicity and speed make it an appealing option for families and those who need a quick meal without the hassle of turning on a stove or cleaning up.
Food for Thought
However, there are downsides. After a couple of uses, the bags began to form a hole at the bottom, perhaps due to being roughly cleaned—they’re still working, but it’s a reminder to handle with care.
Cleanup is easy and quick: just fill it with soap and water, soak, rinse, dry, and store it back in its cardboard sleeve. Be careful, though; the package is very thin and can be easily lost in kitchen cupboards.
Despite these minor issues, it’s hard to beat the fact that kids and beginner cooks, as well as efficiency-minded ones like me, find this the easiest way to make grilled cheese.
Conclusion
In conclusion, making grilled cheese without a stove has never been easier, thanks to innovative methods like toaster bags.
These convenient tools allow for quick assembly and cooking without the need for traditional cooking appliances, making it an ideal solution for busy families, beginner cooks, or those simply seeking efficiency in the kitchen.
While there are some concerns regarding the durability and storage of the toaster bags, their ease of use and the ability to make a mess-free, delicious grilled cheese in minutes outweigh these minor drawbacks.
This method ensures that even kids can safely prepare their own meals, fostering independence and culinary curiosity.
