Martha Stewart’s Simple Trick For The Best Grilled Cheese

When it comes to comfort food, few things rival a perfectly made grilled cheese sandwich. Crispy, golden bread encasing gooey melted cheese is the kind of simple pleasure that never goes out of style.

From childhood lunchboxes to late-night snacks, grilled cheese remains a favorite across generations. But as with many classics, the difference between good and exceptional often comes down to technique.

Martha Stewart, lifestyle icon and culinary authority, has revealed her personal trick for creating the best grilled cheese. And it is surprisingly simple: one everyday ingredient changes everything.

By swapping butter for mayonnaise on the outside of the sandwich, she delivers a crust that is consistently golden, crisp, and flavorful. Let’s break down exactly how this works, why it matters, and how you can try it at home.

Martha’s Mayonnaise Hack: The Secret on the Outside

Most people automatically reach for butter when making grilled cheese, but Martha Stewart recommends mayonnaise instead.

Spread on the outside of the bread, mayo gives the sandwich a crispier crust and helps prevent burning. Because mayonnaise has a higher smoke point than butter, it can withstand higher heat without scorching.

That means a more evenly browned exterior and less worry about cooking the bread faster than the cheese can melt.

Stewart has explained that this method also adds flavor and a slight tang that complements the richness of the cheese. The mayo layer locks in moisture, delivers visual appeal, and requires no special preparation.

You can spread it straight from the jar and achieve results that look and taste like restaurant quality.

Why Butter Still Belongs Inside

While Martha uses mayonnaise on the outside, she does not abandon butter completely. Instead, she applies a thin layer of softened butter to the inside surfaces of the bread.

This subtle detail ensures the cheese melts evenly and remains luxuriously creamy.

The butter enhances richness without overpowering the sandwich, creating contrast with the crispy mayo exterior. This balance makes the sandwich taste indulgent while still maintaining its structure.

It is this combination of mayo outside and butter inside that transforms an ordinary grilled cheese into something special.

Choosing the Right Bread and Cheese

Even with the mayo trick, the foundation of any great grilled cheese is the bread and cheese you choose. Stewart prefers thick slices of sourdough bread.

Its tangy flavor and sturdy structure make it ideal for grilling, as it resists sogginess and holds up to the heat.

For cheese, she blends one and a half slices of American cheese with about a quarter cup of shredded cheddar. American cheese melts smoothly, while cheddar adds sharpness and complexity.

The result is a creamy yet flavorful filling that balances perfectly with the crispy exterior.

Why This Method Works

So why does Martha’s method deliver such consistently delicious results? The answer lies in science and balance.

• Crisp exterior: Mayonnaise browns evenly and crisps better than butter, preventing a greasy surface.
• Creamy interior: Butter inside enhances meltability and ensures the cheese stays soft and gooey.
• Flavor contrast: The tang from mayo balances the richness of the butter and cheese.
• Structural strength: Sourdough bread provides sturdiness, preventing collapse under heat.

By paying attention to both exterior and interior, Stewart’s approach ensures no element of the sandwich is neglected. It is a holistic way of thinking about a simple recipe.

Expert Tips for Perfect Grilled Cheese

Martha’s method lays the foundation, but there are several tips to make your grilled cheese even better:

• Spread mayo evenly to avoid uneven browning.
• Use softened butter inside so it spreads smoothly.
• Preheat the pan on medium heat for consistent results.
• Let the sandwich rest for a minute before slicing to reduce cheese spills.
• Experiment with add-ins like bacon, tomato, or pickles for variety.

Real-Life Testing: Does It Really Work?

Food reviewers have tested Martha’s mayonnaise hack, and the results support her claims. Mayo-coated grilled cheese consistently produces better browning and crisp texture, while the butter inside keeps the filling indulgent.

Several publications also praised her sourdough-and-cheese combination for achieving balance between tangy bread, creamy cheese, and crispy crust.

The verdict is consistent: this method requires no special tools or ingredients, just a small shift in thinking that delivers big rewards.

Why It Matters in 2025

Comfort foods like grilled cheese are seeing renewed popularity. In times of uncertainty, people turn to simple meals that deliver nostalgia and satisfaction.

Sandwiches remain a multi-billion-dollar category in the United States, with grilled cheese holding a prominent place on menus at both restaurants and diners. People want foods that are familiar yet elevated, and Stewart’s approach fits that demand perfectly.

By making a slight change, using mayonnaise outside instead of butter, home cooks can achieve restaurant-quality results without complicated steps or expensive equipment. It is the kind of trick that feels accessible but still impressive.

Making the Best Grilled Cheese

At first glance, grilled cheese seems too simple to warrant debate. Bread, butter, cheese, and a pan, how complicated can it be?

But as Martha Stewart proves, even the most basic recipes can be elevated with just a little thought. Her secret of spreading mayonnaise on the outside and butter on the inside results in a sandwich that is crispy, creamy, and balanced in every bite.

For home cooks, this is more than a hack. It is a reminder that cooking is about small choices that add up to big differences. Choosing sourdough over plain white bread, blending cheeses instead of sticking with one, and paying attention to exterior and interior layers all of these details matter.

So the next time you crave grilled cheese, try Martha’s method. It may just ruin you for the old butter-only way forever.

References

Martha’s Secret to the Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich- MarthaStewart.com

Martha Stewart’s Simple Trick for the Best Grilled Cheese- SimplyRecipes.com

I tried Martha Stewart’s trick for the ultimate grilled cheese, and I found a way to make it even better- BusinessInsider.com

Martha Stewart’s Butter Trick For The Ultimate Melty Grilled Cheese- TastingTable.com

2024 Sandwich Consumer Trend Report- Technomic.com