The absolute best ways to use American cheese

Making grilled cheese? Keep it simple with a slice of American cheese. (iStock)

American cheese has a specific time and place. And that specific time and place can actually be pretty delightful (let’s save the discussion of additives and preservatives for another time, yes?

A Loaded Double Cheeseburger on a Pretzel Roll Bun - Photographed on Hasselblad H3D2-39mb Camera (Lauri Patterson)

Once when you’ve had a glass or two of biodynamic wine after a dinner of free-range roast chicken and organic baby purple potatoes perhaps?). Here are the times when only American cheese will do:

1) Grilled Cheese. Because nothing else melts quite as well. You *could* use grated Cheddar (that’s right, grated, so that it melts more evenly), but you could also use American and feel excellent about it.

2) Burgers. See grilled cheese.

More from Bon Appetit

Gooey, Gorgeous Cheese Recipes

24 Recipes Everyone Should Know How to Cook

35 Make-Ahead Breakfasts so You Can Sleep in and Eat Well All Week

3) Egg & Cheese. Do not get any other cheese. You want to take your first bite of an egg & cheese and then have the cheese ooze out a bit, but not too much that it can’t be contained within the egg. This is not the time for fanciness. This is the time to run to the corner store, devour one quickly while walking back to your apartment, and still have time to shower before starting your day.