Grilled Cheese: A History

Origin: While the origin of the grilled cheese is vague, the first dates of food similar to grilled cheeses being eaten was during ancient times when the Romans enjoyed "panis focacius", which was sliced bread with cheese between. It is also speculated that the more modern form of grilled cheese was established in 1861, with a recipe book called "Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management" including a recipe for placing sandwiches of brown bread and butter with 1⁄2-inch (13 mm) slices of "a nice fat Cheshire or any good rich cheese" into an oven, and serving when the bread becomes toasted.

Culture: Grilled Cheese has been used as a meal/dish for many different parts of the world, with different spices and herbs being used to make several varieties all over. The presence of new components like tomatoes and whatnot also allowed for combinations that allowed many people, such as medieval Europeans, to maintain their health during economic droughts and times of uncertainty.

Significance: Grilled Cheese, like in medieval Europe, has also been a crucial part of several Americans' diets during events like the Great Depression, where it was very easy to make in bulk for families to enjoy together.

Statistics: As of 2022, over 2.2 Grilled cheese sandwiches have been consumed by Americans on average per year. Following this trend, and population increase, we can find that perhaps many million more have also added to that total. That's a lot of sandwiches!

Sources:Americans Eat A Whopping 2.2 Billion Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Per Year Grilled Cheese The Original Grilled Cheese: Uncovering the History and Evolution of a Timeless Classic