A professional chef has shared a game-changing tip for making the perfect cheese toastie: use mayonnaise on the outside of the bread instead of butter. According to Mimi Morley, senior recipe developer at HelloFresh, this simple swap creates a crunchier, more evenly golden crust every time.
The Perfect Toastie Starts with the Right Bread
Mimi recommends using sourdough bread with a good structure, spread with unsalted butter on the inside. For the cheese, she insists on extra mature cheddar, grated rather than sliced, and piled generously. "So many people avoid extra mature cheddar because they think it's too strong, but once melted, the tang mellows into a deep, buttery flavour," she explains.
Secret Ingredient: Mayonnaise
The key to a superior toastie lies in what you put on the outside of the bread. "Use mayonnaise instead of butter," Mimi advises. "The higher oil content in mayo spreads more evenly and colours at a slower, more controlled rate, giving you an even, deep golden crust that reaches every edge." Butter, by contrast, can burn in spots while leaving others pale.
Before closing the sandwich, add freshly ground black pepper and a thin layer of caramelised onion chutney. Cook on medium heat in a heavy pan, pressing down to ensure full contact with the surface. After cooking, pop the toastie in an air fryer for one minute to drive out moisture and add extra crunch.
This simple technique transforms a classic comfort food into a restaurant-quality treat, perfect with tomato soup, chips, or salad.
