If your kitchen doesn't have a stove (or if you're just not comfortable using one), but you're craving crispy toast with melted cheese, don't despair! Unfortunately, you can't just stuff bread and cheese in the microwave if you don't want it to get messy, but if you have a toaster oven or crisper pan, then you can make delicious cheese toasties in just minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 slices of bread
- Cheese
- Butter, margarine or mayonnaise
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparing the Ingredients
Step 1. Select the type of bread
Toast usually uses light white bread, but if you want a healthier option, opt for whole grain bread or flax bread. Or depending on your taste, pumpernickel or sour dough is fine.
Don't choose bread that has lots of holes or air balls, because the cheese you fill later will melt and drip out
Step 2. Choose dry bread that has been stored for a day if you have one
Since the moisture in fresh bread will make it mushy (unlike a regular oven, the microwave won't evaporate the moisture, so the bread won't be crunchy), so dry bread is better microwaved.
To be safe, check and make sure the bread sheets are not moldy
Step 3. If you can use bread that has been cut into sheets
The thickness of each sheet of bread like this must be the same, so the baking results will be even. If you buy the uncut type at the bakery, ask if you can have it cut. Usually in a bakery, or in the bakery section of a supermarket, there is a cutting machine.
If you're cutting bread manually, use a serrated knife and slice about 2 cm thick. This thickness fits in a toaster and is also microwave-friendly
Step 4. Choose a type of cheese that melts easily
Usually people prefer American or Cedar cheese, but you can try Monterey Jack, Gruyere, Munster, Gouda, or Brie, all of which can make for a mouthwatering melt.
- Do not choose cheeses that are fresh but very hard or have a lot of crumbs, such as Feta and Parmesan. These types do not melt well when used as the main cheese in bread fillings.
- Very hard cheeses like Parmesan melt well as long as it's grated first and then mixed with another cheese that melts easily, like Cedar. The moisture from the Cedar will help the Parmesan to melt easily.
- If you really like this type of hard-to-melt cheese, you can add it to your toast for an extra flavor (like adding pickles or tomatoes). However, make sure you also use plenty of other cheeses that melt easily, such as American or Harvard cheese.
Step 5. Select the top spread
The classic choice would be butter, but margarine or mayonnaise can also provide a richer taste and can make the outer layer of bread crispier.
Step 6. It's a good idea to use additional ingredients for your toast
Pickles, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, avocados, or even potato chips -- get creative with extra ingredients if you want more than just plain cheese toast.
- Also add protein by using a few slices of ground beef, turkey, or other delicious meat. Remember to wipe any excess wetness on the meat before stuffing it in the bread.
- Remember that ingredients that contain water (like tomatoes) will make your bread a bit soggy.
- Your bread will be more delicious later if you add mustard sauce, tomato sauce, chili sauce, or tomato soup.
Method 2 of 3: Using a Toaster Oven
Step 1. Bake both sides of the bread until golden brown
If you're not sure how to set the toaster oven, try turning the knob to medium, or to the middle. This way, even if your bread isn't too toasty, just put it back on the lowest heat setting just to make it crispier.
The drier the toast, the better. After adding the cheese and butter, the bread will be moist again when you put it in the microwave. If the water content is too high, the bread will become soggy
Step 2. Spread butter on one side of each loaf
You can also brush on both sides of each sheet, but this can make your bread so moist that it turns into mushy steamed buns.
Step 3. Put the cheese and other ingredients between the two slices of bread
The dry, unsalted side is in contact with the cheese, while the buttered side is facing out. Use 2 slices of cheese, about 20g each (40g in total), this should be plenty.
- Make sure the cheese is spread evenly on the bread so that it melts just right. The cheese slices can be cut into even smaller pieces to fit.
- Don't add too many ingredients so the bread builds up high. The heat of the microwave oven can't penetrate the thick layer -- it's penetrating power is about 2.5-4 cm -- so bread that's too fat won't cook all the way through and the cheese might not melt.
Step 4. Wrap the bread in a thick paper towel and place it in a microwave-safe container or plate
The tissue will absorb the excess moisture so your bread won't get soggy.
Do not wrap the bread in plastic, because the moisture will not be absorbed but will instead be trapped inside
Step 5. Microwave for 15-20 seconds, or until cheese is melted
Melting time depends on the power of the microwave. If the melted cheese is dripping down the sides of the bread, then it should be done.
You can also test if the cheese has melted by trying to lift the bread on the top side. Once the cheese has melted, the bread will stick together and won't lift easily
Step 6. Use a clean cloth or oven mitt to remove the bread and let it cool slightly for 2-3 minutes before serving
That short time is to form a crispy layer on the bread, in addition to making the bread safer to eat.
Method 3 of 3: Using Crisper Pan
Step 1. Spread butter on one side of each loaf
Make sure the butter is at room temperature so it's easy to spread, don't tear the bread. Place the bread in a clean container, buttered side down.
You can soften or melt the butter by heating it in the microwave for about 5-10 seconds; just 1 tbsp butter and put in a microwave safe bowl
Step 2. Place the cheese on the dry, butterless side of the bread
Many recipes use 2 slices of cheese, or about 40 grams. If you want to make a "super" cheese toast then you can add more.
Spread the cheese over the bread so that it melts together
Step 3. On top of the cheese you can put additional ingredients and then cover with another piece of bread (buttered side up)
The height of your bread is only 2.5-4 cm, so that it can be cooked to the inside when using a microwave oven.
Step 4. Place your crisper pan/browning dish in the microwave and follow the appliance's instructions for preheating
Crisper pans are made of metal that is safe to use in a microwave oven and will get so hot it's the same as using a grill or pan on the stove. It can also make your toast brown and crispy, just like using a frying pan.
- In order to match the results of the stove grill, the crisper pan must be made very hot during the preheating phase. Do not do this without adult supervision, and do not touch it without wearing protection. Wear heat-resistant oven mitts to handle the crisper.
- Follow the appliance's instructions on how to place the crisper pan. There are types that come into direct contact with the floor in the microwave, while others are legged to be closer to the hot side or the ceiling of the grill.
- Do not put anything in the crisper pan until the preheating process is complete.
Step 5. Put the bread in a crisper pan, then heat it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds
If the crisper pan has a lid, you don't need to use it.
If your bread isn't browning, try re-baking it a few times in 5-second increments. Remember that the side that touches the crisper pan will be crisper, so you'll have to turn it over so you can see the results
Step 6. Use a spatula to flip the bread over, then bake again in the microwave for another 20-30 seconds
This is to make sure your cheesecake is browned and toasted well so that the inside cooks evenly. Press the bread with a spatula on each side for a crispier crunch.
Be careful that the skin does not come into contact with the crisper pan. If you can, put on oven mitts when removing the crisper pan, turn the bread over, and then put it back in the microwave
Step 7. Put on heat-resistant oven mitts to remove the crisper pan and bread
Let the bread cool for 2-3 minutes before cutting it in half and serving warm. As it cools the bread can get a little crunchier.
Warning
- The use of the crisper pan should be under adult supervision as it can become very hot when used in a microwave oven.
- Make sure the toast is allowed to cool slightly so your skin doesn't scald from the melted cheese.
- Do not put cheese in the toaster, as this could result in a short circuit.
