5 Best Pans for Cooking the Perfect Grilled Cheese
There aren’t many people out there who don’t LOVE grilled cheese. It is the perfect meal, comfort food or treats, and it is loved all around the world, but especially in the US. If you too love grilled cheese, you’ve surely thought about various ways to make it even better. An easy answer is: get a fantastic pan.
Of course, the taste of grilled cheese relies heavily on ingredients, but you cannot overstate the importance of good preparation… and good preparation requires a good pan.
Some pans are more or less suited to frying up some grilled cheese. If you want the best result, it’s recommended that you get yourself a pan that was designed with grilled cheese in mind.
You may be surprised how big a difference a great pan can make. Invest in your lunch or dinner to enjoy it to the fullest. We’re here to help you pick your new pan for cooking the perfect grilled cheese.
Top 5 Best Pans for Cooking Grilled Cheese
Here are our top recommendations for grilled cheese pans:
| Rank | Product | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | BulbHead Red Copper Flipwich Grilled Sandwich and Panini Maker | Panini-style (double-sided) pan |
| 2. | Calphalon Contemporary Hard-Anodized Aluminum Griddle Pan | Nonstick griddle pan |
| 3. | T-fal Specialty Non-Stick Mini-Cheese Griddle Cookware | Single-serve size |
| 4. | GreenLife Healthy Ceramic Square Griddle | Dishwasher-safe |
| 5. | Ecolution Evolve Non-Stick Griddle | Made with heavy gauge aluminum |
You can read all about the pros and cons of each below.
1. BulbHead Red Copper Flipwich Grilled Sandwich and Panini Maker
This vibrantly colored pan is going to improve the quality of your grilled cheese by a whole lot. Designed with true lovers of the dish in mind, this product can also prepare a fantastic panini.
Key Features:
- Stovetop grilled cheese, sandwich and panini maker
- Non-stick copper-infused ceramic cooking surface
- Comes with a recipe guide
The first thing you’ll notice about this universally-loved grilled cheese pan is going to be the design, or rather – it’s coloring. It is coated in bright red, but the shade is not oppressive. It will any kitchen, be a bright splash of color in traditional and modern spaces alike.
However, it’s not all about the looks in this BulbHead pan. It’s a versatile, durable product that will help you prepare quick and delicious meals. Whether you’re tired after a long day at work or you just want an amazing treat, grilled cheese has never been easier to make.
The surface is scratch-resistant and non-stick, both of which affect not just the durability, but also the quality of your sandwiches. Scratches on pans may allow dangerous contaminants to sneak into your food. A scratch-resistant ceramic cooking surface protects you from that.
Pros
- Suited for grilled cheese, toasts, sandwiches, panini
- Non-stick, scratch-resistant surface
- PFOA and PTFE free
Cons
- Not ideal for ciabatta bread
2. Calphalon Contemporary Hard-Anodized Aluminum Griddle Pan
This elegant pan is vastly different from the previous product on our list, but that doesn’t make it any worse. In fact, in the world of griddle pans, we could say that this one truly shines.
Key Features:
- Made out of heavy-gauge aluminum
- Includes three layers of non-stick coating
- The surface is large and flat for maximum cooking area
This stylish, elegant, modern griddle pan is going to surprise you with how sturdy it is. You wouldn’t be able to tell at first glance, as it is rather thin and light, but it is also extremely durable.
It was made from extra heavy-gauge aluminum. This stands for more than just a longer lifespan of this pan – it also ensures even heating and makes it dishwasher safe. The non-stick surface means that you will be able to cook healthier without using too much fat.
The interior of this grilled cheese pan includes three layers of coating. Two of those layers further help durability, while the third layer provides easy release performance. You don’t have to worry about your sandwiches getting stuck to this pan and ruined – it’s just not going to happen.
The cooking area provided by this Calphalon product is among the best ones for this type of pan. This pan is large and flat, which allows for cooking several servings all at once. The lip contains liquids without preventing easy access with a spatula.
Pros
- Extremely durable heavy-gauge aluminum
- A large, flat cooking surface that allows access with a spatula
- This pan provides even heating
Cons
- It may slightly warp when overused
3. T-fal Specialty Non-Stick Mini-Cheese Griddle Cookware
For those that don’t feel the need to make several servings at once, T-fal designed a top-notch single-serving grilled cheese pan.
Key Features:
- Designed for small servings
- Non-stick interior and exterior
- Dishwasher safe
You won’t always need to prepare a massive serving of grilled cheese. If you’re the type of person to only make enough for one, you will enjoy this compact-sized grilled cheese pan.
Measuring at just 15 x 13 x 8 inches and weighing in at a negligible 8 ounces, this T-fal product was made with grilled cheese in mind.
It is non-stick, coated in Teflon, and as such, it will protect you from ingesting harmful contaminants. It is PFOA free. It is made out of aluminum, which allows for superior heating and fantastic durability.
The exterior also has a layer of non-stick coating, which makes this pan really easy to wash. It’s even dishwasher-safe, so you won’t have to bother with it at all. Another bonus of a non-stick interior is the fact that you will be able to cook using fewer oils and fats. A healthy grilled cheese – who would have thought?
If you ever get tired of grilled cheese, you can use this pan for smaller breakfast meals, such as eggs and bacon. Your imagination is the limit here!
Pros
- Non-stick interior and exterior
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Dishwasher safe
- Can be used on an induction stove
Cons
- It’s small, so if you want to prepare multiple servings at once, this may be a problem
4. GreenLife Healthy Ceramic Square Griddle
If you’re looking for a pan that will excel at more than just preparing grilled cheese, take a closer look at this GreenLife product.
Key Features:
- Offers superior cooking, browning, baking or frying
- Non-stick and PFAS/PFOA-free
- Durable thanks to its diamond reinforced technology
This GreenLife griddle is marketed as a kitchen must-have, and we’re honestly inclined to agree. It’s going to improve your kitchen experience in many ways – all thanks to the variety of uses you will find for it.
It’s perfectly sized at 11 inches and square-shaped. While it’ll allow you to cook up an excellent grilled cheese, it will also let you go beyond that. You can easily use this for pancakes, French toast, hash browns, bacon, or even burgers!
The surface of this griddle is coated in ceramic non-stick Thermolon, which is absolutely toxin-free. Unfortunately, not every pan out there guarantees that no toxins or contaminants will sneak into your food, but this one will definitely keep you safe. It’s PFAS, PFOA, lead and cadmium free. Even if you bring it to overheating on accident, there will be no harm to your food.
The body is made out of durable aluminum. This will grant you not just a long lifespan, but also great heat conductivity. The handle is quite perfect too – it’s easy to grip and stays cool during cooking.
Pros
- Diamond Reinforced Technology – this griddle is ultra-durable.
- Suitable for nearly all stovetops, including gas, halogen, electric, ceramic.
- Ideal for many kinds of breakfast and lunch meals
Cons
- Not recommended for an induction stovetop
5. Ecolution Evolve Non-Stick Griddle
It will hook you with its unusual design and then make you stay with how fantastic it is. This griddle is ideal for making grilled cheese.
Key Features:
- Made out of heavy gauge aluminum
- Offers fantastic heat conductivity
- Dishwasher-safe
Do you like your kitchen tools or utensils to truly stand out? If you do, then we’re certain this griddle will catch your eye. It has a sturdy heavy aluminum build that has a beautiful crimson sunset red finish. The color is metallic and vibrant, but mute enough to not overwhelm any kitchen design.
Other than being really stylish, this griddle is exceedingly functional. It has a non-stick water-based Hydrolon coating that makes flipping or removing your food easy and also promotes a quick clean-up.
The bottom of the pan offers amazing conductivity and even heating thanks to the grooved, textured heat bands. The handle is made out of soft silicone that makes it easy to grip and hold on to.
Pros
- Suited for many kinds of meals: grilled cheese, French toast, eggs, bacon & more
- The non-toxic coating makes food 100% safe
- Offers surprisingly high performance
Cons
- It’s not entirely flat, so wet ingredients such as pancakes may run to the edges.
Related Questions
To help you clear up any last remaining questions, we’ve prepared a small FAQ!
Why Is My Grilled Cheese Sandwich Burnt on the Outside and Undercooked on the Inside?
Even the best pan cannot combat using the wrong heat setting, which may be the case here. Don’t worry – there’s no shame in it! Grilled cheese is surprisingly demanding when it comes to heating it the right way. We recommend taking your time with grilled cheese and cooking it on a low heat setting.
What Can You Add to a Grilled Cheese Sandwich?
To achieve absolute perfection in terms of taste, you may want to expand your horizons and add a little something to your grilled cheese. Here are some of the most common ingredients.
- Bacon
- Tomato
- Onions
- Mushrooms
- Ham
- Peppers
