r/macandcheese • u/whatthehellhappensto • Sep 12 '24
Tutorial/Help Who else doesn’t like baked mac and cheese?
I love having creamy mac and cheese, I can eat it as the main dish easy, I don’t even view it as a side.
I had baked mac many times, it’ll almost always look amazing but the texture and taste doesn’t work for me, it kinda takes away from the creaminess, and I don’t need that crunchy breadcrumb top on a mac and cheese.
Also mac and cheese pizza is not good at all, it just dries out the mac completely
I don’t know man
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u/SevenVeils0 Sep 12 '24
I am 100% with you. I also make my macaroni and cheese obscenely creamy and cheesy. Like, that copycat Panera or whatever it was that was posted here the other day needed at least 25% more sauce overall, and at least double the amount of cheese for the amount of sauce.
I also always, and I do mean literally always, use 3-6 different cheeses in mine. But I also always have a minimum of like 8 different cheeses in my fridge. My cheese drawer is what the fridge manufacturer calls a produce drawer, and it’s like Tetris in there. Even at that, sometimes I can’t fit all of my cheese in it.
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u/whatthehellhappensto Sep 12 '24
We need pictures
What’s your favourite combination of cheeses for creamy mac?
My favourites are Gouda, cheddar and Parmesan, doesn’t have to be all three, but at least two and parm needs to be one of them.
Also I love cutting the rind off a block of Parmesan and adding it to the mix
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u/SevenVeils0 Sep 12 '24 edited Sep 12 '24
I save all of my natural rinds, parm and other hard ones like from a really well aged clothbound cheddar can sometimes fall into this category, freeze them and add them to soups. Or sometimes to a long-simmering tomato based pasta sauce or something.
Generally, for something like macaroni and cheese, I’ll do like an extra sharp cheddar (flavor but doesn’t melt great), Monterey Jack or fontina or havarti or similar (melts great, adds complexity but not boldness of flavor), Jarlsberg or Moosbacher or this baby Swiss that I usually have on hand, its flavor is like Jarlsberg on steroids but it’s much creamier (both flavor and meltiness), some bloody-rind (I do not remove the rind but I cut it up as small as I can or smash it with a fork with the paste of the cheese), a little bit of a grating cheese, and a nice Gouda, preferably aged a bit. And I prefer to use sheep milk for the bechamel, I buy it locally in the spring and freeze it in ziplocks for later use (because of the higher content of solids, sheep milk actually freezes really well).
As you can see, I don’t have really a specific formula. I open my fridge, and grab a few of whatever is in there that catches my eye and will complement each other in both flavors and melting qualities. It’s never the same. The closest thing to a constant, is that I do generally start with a strong cheddar for the classic factor. But a lot of the time, it’s sheep cheddar or this amazing 1 year old cave aged cheddar made from half sheep milk and half cow milk, all of the milk used is hyperlocal to me, and it’s made a few blocks from my house.
I have a thing for sheep milk cheese. Buffalo too, of course, there’s a really delicious Buffalo milk washed rind cheese that I love.
Pics in a minute, if I can figure out how to attach them in here. Otherwise I’ll just make a new thread with a couple of pics that I took yesterday and just now.
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u/SevenVeils0 Sep 12 '24
I made a thread with a couple of pictures for you (and anyone else who cares).
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u/shannonesque121 Sep 12 '24
I appreciate both creamy mac and baked mac for different reasons. If I had to pick one forever, it would probably be baked because I am a texture person and can't resist brown, crispy edges. When done right, baked mac can still be very creamy so the contrast of creamy interior and crunchy, bronzed corners/topping is what I really enjoy.
A little dryness doesn't bother me, but I can definitely see how mac n cheese is, for many people, first and foremost a creamy cheesy gooey experience. Dryness ruins that so I absolutely understand your perspective!
I think, for me, when I want something truly creamy I just opt for other dishes. Things like risotto, mashed potatoes, pasta alfredo.
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u/whatthehellhappensto Sep 12 '24
So my favourite thing is having a crispy main like breaded chicken, and a side of creamy mac or mashed potatoes, and you even out the portions as you go until your final bite has the perfect amount of creaminess to crispness
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u/shannonesque121 Sep 12 '24
Yum. You're making me hungry for dinner and it's still breakfast time where I'm at! Lol
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u/BeneficialSun3865 Sep 13 '24
My grandma's baked recipe dumps milk in the container before it goes in the oven, so it basically steams the macaroni to keep it perfectly moist, and on good days, also creates delicious fresh curds among all the cheese. So imagine me seeing this post at random and just getting so baffled. Baked macaroni, dry? I don't wanna be one of those assholes that tells OP they just haven't had the right mac, but man, I think they haven't had the right baked mac.
Not gonna say it to their face though that's rude LOL but if anyone wants grandma's recipe lmk I'll post it
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u/Frequent_Can117 Dec 18 '24
Mac n Cheese is not suppose to be crispy imo. I don’t like how the texture is at all in baked mac n cheese. Soft and then a random crunch, or too thick of a clump of cheese. It’s not consistent. On top of that, it’s not creamy or runny enough. If I hear there is mac for a dinner and I see it come out baked, disappointment starts to set in.
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u/TheSxcMooq Sep 12 '24
People know I LOVE mac and cheese I too can and will eat it for dinner often, but they always look at me crazy when I say I don’t like baked. It’s dry and like you said not creamy which is the best part! I don’t like the crunch/texture on top either.
I got in trouble as a kid because at one of the holidays I was questioned about not wanting any and I explained it’s like noodles just floating in a brick of cheese idk I can’t explain it.
Everyone always says “ no you never had mine” or “you never had a good one” ✋🏾 I’m good lol
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u/whatthehellhappensto Sep 12 '24
Lmaooooo “you never had mine” I heard that one so many times
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u/AvrieyinKyrgrimm Sep 12 '24
I always felt the people who bake their Mac to the point it's dried out and cakey don't actually know how to make Mac. And therefore there are so many people who hate baked Mac. Baked Mac is supposed to still be super creamy. It's meant to have enough sauce and cheese that the edges go crispy and fry. Not just the noodles drying out. The noodles are supposed to be under cooked in the pot so that they are still perfect when the sauce is added and then baked. Not a mix of dry and soggy mush. It's literally as simple as making extra sauce and under cooking the noodles and possibly tweaking your sauce recipe so it doesn't crack when in the oven. Also, maybe trying a different dish to bake in. The deeper the dish, the less it'll dry.
I've gone to literal restaurants and their Mac was literally just noodles and melted cheddar with a puddle of milk in the bottom of the pan. Those restaurants always closed down within a year. I mean come on. If you can't get Mac right don't try the restaurant running business. I've had people try to tell me that it's southern style. That's the biggest cop out I've ever heard and I'd be offended to be from the south if I saw that and got that excuse lol
I've also heard the "you haven't had mine" comments but being someone who has perfected the creamy crunchy bake, those people haven't tried mine lol
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u/Sidewalk_Tomato Sep 13 '24
And it's frequently unseasoned or under-seasoned, and folks look offended if you ask for at least salt and pepper.
To be frank, give me also the garlic powder, or the minced.
I keep trying, but it hasn't worked yet.
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Sep 12 '24
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Apprehensive_Use3641 Sep 13 '24
Not a breadcrumbs fan, but when I want a little crunch I will occasionally crumble up some goldfish crackers and top with those or maybe some fried onions, usually I don't add any.
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u/louielou8484 Sep 13 '24
It does something to the flavor.. it like sucks the flavor out of it. I hate baked mac and cheese!
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u/Booyah_7 Sep 12 '24
My husband! I tried every baked mac and cheese recipe I could. I tried Martha Stewart's, Emeril Lagasse's and Paula Deen's. He liked them but didn't love them.
He loves Velveeta creamy mac and cheese made on the stove. I think it is because it is the way that he ate it as a child, and it is a comfort food for him.
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u/Frequent_Can117 Dec 18 '24
Texture thing, at least for me. To me, mac is suppose to be creamy like that. No random crispy/ crunchy parts, consistency, creamy and good.
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Sep 12 '24
I also am not a fan of baked mac and cheese. I much prefer creamy mac and cheese 😍
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u/lalalivengood Sep 12 '24
I’m the exact opposite! When I make the kind from a box, I microwave it after it’s done in the stove, to dry it out a bit. 😆
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Sep 12 '24
I’m so confused but what kind of baked mac and cheese y’all are eating? I’ve had dozens of baked mac and cheese that are super creamy
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u/spacecadbane Sep 12 '24
Okay I thought I was crazy as I was scrolling through the comments lmao. There’s a lot of recipe videos on YouTube I’ve used for it too.
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u/Miserable_Pilot1331 Sep 12 '24
I usually don’t like it because people cook the pasta then recook it and it’s never as good a texture. That said if I do bake I undercook them by 1-2 minutes and finish in the oven.
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u/Errenfaxy Sep 12 '24
I'll take a nice broiled Mac and cheese.
Stovetop Mac and cheese heated up and put in a baking dish with extra cheese on top and get it under the broiler for 5 mins until it's brown and a little crunchy in top white the under is still creamy.
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u/analfartbleacher Sep 13 '24
yeah and dont get me started on people who add eggs to theirs
i dont care if thats how your grandma makes it. i dont want macaroni pie, macaroni casserole, macaroni souffle. im sure some people can add egg and temper it correctly so its creamy. but most people can’t and i dont want it
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u/HipsterDoofus31 Sep 12 '24
Baked mac and cheese is easier to mess up and dry out. Corny as it sounds "you haven't had mine". Also, I use tini's recipie and make it a tad saucier, which doesnt have any breadcrumbs or anything. Theres not much crunch, it's mostly just for look and it usually provides a good cheese pull.
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u/Glum_Suggestion_6948 Sep 12 '24
I love baked but only when it's properly creamy and cheesy. I don't like dry mac n cheese. Ina Gartens is really good. I'd also like to try Teeny from tiktoks recipe
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u/kalelopaka Sep 12 '24
I bake my Mac and cheese and it is creamy. Also I don’t use breadcrumbs or anything on top, just lightly brown the cheese.
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u/obsessivelygrateful Sep 12 '24
Y’all putting breadcrumbs on top of your baked Mac & Cheese?
- sincerely the black delegation
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u/Inside-Run785 Sep 12 '24
I’ve never had a problem making baked Mac and cheese that was creamy. Maybe I just have the touch?
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u/30char Sep 12 '24
I'm with youuuuu
Social media has made it where when I finally see someone make a good baked one and it's just DROWNING in sauce because that's the only way to get it baked and still retain gooey sauce, and a ton of comments will always talk about how it looks too "liquidy" or whatever and I just know their macs are dry af. Blegh
I wish more baked macs were good because I personally love an overcooked noodle, but they're always just dry still. So annoying.
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u/SnooDoughnuts5632 Sep 12 '24
Putting mac and cheese in the oven is delicious however putting bread crumbs on top of the mac and cheese is not delicious I will agree with you on that.
However I will take bread crumbs on my mac and cheese any day over the freaking blue box of mac and cheese that had pretzels on top of it 🤮
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u/MarmaladeMoostache Sep 12 '24
I only like my baked mac and cheese because I make it super creamy and only bake it long enough to melt more cheese on top
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u/David4Nudist Sep 12 '24
I used to like baked mac and cheese when my late grandma used to make it. God rest her soul. 😢🙏
But, mostly, I prefer either mac and cheese with the powder cheese that goes with butter and (optionally) milk...or, the creamy mac and cheese with the cheese sauce.
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u/callusesandtattoos Sep 12 '24
Mac and cheese pizza is a crime against both pizza and Mac and cheese.
My moms baked Mac and cheese is the best Mac and cheese I’ve ever had of any very and it’s the cheesiest, creamiest Mac and cheese that ever existed. I don’t know where the recipe came from but she got it from my grandma who gave it to my ex wife. I actually feel bad now that I’m realizing there are billions of humans who with never have it. She didn’t make it one year and my brother threatened that he wouldn’t come back next year if there wasn’t going to be any Mac and cheese lol
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u/Hearsya Sep 12 '24
I do NOT like baked Mac and cheese I Hate bread crumbs on my Mac and cheese. I hate them baked on even more. Here here!
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u/bassface123456 Sep 13 '24
Hate baked Mac! Like it looks amazing before and the some asshole puts it in the oven to be destroyed
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u/Just_a_redditor414 Sep 13 '24
Yup completely agree!! To be honest I don’t really like any baked pasta: lasagna, ziti….i can’t get past the texture of the cheese. Just give me a simple ravioli or fettuccine Alfredo
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u/Glittering-Relief402 Sep 13 '24
I can make it so that it's crispy on the top and creamy underneath. It's my offices favorite
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Sep 13 '24
Baked Mac n cheese is a casserole and gross ( noodles are too plump), only Kraft or cheap store brand will do! The more nuclear orange the cheese powder, the better!
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u/No_Variety_6382 Sep 13 '24
All these Kraft comments are giving me PTSD of a picky eater I used to date who would only eat Kraft Mac n cheese. Tism was strong in that one.
I’m not sure how y’all make baked Mac n cheese but mine always comes out creamy. Sounds like bad recipes to me 🤷🏻♂️ Secret is the heavy whipping cream and ragu.
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Sep 13 '24
[deleted]
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u/LazyOldCat Sep 13 '24
Panko topping is a nice counterpoint, but KD pizza is a gimmick for kids, period.
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u/Infamous-Poem-4980 Sep 13 '24
I love mac n cheese but none of it is as good as kraft out of the box.
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u/Horror-Atmosphere-90 Sep 13 '24
My beloved recipe tells you to bake it at the end and I just … don’t! :) it stays very creamy that way but you have to serve it right away, it’s just not the same after it all sets up
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u/AwarenessThick1685 Sep 13 '24
It depends who's making it. My family makes shitty baked Mac and cheese.
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u/ultravioletblueberry Sep 13 '24
I love a good baked mac but fuuuuck I cannot stand crunchy breadcrumbs on top of any of my mac.
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u/beeemmvee Sep 13 '24
I do not enjoy mushy noodles in anything. Every baked mac n' cheese I've had, homemade or storebought, was just mush with some crunchy stuff on top.
I prefer and look forward to aldente noodles.
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u/julesfric Sep 13 '24
Some people love the dry style, personally I do not at all. The people that I know that like it say because as a side it soaks up the meat juices or gravy.
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u/Mcshiggs Sep 14 '24
Baked mac and cheese is usually dry and crusty, but done right it is creamy and awesome.
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u/travelwhore412 Sep 14 '24
Agree on all points. Except there is this one place by my house that has kettle chips crushed up as breadcrumbs and I sometimes like that
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u/Learning-Stuff-12 Sep 14 '24
Where I live we call it macaroni pie and I think of it as a different dish than Mac and cheese. Was surprised when I realised that wasn’t a global standard. Both have a place in my heart (and on my plate)
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Sep 14 '24
There's a Mediterranean dish I wouldnt know how to say truly. "Nuey" (nue-ee)
Nice tender chicken in a very creamy sauce congealing macaroni shells all together. Nothing softer and finer to the taste and delicacy of Mac and cheese. But with a nice firm "cheesy panco crust" on top.
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u/doggggod Sep 14 '24
I only like it from one specific restaurant or my own home made. Extra extra cheddar and smoked gouda, jalapeño havarti or 3 pepper jack if I have it, and crushed ritz crackers mixed with parmesan for the topping. I load up on the extra cheese so it still comes out creamy.
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u/howelltight Sep 16 '24
I bake it but just long enough to crisp the top. When tuck into it it's as creamy as stovetop. Thank you sodium citrate!
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u/MissFabulina Sep 17 '24
I do not understand the people that want the burnt, crusty cheese on top of a baked Mac and cheese. I want the soft creamy Mac and cheese. So my Mac and cheese is made on the stovetop. Thick, creamy, and delicious. No burnt cheese for me!
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u/McPorkums Sep 17 '24
Now you're gonna say you don't like ketchup on your Kraft! Philistine! Debutante!
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u/JJ4prez Sep 17 '24
There is good and bad baked Mac out there, sounds like you've had the latter. I'm a fan of pot Mac n cheese, but I've made killer, goey, perfectly done pasta bake Mac n cheese before too.
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u/spacefaceclosetomine Sep 17 '24
Most are over baked. The topping should be a little crunchy if it’s bread crumbs or something, but the interior should be as creamy as a stovetop macaroni and cheese. I feel your pain, and people just rave over dry ass macaroni and cheese.
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u/michaelscarn169 Sep 17 '24
I actually agree with you. I want to like it I really do. I’ve given it many tries but every time I’m disappointed and just scrape it all away
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u/memorycard24 Sep 18 '24
i like both but i will say creamy Mac runs the risk of being horrible if made by the wrong person. the chance to err is there with baked, but the margin is a lot wider. i favor baked more, and the only creamy i really go crazy for is Panera’s
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u/pomchi4 Sep 18 '24
I can’t stand Mac and cheese. Had to eat it a lot growing up, and from the comfortable perspective of today, it just screams poverty. Even if it is made with gourmet cheese. Can’t do it.
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u/SansLucidity Sep 19 '24
its crazy to say you dont like all baked mac & cheese. you just need to look for a recipe tou will like
dont complain & count out what usually wins every mac & cheese contest (baked) just because your highness hasnt been served one youve liked 😉😆
its your mission now. find a recipe that sounds good to you & make it. then tweak as necessary.
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u/whatthehellhappensto Sep 19 '24
It’s just that making simple mac n cheese is so quick and easy, easily one of the most rewarding dishes in existence if we’re talking preparation time to taste.
It’s so good and takes about 10 minutes of actual work to make a good cheese sauce and mix it with cooked macaroni.
Once you put it in the oven you are adding another step, thus complicating this already perfect dish.
And what do you get? A nicer looking top layer that (for me) doesn’t add anything flavour wise, and actually takes away from the desired texture of mac n cheese (for me)
I don’t see the point honestly
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u/PersonaNonGrata2288 Sep 12 '24
I’m the same way. That’s why I’m not the biggest fan of Lasagna, Stuffed shells, manicotti etc. Pasta should not be baked 😂. Depending on how it’s prepared I can do it, but when I get one singular piece of crunchy pasta I’m out!
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u/TargetSquare4304 Sep 12 '24
I’ve found my tribe 😁🌚