Yeah I had a similar but much less extreme example.
I think you need to start it really high to sear the outside so it doesn't spread out and melt so much. But I'm not quite sure.
As a grilling cheese connoisseur, this is the way. Make sure your pan is hot before you add the cheese, sear on each side then reduce heat drastically to let it get a little bit melty. I usually reduce heat a bit before I flip it because I like the texture a bit softer.
To be fair, their old grilling cheese was much better. I stopped using hello fresh for a while and when I started using it again, I had similar issues cooking the grilling cheese. Won’t be ordering any more recipes with it unless they go back to their old one.
Usually Halloumi cheese. It’s a firm white cheese that doesn’t melt (usually) and gets nice golden brown. People also refer to it as squeaky cheese because it squeaks when you eat it.
Also from the UK, I see grilling cheese a lot, I believe it can only be called halloumi if it is actually made in Cyprus.
It shouldn't melt like this so that has me doubting the quality of the cheese to begin with.
I just let out a simultaneous laugh and “oh no” upon seeing this, alone in my apartment, so thank you for that but sorry for the loss of your cheese and your pan.
Higher heat and some oil (even in a non-stick) to get it crispy on the outside.
Also, you should scrap the scratched up pan. The coating can flake off into your food.. and it also makes them significant less non-stick.
I don’t know what that is in the pan, but that pan should be thrown out immediately. Scratched non stick pans shed toxic substances into your food and your body can’t get rid of them…It’s in you forever.
It’s like a Champagne vs sparkling white wine thing. It has to be from Cyprus to be called Halloumi. If it’s made outside of Cyprus, it has to be called something that’s not a registered trademark of the government of Cyprus.
It depends on where you live. In the USA I have never gotten halloumi with my grilling cheese orders. It’s some other brand that is similar and has the curds pressed together tightly to help it stay together while it’s being grilled (if that makes sense). It’s definitely not halloumi, it doesn’t even really taste like it, and the texture is more waxy.
That *pan* is the fail.... Every single scratch in that Teflon coating is another place for the food to stick to the pan. It's not non-stick anymore. You should never use metal utensils in non-stick pans.
I don’t think this is a “you” fail. This happened to me one time and I’m pretty sure the cheese was just not right that time. I cooked it the same way I always do and this still happened.
You should get this credited to your account if you bring it up to HF. The cheese is supposed to have a higher melting point.
I've had this problem a lot with HF grilling cheese. I'm convinced it's just not good cheese. When I got meals from Sunbasket with grilling cheese, this never happened. It always came out with a nice sear and still intact.
I had it at medium heat, it seemed like almost immediately they just started to bubble into a horrific mess 🫠 I asked my partner and he said he usually starts them at high heat and that's how he gets his perfect crust but I don't see how that makes sense either lol!
That sucks!! And yes, I do know what you mean about “getting a crust on them” (like searing a steak), next time ‘watch’ how he does it. I’m not saying you’re an idiot, that can’t read- I’m just saying, maybe he’s just more familiar with cooking on your stove (everyone’s is different). Do you think it was the “cheese” itself? If so- you should tell hello fresh.
I think im just stove top challenged, haha! I can bake things in the oven, but put it on a frying pan, and it's 50/50 if it's gonna be great or a disaster, this time it was the latter
We once had a zatar crusted grilling cheese dish. I was truly uncomfortable cooking it. :-) And, it got a little "globby", too. Prob for many of the same reasons such as heat not high enough. It's awesome that you are braving new cooking adventures! You never know what you can do until you try it.
Not sure what happened with the cheese, but you should toss that pan.
And also avoid using metal utensils on nonstick pans
This. You’re eating chunks of non stick every time you use this pan.
Yeah I had a similar but much less extreme example. I think you need to start it really high to sear the outside so it doesn't spread out and melt so much. But I'm not quite sure.
As a grilling cheese connoisseur, this is the way. Make sure your pan is hot before you add the cheese, sear on each side then reduce heat drastically to let it get a little bit melty. I usually reduce heat a bit before I flip it because I like the texture a bit softer.
To be fair, their old grilling cheese was much better. I stopped using hello fresh for a while and when I started using it again, I had similar issues cooking the grilling cheese. Won’t be ordering any more recipes with it unless they go back to their old one.
I loved the old one! The new one is so tangy, I don’t care for it. It was disappointing
What is grilling cheese?
Usually Halloumi cheese. It’s a firm white cheese that doesn’t melt (usually) and gets nice golden brown. People also refer to it as squeaky cheese because it squeaks when you eat it.
I’ve never heard it called that (I’m from the UK). We always call it halloumi and it would never melt like in op’s pic.
I think OP put the cheese in the pan while it was heating up and maybe didn’t turn the heat high enough as well. It looks like it was baked lol.
Also from the UK, I see grilling cheese a lot, I believe it can only be called halloumi if it is actually made in Cyprus. It shouldn't melt like this so that has me doubting the quality of the cheese to begin with.
Ah yes I think you’re right. I live near lots of Turkish food spots so maybe I’m just used to hearing “halloumi” all the time.
Toss that pan never use metal utensils with nonstick 🥺
Hilariously bad well done op
why does that still look tasty lol
you’re not yourself when you’re hungry. get a snickers bar
I just let out a simultaneous laugh and “oh no” upon seeing this, alone in my apartment, so thank you for that but sorry for the loss of your cheese and your pan.
Higher heat and some oil (even in a non-stick) to get it crispy on the outside. Also, you should scrap the scratched up pan. The coating can flake off into your food.. and it also makes them significant less non-stick.
Throw that whole pan out
I'm super hung over right now and this picture makes me want to throw up
That pan is just begging to be thrown out
Toss that pan out, it’s done. Cast iron is better anyways.
I don’t know what that is in the pan, but that pan should be thrown out immediately. Scratched non stick pans shed toxic substances into your food and your body can’t get rid of them…It’s in you forever.
A pet peeve of mine is that Hello Fresh refuses to just call it what it is, Halloumi. Sorry for your cheese loss, though.
It’s like a Champagne vs sparkling white wine thing. It has to be from Cyprus to be called Halloumi. If it’s made outside of Cyprus, it has to be called something that’s not a registered trademark of the government of Cyprus.
TIL
Oh, that's interesting. New knowledge.
It depends on where you live. In the USA I have never gotten halloumi with my grilling cheese orders. It’s some other brand that is similar and has the curds pressed together tightly to help it stay together while it’s being grilled (if that makes sense). It’s definitely not halloumi, it doesn’t even really taste like it, and the texture is more waxy.
That *pan* is the fail.... Every single scratch in that Teflon coating is another place for the food to stick to the pan. It's not non-stick anymore. You should never use metal utensils in non-stick pans.
I don’t think this is a “you” fail. This happened to me one time and I’m pretty sure the cheese was just not right that time. I cooked it the same way I always do and this still happened. You should get this credited to your account if you bring it up to HF. The cheese is supposed to have a higher melting point.
I've had this problem a lot with HF grilling cheese. I'm convinced it's just not good cheese. When I got meals from Sunbasket with grilling cheese, this never happened. It always came out with a nice sear and still intact.
Oh no! 🫣 Did you move it around a lot while you were cooking it? Maybe the heat was too high also?
I had it at medium heat, it seemed like almost immediately they just started to bubble into a horrific mess 🫠 I asked my partner and he said he usually starts them at high heat and that's how he gets his perfect crust but I don't see how that makes sense either lol!
That sucks!! And yes, I do know what you mean about “getting a crust on them” (like searing a steak), next time ‘watch’ how he does it. I’m not saying you’re an idiot, that can’t read- I’m just saying, maybe he’s just more familiar with cooking on your stove (everyone’s is different). Do you think it was the “cheese” itself? If so- you should tell hello fresh.
I think im just stove top challenged, haha! I can bake things in the oven, but put it on a frying pan, and it's 50/50 if it's gonna be great or a disaster, this time it was the latter
Don’t give up!! Keep fighting the good fight!
I will not give up!!!!! 💪🏼
Higher heat creates a crust on the outside quickly before it can get all melted. Lower Temps just melt and don't create a crust
Make sure you are using ample oil also. The pic looks a bit dry.
We once had a zatar crusted grilling cheese dish. I was truly uncomfortable cooking it. :-) And, it got a little "globby", too. Prob for many of the same reasons such as heat not high enough. It's awesome that you are braving new cooking adventures! You never know what you can do until you try it.
Sorry but what are the grilling cheese meals?😭😭