America’s Finest: The Great Kraft Original Macaroni and Cheese

In the culinary tapestry of comfort foods, one dish shines as a timeless classic—the Kraft Original Macaroni and Cheese. Picture a warm, inviting bowl, brimming with elbow-shaped pasta, adorned with a velvety, golden-orange sauce of Cheddar cheese. This dish carries a history of nourishing both body and soul with its simple yet satisfying embrace.

The journey of Kraft Original Macaroni and Cheese begins with the humble pasta—elbows or macaroni, perfectly sized to cradle the creamy goodness that envelops them. Cooked to a tender al dente, they offer a satisfying chew that complements the sauce’s smooth embrace.

And what is this sauce, you ask? It’s a magical alchemy of flavours and textures, where a blend of real cheese melds with butter and milk to create a luscious, velvety cloak that lovingly coats each pasta bite. The sauce’s hue, reminiscent of sunlit afternoons, emanates from the cheddar cheese, aged to perfection.

History

The concept of Mac and Cheese comes from the 1300s in Italy and England who were making casseroles using cheese as a sauce to cover meat. One of the first books to describe this type of food was Liber de Coquina which married Parmesan cheese with pasta. There is also the English version written in the book Forme of Cury which is more about lasagne but details how to prepare a cheese that is very much like the sauce we see in the modern era.

As for its origins, the tale of Kraft Original Macaroni and Cheese is rooted in innovation and culinary prowess. It was James L. Kraft who, in the early 20th century, introduced a revolutionary concept—an easy-to-prepare version of macaroni and cheese. Before Kraft were developing their brand, a salesman from St. Louis in Missouri called Grant Leslie was tying pieces of processed cheese made by Kraft to boxes of pasta. to improve his sales. Kraft then ran with this idea!

In 1937, the Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner was introduced, complete with a powdered cheese mix that, when blended with butter and milk, transformed into the iconic sauce that has warmed countless hearts. It was the ultimate comfort food because it helped North America and by that I include Canada too in keeping people fed during the Great Depression. Whether Roosevelt’s New Deal included this food is not known but it helped keep the economic push moving forward.

The choice of macaroni comes from it being a great past for picking up hot clinging cheese sauce. Others have been tried but macaroni has been traditional ever since the dish was put together.

During the Second World War, rationing was needed because it was such a popular food. A box cost just 19 cents which was extremely cheap even for the time.

From humble beginnings to becoming a cherished household staple, Kraft Original Macaroni and Cheese has woven itself into the fabric of comfort food culture. It has evolved over the years, maintaining its essence while adapting to changing tastes and preferences. You can of course make your own and there are a number of recipes we know of that fit the bill (see bottom of article). It is also a staple name on most American diners and harks back to a time of easier more comfortable living.

The Product Today

Kraft are regularly keeping the product up to date without changing the concept, recipe and the quality of the ingredients. It doesn’t do to annoy such a loyal customer base! It is still marketed as the ultimate comfort food and can ‘serve up smiles in minutes’ using the colour of cheese, a slightly oozy yellow-orange to bring home the message. The recipe is the same throughout. You can buy the 7.25 Ounce single pack, pack of 4, 6, 12 and even 35. That would feed a school class and may be such a large number was in the marketing mind when they produced such a large offer. It is suitable for vegetarians but not vegans. A typical serving is 70g or 2.5 oz and contains 260 Calories, 6g sugar with 1 g dietary fiber, 10g of protein and 3.5g of fat. The other major claims are threefold as in no artificial preservatives, artificial flavours or dyes. That is important in today’s climate of healthy eating and clean label.

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• (Purchase Kraft 4 Pack original flavour online).
• (Purchase Kraft 6 Pack original flavour online)
• (Purchase Kraft 12 Pack original flavour online)

The product is traditionally made using the packet ingredients by adding the macaroni to boiling water and cooking for between 7 and 8 minutes. You then drain and add sufficient milk, butter and the cheese sauce mix which is stirred thoroughly. All is served in bowls depending and consumed with great relish!

For shear convenience you don’t have to have a cooker, why not try the microwaveable version. Given that many of us now have a microwave rather than a conventional oven means we can easily rustle up a supper. You can buy either 6 pouches, 6 pouches as a pack of three and even 18 pouches which is a good family sized pack.

• (Purchase Kraft Easy Mac Original Macaroni & Cheese Microwavable Dinner (6 pouches online).
• (Purchase Kraft Easy Mac Original Macaroni & Cheese Microwavable Dinner (6 pouches (Pack of 3))
• (Purchase Kraft Easy Mac Original Macaroni & Cheese Microwavable Dinner (18 pouches online)

Being able to easily microwave a food is great! Having it in its own bowl is just as a valuable a consumer benefit and so we have cups which are plastic microwaveable vessels containing the right serving size for one person. They remind me of noodle pots where you remove the lid and the sauce. You fill the water with water and stir to make sure all is mixed in. Then you microwave for about 3 minutes before stirring in the cheese sauce. How simple is that!

You can buy a pack of 8 cups or 8 cups in a double pack.

• (Purchase Kraft Original Easy Microwaveable Macaroni & Cheese Cups (8 ct Box, 2.05 oz Cups).

Mind you they don’t have it all their own way. We sat down to think what the competitor products are on the grocery shelves and here are a few well-established names!

Some of these competitors include:

1. Annie’s Homegrown: Annie’s is known for its organic and natural products. They offer a variety of macaroni and cheese products that use high-quality ingredients and often appeal to health-conscious consumers.
2. Velveeta Shells & Cheese: Velveeta, also owned by Kraft Heinz, offers a line of macaroni and cheese products with their distinctive creamy Velveeta cheese sauce (Purchase online).

1. Barilla Ready Pasta: While not exactly the same as traditional macaroni and cheese, Barilla offers a line of ready-to-eat pasta pouches that can be paired with cheese sauce or other toppings to create a quick and customizable meal.
2. Hormel Compleats: Hormel offers a range of microwaveable meals, including macaroni and cheese options, for those seeking a convenient and portable solution.
3. Amy’s Kitchen: Amy’s Kitchen specializes in organic and vegetarian foods. They offer frozen macaroni and cheese meals with various ingredient options, catering to different dietary preferences.
4. Stouffer’s Macaroni & Cheese: Stouffer’s is known for its frozen meals, and they offer a macaroni and cheese option with a creamy cheese sauce (Purchase online).

1. Lean Cuisine Macaroni & Cheese: Lean Cuisine, focusing on lower-calorie options, provides a macaroni and cheese meal that’s portion-controlled and suitable for those looking to manage their calorie intake.
2. Great Value (Walmart brand): Many grocery store chains have their own store-brand versions of macaroni and cheese ready meals, and Walmart’s Great Value is no exception.
3. Evolution Harvest Mac & Cheese Cup: A portable and on-the-go option, Evolution Harvest offers a macaroni and cheese cup that’s microwaveable and ready to eat.
4. Private Label Brands: Numerous supermarket chains have their own private label versions of macaroni and cheese ready meals, offering affordable options for shoppers. You have to consider them but no-one product actually stands out.
5. You can of course find all sorts of gluten-free versions. Why not try Banza which produces a chickpea pasta with al the cheese you could want (Purchase online).

These are just a few examples of the competitor products in the macaroni and cheese ready meal category. The market offers a variety of options to cater to different tastes, dietary preferences, and convenience needs. Whether enjoyed on a cozy evening by the fire or as a childhood memory revisited, Kraft Original Macaroni and Cheese holds a special place in the hearts and palates of those seeking both simplicity and nostalgia in a single, delectable bite.

If you do want to make your own (this is my conclusion) then try my recipe:- macaroni cheese.

This post was amended from 18th August 2023 to cover new variants added to the Kraft range.