The Grilled Cheese Just Got an Upgrade

Every so often, my brother Dave and I get into one of those conversations where we try to improve something that already seems great. It's a fun little challenge. Can you rethink a common product and make it significantly better?

Well Meredith Begley has absolutely improved the cheese out of the grilled sandwich of the same name.

That's saying something in Utah, where grilled cheese and a bowl of tomato soup  become practically a food group once the weather turns cool and the leaves start changing. Here are Merideth's genius tips:

The Secret Starts Inside

Most people focus on the outside of the sandwich, but one of the smartest upgrades happens on the inside.

Read More: This Super Food is all the Rage and the Tree Grows in Southern.

Give the inside surfaces of the bread a light toast before assembling the sandwich. It adds another layer of crunch and gives the cheese a better foundation as it melts. The result is a sandwich that's crisp on the outside and sturdy enough to hold all that gooey goodness in the middle.

Mayo Over Butter

This one might make traditionalists nervous.

bread with cheese fillings on white ceramic plate

Instead of buttering the outside of the bread, spread on a thin layer of mayonnaise. Mayo browns more evenly, has a higher smoke point, and creates an incredibly crisp golden crust. It may sound strange the first time you hear it, but one bite usually turns people into believers.

Shred Your Cheese

Pre-sliced cheese gets the job done, but shredded cheese does it better.

Because it melts more evenly, every bite gets the same creamy texture. It also creates that restaurant-quality cheese pull everyone secretly hopes for. Want to get fancy? Mix a few specialty cheeses together and take things to another level.

Take a Break

Here's the final improvement most people miss.

Once the sandwich comes off the griddle, set it on a wire rack instead of a plate. The rack allows heat and steam to escape, keeping the bottom from turning soft and sweaty.

So come on Utah let's take this beehive state treat to the next level, no need to go grilled cheese when you could enjoy a gourmet cheese,