The Philly cheesesteak is natively from Philadelphia. However, this classic fave is now common across the US, with the most reputable ones being Originally Philly, Geno’s Cheesesteak, and Pat’s King. You can also make them at home. The secret? Making sure you have the best bread for Philly cheesesteak.
Your choice of ingredients makes the difference between classic and authentic Philly sandwiches. The original Philly cheesesteak only comprised cheese, ribeye steak, sauteed onion, seasonings, and hoagie bread.
However, numerous variations of the recipe incorporate a wider range of ingredients. There are four main categories of ingredients for a Philly cheesesteak: meat, cheese, toppings, and bread.
Philly Cheesesteak Meat and Toppings
Ribeye steak is the best type of meat for a Philly cheesesteak. It is tender and has just the right amount of fat for flavor without being too oily. For cheese, go with American cheese, cheez whiz, or slices of provolone cheese.
The preferred toppings for a Philly cheesesteak include sautéed onions, green bell peppers, green peppers, red peppers, olive oil, garlic powder, and onion powder are the most preferred.
Sautéed onions are a must-include ingredient as they add flavor and improve the aroma of the cheesesteak sandwich. Garlic powder, particularly black garlic powder, is the secret ingredient for that authentic Philly cheesesteak goodness. You could also make a sauce using ketchup, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, a pinch of sugar, olive oil, and onion powder for the sandwich.
You need the right type of bread to hold the ingredients. The best type of bread for a Philly cheesesteak is soft on the inside and crusty on the outside. The crusty exterior holds together the ingredients, and the soft interior soaks up all the flavors.
However, the rolls do not have to be super crusty. Just firm enough to prevent the sandwich from crumbling.
Use fresh, white bread.
The original Philly cheesesteak is made with hoagie rolls. But there are other great options, such as toasted rolls and Amoroso rolls, to name a few.
Looking for the best bread for Philly cheesesteak? Check out our recommendations below.
Best Bread for Philly Cheesesteak
Hoagie Rolls
Also known as a hero roll, hoagie rolls are long flat bread rolls mainly used for making sandwiches. It is the most common type of bread for making Philly cheesesteak sandwiches. It is also commonly used for making submarine sandwiches.
It has a typical preparation process like most white bread recipes and uses ingredients such as eggs, white flour, milk, vegetable oil, yeast, salt, and sugar. There are variations to its recipes to improve flavor and texture. For instance, some hoagie rolls are fermented, while others have seed toppings. There are also some gluten-free variations of hoagie roll recipes.
The roll is cut horizontally in the middle. You place your cooked ingredients in the middle and then cover them with the upper part of the roll. You can use it as is or as a toasted roll when making a Philly cheesesteak sandwich.
Sub Rolls
Most sandwich lovers use the terms sub roll and hoagie roll interchangeably. Although the two types of bread rolls closely resemble each other, they have subtle differences. Hoagie rolls are harder than sub rolls. Also, when making a Philly cheese steak sandwich, you cut the bread vertically in the middle from the top and then stuff it.
Amoroso Rolls
Amoroso rolls are a specific brand of bread rolls made by the Amoroso Roll Company In Philadelphia. They are hearth-baked loaves, which allows each roll to take shape. They are light and soft with a crispy crust. Different Amoroso rolls can be used to make a Philly cheesesteak, including Italian and hoagie rolls.
Baguettes
A baguette is a great option if you want crusty rolls for your Philly cheesesteak. It is a long and narrow bread. The exterior is hard and crusty, while the interior is light and soft. It is one of the best breads for soup but can also be used to make sandwiches, including Philly cheesesteak and panini sandwiches. It can also be enjoyed on its own with tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. If you want a softer version of the baguette, go with French bread.
Italian Rolls
Like the hoagie rolls, sub rolls, and amoroso rolls, Italian rolls are long and narrow pieces of bread. They are dry and airy on the inside, with a crisp, crusty exterior. Compared to French bread rolls, they are shorter and plumper. They also have denser crumbs.
How to Make a Philly Cheesesteak
Making a homemade Philly cheesesteak is easy if you have the right ingredients and the right Philly cheesesteak recipe. Start by cutting up the ribeye steak and vegetable toppings. Then grill or pan-fry the steak slices and sauté the vegetables.
Combine them in a grill pan and add your seasonings—garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black/white pepper, chilies, etc. Add cheese and let it melt. Mix up all the ingredients ensuring the seasonings and melted cheese are well distributed.
Slice up your bread roll in the middle and apply mayonnaise. Add the mixed ingredients, top with the sauce, and serve your delicious homemade Philly cheesesteak.
Types of Bread Not Suitable for a Philly Cheesesteak
Generally, bread that is not a roll is unsuitable for a cheesesteak. Also, if the bread does not have a firm crust, it will not hold up the weight of the cheese, steak slices, and other toppings. Regular white bread is unsuitable, and so are most other types of breads, such as garlic bread, rye bread, focaccia, pita, naan, etc.
Conclusion
You can buy the original Philly cheesesteak from an Originally Philly, Geno’s cheesesteak, and Pat’s King location near you or make one. It only takes a few minutes as long as you have all your ingredients ready.
Your choice of bread for a Philly cheese steak is crucial. It influences bread’s overall texture and taste and, most importantly, determines whether the roll holds the contents together.
White, fresh, and warm bread rolls are the best types of bread for a Philly cheesesteak. They should be relatively long and narrow to allow ample space for your contents and is easy to bite. The original Philly cheesesteak is made with untoasted bread, but you can toast yours if you prefer.
