Harrison Ford’s Secret Ingredient for a Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that everyone needs to eat. And yet, there’s something so fascinating about learning what kinds of food our favorite celebrities have on the table. It puts a smile on my face to know that comedy duo Steve Martin and Martin Short love poached eggs on toast. Or that Meryl Streep makes this Julia Child recipe last for a week’s worth of leftovers!

Beyond the basics, learning about the stars’ secret ingredients is even more thrilling. Did you know that Harrison Ford uses a secret ingredient to make his grilled cheese sandwiches delicious?

What is Harrison Ford’s secret ingredient?

No, it’s not the Force. In a Mashed interview, Ford’s son Ben revealed that his dad makes grilled cheese with whole wheat bread, sharp cheddar cheese, tomatoes and Worcestershire sauce.

While I still think that the most classic grilled cheese sandwich is white bread with American cheese, Ford’s creation is really interesting. And sure, a lot of people love pairing grilled cheese with tomato soup, so why not cut out the middleman and put the tomato right on the sandwich?

The addition of the Worcestershire sauce ends up giving the whole sandwich a kind of savory, umami kick. It’s a sandwich combo so good that Ben can’t get enough of it—and he’s a professional chef.

What other tips can elevate a grilled cheese?

Whether you want to give Harrison Ford’s Worcestershire tip a go or not, there are some pretty great ways to make a grilled cheese feel fancier and taste even more delicious. Like Harrison Ford, you can experiment with different kinds of bread, cheese and condiments. Personally, I love a little bit of yellow mayo on a classic grilled cheese.

And perhaps the best hack ever for ensuring a crispy, flavorful finish on the bread? It’s a tried-and-true Reddit hack: Use mayo on the outside of the bread instead of butter. It will fry up evenly in the pan for a perfect golden brown texture every time.