What Are The 3 Best Cheeses For Mac And Cheese?
Macaroni and cheese (also called mac and cheese in Canada and the United States and macaroni cheese in the United Kingdom) is a dish that consists of cooked macaroni pasta and a cheese sauce, most commonly Cheddar sauce.
Although it is an American staple, the dish was inspired by similar pasta dishes in Italy and France.
In the United States, it was popularized by Thomas Jefferson who encountered macaroni in Paris and brought it back to the US.
The traditional macaroni and cheese is plated on a casserole baked in the oven.
However, it can be also made saucepan on top of the stove or using a packaged mix.
Types Of Cheese Used For Mac And Cheese
Different types of cheese can be used in mac and cheese such as Cheddar, Gouda, Cream cheese, Goat cheese, Parmesan, Fontina, and many more.
In this article, we will be discussing the top 3 best choices of cheese you might want to include when you’re making mac and cheese next time.
By incorporating Cheddar, Gouda, and Parmesan cheese into your mac and cheese, you can create gourmet flavors.
You can experiment with different types of cheeses to make your mac and cheese more sophisticated including:
- Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar cheese (or simply cheddar) is a natural cheese popular in the United Kingdom and second-most popular (behind mozzarella) in the United States.
Sharp cheddar is an aged cheese, probably 6 to 9 months old.
As it is aged, cheddar cheese must be kept at a constant temperature, and that’s why it’s often traditionally stored in a cave. Joseph Harding is the inventor of cheddar cheese.
Mild cheddar cheese appears to be in orange color as coloring agents like annatto is added during the cheesemaking process.
The body of the cheese has a white or ivory color through to light yellow or orange.
Mild cheddar cheese has a buttery taste and a slight flavor, while sharp cheddar has a tangy and robust taste that pairs well with bold flavors. Cheddar cheese contains 402 calories.
Using sharp cheddar on mac and cheese adds a stronger taste to the dish.
This type of cheese is the best choice to add to your mac and cheese as it strikes the right balance between meltability and flavor.
- Parmesan Cheese
Parmesan (Italian: Parmigiano Reggiano) is an iconic hard cheese that originated in Italy, and it is widely used and produced all over the world.
This extra-hard cheese is traditionally produced from cow’s milk and it is aged between 12-36 months.
This cheese is named after two of the areas which produce it, the provinces of Parma and Reggio Emilia.
True Parmesan cheese has a hard, gritty, and granular texture and is fruity and nutty in taste. This type of cheese is mostly used in pasta, soups, and risotto.
Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, and Grana Padano are some types of parmesan cheese available.
Parmesan cheese is made from cow’s milk and is inspired by the original Italian cheese.
It generally has a pale yellow color and when grated, Parmesan is white to beige.
Real parmesan cheese has a complex flavor and granular texture. It has a caloric value of 431 calories.
Parmesan cheese on mac and cheese adds a salty and nutty flavor to the dish.
Grated Parmesan is also ideal to use as a topping for mac and cheese as it adds a golden color.
When combined, It also makes the pasta creamier. The higher the quality, the more appealing
- Gouda Cheese
Gouda cheese originated from the Netherlands and it is a sweet, creamy, yellow cow’s milk cheese.
It is one of the most popular cheeses worldwide which is traditionally made in flat wheels of 10 to 12 pounds.
This semi-hard cheese has a creamy, rich, unique flavor and smooth texture. It has a pale ivory color.
Except for aged Gouda cheese, it is dark gold, strong, saltier in flavor, and has a hard texture. Gouda Cheese has a shelf life of 3-4 weeks.
Smoked gouda is a nice option on mac and cheese as it adds a smoking flavor to it.
It is also best to replace aged gouda with soft gouda as it is hard and crumbly and won’t melt easily. Gouda cheese contains 356 calories.
Young Gouda in mac and cheese melts easily, resulting in a creamy texture that makes it a great choice for mac and cheese.
It also adds a sweetness to the aftertaste. Older gouda has a much more potent, strong, and savory flavor compared to soft gouda.
Final Thoughts
From our findings, these are the top 3 cheese choices you might want to add to your mac and cheese next time.
The authentic flavoring of these cheeses can take your mac and cheese to the next level.
Beyond that, the best cheeses for mac and cheese balance flavor and meltability.
Older cheese tends to have a dried crumbly texture so it is best to choose mild cheese.
