How to Make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich Using a Microwave

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 13, 2023 References Tested

If your kitchen isn't equipped with a stove (or if you're just not comfortable using one), but you're craving the gooey, crunchy comfort of a grilled cheese sandwich, don't despair! Unfortunately, you can't just pop bread and cheese in the microwave without creating a soggy mess, but if you have a toaster oven or crisper pan, you can make a tasty grilled cheese in minutes.

Ingredients

2 slices of bread
Cheese
Butter, margarine, or mayonnaise

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Preparing Your Ingredients

1
Choose a bread for your sandwich. The classic choice for a grilled cheese is a fluffy, white bread, but if you're a little more health-conscious, go for a whole grain or flax bread. Otherwise, just follow your taste buds—from pumpernickel to sourdough, there is no wrong answer.
- Avoid bread with large air bubbles or holes, as your cheese may melt right through and drip out.^{[1]
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2
Use dry, day-old bread if you have it. Since the moisture in fresh bread makes it soggy (unlike a hot oven, a microwave won't evaporate the moisture, which would allow it to get crispy), a dry piece of bread will fare much better in a microwave.^{[2]
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- Always check old bread for mold, just to be safe.
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3
Use sliced sandwich bread if possible. Each slice of pre-sliced bread will have the same thickness, which means they will toast evenly. If you are buying an unsliced loaf from a bakery, ask if they can slice it for you. Most bakeries, and bakery departments at grocery stores, have a bread slicer.
- If you slice the bread by hand, use a serrated bread knife and try to cut the slices about 3/4 of an inch thick. Bread at this thickness will fit in a standard toaster and be thin enough for the microwave heat to penetrate.^{[3]
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4
Pick a cheese that melts easily. American and Cheddar are the go-to cheeses for a grilled cheese, but you can branch out with cheeses like Monterey Jack, Gruyere, Munster, Gouda, or Brie, as they all melt smoothly.
- Avoid fresh, crumbly or very hard, aged cheeses, including fresh goat cheese, Feta, and aged Parmesan. These cheeses just don't melt well when they are the main cheese in a sandwich.
- A very hard cheese like Parmesan will melt smoothly if you grate it and pair it with a melter, like Cheddar. The moisture in the Cheddar will help the Parmesan melt better.
- If you can't resist those hard-to-melt cheeses, you can still add them to your sandwich for the taste (like you would add pickles or a tomato). Just make sure you also have plenty of cheese that melts easily, like Havarti or American.^{[4]
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Choose your spread. Butter is the classic choice, but margarine or mayonnaise will also infuse your bread with a richer flavor and help crisp the outside.^{[5]
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6
Consider adding extra ingredients to your sandwich. Pickles, tomatoes, jalapenos, avocado, even potato chips—get creative with additional fillings if you want to branch out from the classic cheese-and-bread-only sandwich.^{[6]
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- Up your protein intake with a few slices of ham, turkey, or other deli meat. Just wipe off extra moisture before putting it on your sandwich.^{[7]
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- Remember that ingredients with additional moisture—like tomatoes—might make your sandwich a little soggy.
- Enjoy your sandwich with a side of mustard, ketchup, sriracha, or tomato soup.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using a Toaster

1
Toast both slices of bread in a toaster until golden brown. If you are unsure of the settings on your toaster, try turning the dial to the medium, or middle setting. That way if your bread is a little under-toasted, you can pop it back in at the lowest setting to crisp it up.^{[8]
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- The drier the toast, the better. You will be adding moisture back into the bread when you microwave it with the the cheese and butter. Too much moisture can make your sandwich soggy.^{[9]
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2
Butter one side of each slice of toast. You can butter both sides, but you run the risk of adding too much moisture and ending up with a steamed, soft sandwich.^{[10]
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3
Place the cheese and any additional ingredients between the two slices of toast. The dry, unbuttered side of the bread should be touching the cheese, with the buttered side on the outside. Two slices of cheese at about 3/4oz (or about 1.5oz total) is usually plenty of cheese.
- Make sure the cheese is evenly distributed across the bread so it melts evenly. You can tear slices into smaller pieces to make them fit.
- Don't pile your sandwich too high with extras. Microwave heat can't penetrate very deep--only about 1-1 1/2 inches--so a fat sandwich may not heat all the way through and your cheese might not melt.^{[11]
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4
Wrap the sandwich in a paper towel and place on a microwave-safe plate or rack. The paper towel will absorb the excess moisture, keeping your bread from getting too soggy.^{[12]
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- Don't wrap the sandwich in plastic wrap, as this traps moisture instead of absorbing it.^{[13]
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5
Microwave between 15-20 seconds, or until the cheese is melted.^{[14]
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Research source} The time it takes to melt will vary depending on the microwave. If you see the cheese begin to drip out of the sides, the sandwich should be done.
- You can also see if the cheese is melted by trying to lift the top slice of bread. If the cheese is fully melted, the bread will stick together and be difficult to separate.
6
Use a towel or oven mitts to remove the sandwich and let it sit for 2-3 minutes before serving. This gives the bread time to cool to a crust, plus it makes it safer for you to eat.^{[15]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using a Crisper Pan

1
Butter one side of each slice of bread. Make sure the butter is softened so it spreads easily on the bread, otherwise it might tear. Place the bread on a clean surface, butter-side down.
- You can soften or melt the butter by placing about 1 tablespoon in a microwave-safe bowl for 5-10 seconds.^{[16]
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2
Place your cheese on the dry, unbuttered side of one slice of bread. Most recipes call for 2 slices of cheese, or about 1.5 oz. Go ahead and add more if you want a super-cheesy sandwich.
- Distribute your cheese evenly over the bread so all melts at the same rate.
3
Top cheese with any additional ingredients and cover with the second slice of bread, butter-side up. Don't build a sandwich any taller than 1-1 1/2 inches or the microwaves may not cook it all the way through.^{[17]
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4
Place your crisper pan (or browning dish) in the microwave and follow the manufacturer's instructions to pre-heat. A crisper pan is made from microwave-safe metal that becomes extremely hot and works the same as a griddle or pan you would heat up on the stove. It will brown and crisp your bread, just like if you made your sandwich in a frying pan.^{[18]
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- To get the griddle-effect, a crisper pan must become extremely hot during the preheating process. Only use it with adult supervision and never, ever touch it with your bare hands. Use heat-proof oven mitts to handle the crisper.^{[19]
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- Follow the manufacturers directions about where to place the pan. It may have to sit on the floor of the microwave or may have built-in legs that lift it closer to the grill on the ceiling of the machine.
- Do not put anything on the crisper pan until it has pre-heated.
5
Place the sandwich on the crisper pan and microwave for 20-30 seconds.^{[20]
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- If your bread doesn't appear to be browning, try adding more time in 5-second increments. Remember, the bread that is touching the pan is the side that will be getting crisp, so you may not be able to tell until you flip it over.^{[21]
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Use a spatula to flip your sandwich over and microwave for another 20-30 seconds. This will ensure that both sides of your bread are browned and toasted and that the inside of your grilled cheese is cooked through evenly. Press the sandwich with the spatula on either side to add crispiness.^{[22]
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- Be very careful no part of your skin comes in contact with the pan. If it is easier, first remove the pan with oven mitts, then flip the sandwich and return the pan to the microwave.
7
Use heat-proof oven mitts to remove the crisper pan and sandwich. Allow the sandwich to cool for 2-3 minutes before cutting in half and serving warm. The bread may continue to crust over a little as it cools.

Community Q&A

Question

How do I make chicken sandwiches?

Community Answer

Place the chicken in a bowl with the celery, chives, shallots and mayonnaise and mix until well combined. Season well with salt and pepper. Spread 5 slices of bread with the chicken filling, top with the remaining bread, then cut each sandwich into 3 fingers.
Question

The directions are the opposite of the video in #3 above. Which is it?

Ezzy989

Community Answer

When making a grilled cheese sandwich, put the buttered side facing out, like in the instructions.
Question

Is this really simple?

Ezzy989

Community Answer

Making a grilled cheese sandwich in your microwave is very simple. It's perfect for when you don't want to spend time making grilled cheese on the stove.

Warnings

The crisper pan should only be used with adult supervision as it becomes extremely hot when used in the microwave.

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Helpful 7 Not Helpful 0
Don't put your cheese in the toaster, as this will most likely lead to it short circuiting

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Helpful 6 Not Helpful 0
Make sure your sandwich is allowed to sit for a time to prevent burns from the melted cheese.

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