bitsavers.org

Food experiment gone horribly wrong.
Don't try this at home.
Macaroni and cheese packet mixed with olive oil.
I thought maybe this might be useful as a cheese seasoning, but the only way this stuff is even edible is after it is mixed with a big bowl of noodles.
DO NOT try to taste this straight. I don't think I want to know what is in it that makes it taste like that.

#NerdFood

Nov 5, 2023 at 5:18pmWeb
Show threadbitsavers.orgNov 5, 2023

I'm an idiot. Milk fat and lactose is a critical ingredient. I added a 1/4 cup of half and half, heated it a bit and now the horrible tasting sand is gone and it emulsified into extremely salty cheese whiz

added some water to thin it out (the corn starch thickens it when heated) put it over some diced potatoes to deal with the
salt, and it tasted fine.

Show threadbitsavers.orgNov 5, 2023

when I started this, I thought olive oil could be a substitute for butter.

big mistake!

I also completely forgot I never make the stuff without using half and half (there is way too much salt already and I don't keep unsalted butter around)

Show threadRealGene ☣️Nov 6, 2023
@bitsavers
Mayonnaise is a pretty good substitute for butter in a pinch.
Show threadbitsavers.orgJan 2, 2024

I had totally forgotten I researched processed
cheese years ago.

Tamime "Processed Cheese and Analogues" 2011

for the history and processes.

Probably over the "Provolone vs Whiz" controversy.
I also just realized the two places I used to buy cheese steaks are gone now (Vitos and Steves)

Show threadbitsavers.orgJan 18, 2024

Some experiments last night making sodium citrate emulsifier with baking soda and lemon juice.

adding it to sharp cheddar makes an interesting lemon flavored cheese sauce

#NerdFood

Show threadbitsavers.orgJan 18, 2024
Ordered 200g from a place in the bay area
Going to try this as a starting point
https://twoguysandacooler.com/making-an-incredibly-simple-nacho-cheddar-sauce/
Making an Incredibly Simple Nacho Cheddar Sauce! – 2 Guys & A Cooler

Show threadbitsavers.orgJan 21, 2024
The trisodium citrate worked fine. Made some Jalapeno cheddar sauce and had nachos last night, then put the rest in an omelette this morning.
Show threadDeKayJan 19, 2024
@bitsavers "This isn’t any ordinary salt as it’s not going to make your cheese sauce salty." Sigh. What part of "sodium" in "sodium citrate" don't they understand? This is trisodium citrate so the sodium is something like 26.7% by weight. Not as much as table salt, but still...
Show threadMichael GemarJan 18, 2024
@bitsavers Sodium citrate as a powder can be directly purchased, and it's terrific - I love making cheese sauce with it.
Show threadbitsavers.orgJan 18, 2024

@michaelgemar

recommendations where to buy it in small quantities?
I don't really need a lifetime supply.

Show threadMichael GemarJan 18, 2024

@bitsavers I bought mine from Amazon, and I think they offer packages as small as 100g. But honestly a kilo of it from Amazon is not that much more expensive.

That would make a lot of cheese sauce, but it depends on how much cheese sauce you plan on eating in a lifetime.

Show threadAlex RosenbergJan 18, 2024
@bitsavers I followed an online recipe and cooked up a batch on the stove. Felt like Walter White when scraping the crystals off the bottom of the pan. I keep it in an empty spice jar, which seems small enough to not worry about.
Show threadPaolo AmorosoNov 5, 2023
@bitsavers Food for thought.
Show threadFritz AdalisNov 5, 2023

@bitsavers
Oh. Oh no.

I learned the rules of mac and cheese the hard way.

* You can make it without milk and it's edible.
* You can make it without butter and it's edible.
* Do not make it without either.

Do not anger the golden powder.