Should you cover your mac and cheese when baking

Mac and cheese is a very basic dish and is a staple among the demographic of high school or college students living mostly alone. It is high in calories and contains a lot of dairy.

How to make mac and cheese?

One of the easiest recipes is making mac and cheese. It contains two basic ingredients, macaroni and, of course, cheese. The recipe includes boiling macaroni pasta till almost al dente. 

Chef Intro

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The key to making a good mac and cheese is to not completely cook the macaroni and keep the pasta water for later. Cook the macaroni till it is about 60 percent cooked. 

Then strain it and keep the pasta water. In a pot, pour some milk and add a lot of cheese to it. Another key component is the variety of cheese being used.

It should not be only cheddar or only mozzarella. The types of cheese should be diverse. A good mac and cheese include parmesan, gruyere, and other types of cheese according to your preference. 

The combination of all these cheeses adds depth to the cheese flavor which could take away the blandness of the dish. Because actual basic mac and cheese is known to be quite bland.

If you are someone who prefers some flavor in their dishes, then this is the perfect option for you. Another tip to making a great mac and cheese is to ‘season’ it.

Research. To season the mac and cheese, you don’t necessarily have to add a lot of different herbs and spices, because that takes away the authenticity of the traditional mac and cheese.

The herbs and spices you can add in the dish include a little bit of salt and pepper. You can add some oregano and thyme as well as some cayenne pepper to add a little spice.

Other spices you can add include chicken powder, MSG, and even some soy sauce. Once the mac and cheese is cooked, it can be put into the oven. 

Why should we not keep the mac and cheese covered while baking?

Mac and cheese does not necessarily need to be cooked in the oven. It is already cooked and then put in the oven to bake so that a crust is formed on the top. 

It then is further baked until the top is a bit golden brown. If you cover the dish, it will not get the toasted texture on the top.

Generally, when we cover something while baking it, it is because we want to cook the dish without it losing its juice, or without the top of it being burnt.

The covering on the top prevents the top from being toasted and brown, which is what we do not want. In order for the dish to be perfectly cooked, the toasted top adds a little texture.

Ways to Bake the Mac and Cheese

There are different types of ways you can bake mac and cheese. One thing you can do is just put some parmesan cheese on the top and bake it at a higher temperature.

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This Baked Macaroni and Cheese comes together quick and easy. Homemade cheese sauce generously covers noodles and is baked to a rich, bubbly, golden brown perfection. When served with a hearty side of veggies, this indulgent dish becomes the perfect weeknight meal.

Hi there! I’m Holly, one of the two ladies that make up The Modern Proper. Today, I’m so excited to share with you one of my most beloved recipes, Baked Macaroni and Cheese. This is a no frills, straight up, honest to goodness, classic Baked Mac and Cheese recipe that you’ll happily come back to time and time again.

I know that feeding your family healthy dinners is on everyone’s minds these days and the thought of mac and cheese sounds less than well rounded, but fear not! I always serve this dish with a hearty side of veggies. Everyone leaves the table satisfied and my kids hardly even complain about all the greens on their plate, because it’s accompanied by the carb-laden, cheesy good stuff. They’re happy, I’m happy, it’s a real win, win.

HOW DO YOU MAKE HOMEMADE MACARONI AND CHEESE?

Homemade mac and cheese starts with a flour/butter mixture called a roux. You melt the butter, add the flour and whisk until it becomes thick. Then you slowly, slowly add the milk. Warming the milk up a bit first helps keep the sauce thick, and it takes less time to heat up to a simmer. If combined properly, your roux/milk mixture should be rich and creamy once all the milk has been incorporated. Next, add the cheese and a few flavor boosters and pour that creamy goodness over cooked noodles and pop it in the oven to bake.

DO YOU COVER YOUR MAC AND CHEESE IN THE OVEN?

You may also be wondering if it is necessary to cover your Macaroni and Cheese in the oven. I personally love the crispy bits of cheese that form on the top layer that result from NOT covering the mac and cheese. Since the noodles are pre-cooked, you are really just popping it in the oven to get all bubbly and thick throughout and brown and crispy on top, but ultimately, the choice is up to you.

As you’ll see in this recipe, I’ve added a few extra optional flavor boosters to keep things interesting. But I must say, the garlic powder is an absolute must! For years, people have asked me what I put in this mac and cheese that makes it so good. Well, guess what? The garlic powder is my secret! Recently, I’ve begun adding a little nutmeg and mustard powder to the sauce as well. While these are most definitely optional, I don’t think you’ll regret adding them in the slightest. I also love serving the finished product with some sriracha, for an added kick. My kids aren’t fans, but my husband and I sure love it.

So, the next time you’re looking for a fairly simple and extra delicious weeknight dinner for your family or guests, I highly recommend whipping up this easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese. You’ll make a lot of tummies happy! If your time is limited you could always opt for this 4 Ingredient Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese or this Slow Cooker Mushroom Macaroni and Cheese. 

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

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This Baked Macaroni and Cheese comes together quick and easy. Homemade cheese sauce generously covers noodles and is baked to a rich, bubbly, golden brown perfection. When served with a hearty side of veggies, this indulgent dish becomes the perfect weeknight meal.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings: 6 Servings

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Ingredients  1x2x3x (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

• ▢1 pound + 1 ½ cups grated cheddar cheese divided
• ▢1 cup grated parmesan cheese divided
• ▢1 stick butter
• ▢6 tablespoons flour
• ▢5 cups whole milk
• ▢2 teaspoons salt
• ▢1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢1 teaspoon mustard powder optional
• ▢1/2 teaspoon nutmeg optional
• ▢pepper to taste
• ▢1 pound elbow macaroni cooked
• ▢flat leaf parsley chopped, optional

Instructions 

• Heat oven to 400 degrees with rack in the middle of oven.

• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour to melted butter and stir until thickened, about 3 minutes.

• Slowly whisk in milk a little at a time. The slower you add the milk the thicker the sauce will be.

• Stir in 1 pound of cheddar cheese and ½ cup parmesan cheese into the sauce. Reserve 1 ½ cups cheddar and ½ cup parmesan for the top.

• Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, mustard powder and nutmeg to the sauce, stir until combined.

• Stir together the cooked macaroni noodles and the sauce and transfer to a 9 x 13 baking dish, that has been prepped with cooking spray if needed. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake in the oven until golden and bubbling, 20-25 minutes.

• Sprinkle with flat leaf parsley if desired.

Nutrition

Serves: 6

Calories509kcal (25%)Carbohydrates73g (24%)Protein24g (48%)Fat13g (20%)Saturated Fat7g (35%)Cholesterol35mg (12%)Sodium1124mg (47%)Potassium472mg (13%)Fiber3g (12%)Sugar13g (14%)Vitamin A474IU (9%)Calcium430mg (43%)Iron2mg (11%)

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

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