Pointers For Making The Best Mac And Cheese

Mac and cheese is something many of us remember fondly from our childhoods, either by making it ourselves, or from a beloved family member. However, there are many tricks to making the best mac and cheese that many of us are still working out over the years. Aside from the basic ingredients, there are some secrets to enhancing this dish to perfection. Here are some pointers for making the best mac and cheese.

Breadcrumbs

What a lot of amazing mac and cheese dishes miss out on, is a variety of textures. Breadcrumbs provide a nice change in texture, and do well absorbing cheese. They also give the mac and cheese the thick consistency that makes it easier to serve and eat. This is one of the biggest things that people seek out when they start making mac and cheese. It is one of the best compliments you can find.

Mustard

Mustard is not many people’s first solution when they think about mac and cheese, but it provides some surprising benefits. Cheese tends to have a rather flat flavor, especially when made with cheddar cheeses. Mustard provides a tangy high point that makes it really stand out. Ground mustard is best for this application, but a few squirts of the bottled stuff is okay too.

Real Cheese

Real cheese the biggest key to the best mac and cheese. The texture and flavor of easily melted cheese alternatives, or powdered cheeses, simply is not the same. However, finding the right balance can be difficult. Too much cheese makes it sticky and a little too clumpy, while too little is bland. Add and melt the cheese slowly, while adding small amounts of milk with the cheese. The milk will help the cheese expand and cover all of the noodles.

Meats

There are a lot of meats that compliment mac and cheese, but none is as popular as ham. While not many people initially think of this, the salty overlay and texture suit mac and cheese perfectly. Pre Cubed ham is the easiest, but you can cut up large chunks easily. Some other favorites include bacon, hotdogs, and even pulled pork. In general, chicken does not mix well, though some people prefer a non-pork based alternative meat.

Butter

A small pad of butter helps everything melt together. It also adds a good flavor, and helps keeps the noodles and cheese sticking to the pan. Only a small amount though, too much butter makes the dish greasy.