A Look At America’s ‘Hot Takes’ On Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

April marks National Grilled Cheese Month and Pepperidge Farm has unveiled new data to settle some of the "hottest" debates about one of America's favorite toasted sandwiches.

This "random double-opt-in" survey of 5,000 Americans, 100 from each state, was commissioned by Pepperidge Farm and conducted by market research company OnePoll.

They found that the average American adult eats 36 grilled cheese sandwiches each year. But what are the preferred bread and cheese choices for grilled cheeses? "From cheese and bread choices to optimal cooking methods and condiments, Americans are passionate about their grilled cheese preferences," the company said.

According to the survey, white bread is America's top choice. Around 57% opt for white, trailed by sourdough (24%) and wheat (23%). They also found that most grilled cheese makers are crafting sandwiches with butter (70%). But 20% prefer making their sandwiches with mayo.

The top choices to have in a grilled cheese sandwich according to the survey are American (58%), cheddar (49%), and pepperjack (18%). When it comes to the most important quality of cheese, 54% say the cheese needs to be "gooey."

Of those surveyed, 60% prefer a simple pan to make their sandwich. This is followed by a cast iron skillet (34%), a toaster oven (12%), and a panini press (11%). Interestingly, air fryers came in fifth place with 9%.

Also revealed by the survey is how people prefer their grilled cheese to be cut. About 52% cut diagonally in half, while 21% cut vertically in half. Only 10% cut horizontally in half and 17% don’t cut it at all.

Someone created a thread on Reddit asking, "How to maximize the taste of a grilled cheese?" Many people kept it pretty simple, while others had to add a bit of a twist. Someone said that they add an "extremely tiny sprinkle of garlic powder on the cheese." One person said, "I spread a very thin layer of mustard on the bread. Just enough to wake the flavor up." Another person said to use "About three slices of different cheese, sliced, deli fresh if possible."

According to Edible Northeast Florida, many people love grilled cheese because it’s such an easy comfort food that can be simple or elevated. "It appeals to our palette no matter what," they said. "Whether you're using American or triple cream brie, it's going to be warm and salty and crispy and hit all those flavor and texture notes that make us happy while eating," they continued.

Take a look at the complete survey here.