Avoid bread with large air bubbles or holes, as your cheese may melt right through and drip out. [1] X Research source
Always check old bread for mold, just to be safe.
If you slice the bread by hand, use a serrated bread knife and try to cut the slices about 3/4 of an inch thick. Bread at this thickness will fit in a standard toaster and be thin enough for the microwave heat to penetrate. [3] X Research source
Avoid fresh, crumbly or very hard, aged cheeses, including fresh goat cheese, Feta, and aged Parmesan. These cheeses just don’t melt well when they are the main cheese in a sandwich. A very hard cheese like Parmesan will melt smoothly if you grate it and pair it with a melter, like Cheddar. The moisture in the Cheddar will help the Parmesan melt better. If you can’t resist those hard-to-melt cheeses, you can still add them to your sandwich for the taste (like you would add pickles or a tomato). Just make sure you also have plenty of cheese that melts easily, like Havarti or American. [4] X Research source
Up your protein intake with a few slices of ham, turkey, or other deli meat. Just wipe off extra moisture before putting it on your sandwich. [7] X Research source Remember that ingredients with additional moisture—like tomatoes—might make your sandwich a little soggy. Enjoy your sandwich with a side of mustard, ketchup, sriracha, or tomato soup.
The drier the toast, the better. You will be adding moisture back into the bread when you microwave it with the the cheese and butter. Too much moisture can make your sandwich soggy. [9] X Research source
Make sure the cheese is evenly distributed across the bread so it melts evenly. You can tear slices into smaller pieces to make them fit. Don’t pile your sandwich too high with extras. Microwave heat can’t penetrate very deep–only about 1-1 1/2 inches–so a fat sandwich may not heat all the way through and your cheese might not melt. [11] X Research source
Don’t wrap the sandwich in plastic wrap, as this traps moisture instead of absorbing it. [13] X Research source
You can also see if the cheese is melted by trying to lift the top slice of bread. If the cheese is fully melted, the bread will stick together and be difficult to separate.
You can soften or melt the butter by placing about 1 tablespoon in a microwave-safe bowl for 5-10 seconds. [16] X Research source
Distribute your cheese evenly over the bread so all melts at the same rate.
To get the griddle-effect, a crisper pan must become extremely hot during the preheating process. Only use it with adult supervision and never, ever touch it with your bare hands. Use heat-proof oven mitts to handle the crisper. [19] X Research source Follow the manufacturers directions about where to place the pan. It may have to sit on the floor of the microwave or may have built-in legs that lift it closer to the grill on the ceiling of the machine. Do not put anything on the crisper pan until it has pre-heated.
If your bread doesn’t appear to be browning, try adding more time in 5-second increments. Remember, the bread that is touching the pan is the side that will be getting crisp, so you may not be able to tell until you flip it over. [21] X Research source
Be very careful no part of your skin comes in contact with the pan. If it is easier, first remove the pan with oven mitts, then flip the sandwich and return the pan to the microwave.
