The Best Way To Reheat Mac And Cheese

When you think of the perfect comfort food, macaroni and cheese may spring to mind. This American favorite, after all, is the perfect blend of cheese and pasta (two very good things, indeed) baked into a masterful medley of ooey-gooey meltiness. While you have likely enjoyed many plates of this preeminent pasta dish over your lifetime, there are likely several things you don't know about macaroni and cheese. For instance, what is the best cheese to use? 

According to The Pioneer Woman, cheddar's low melting point makes it the number one choice. When it comes to pasta selection for your mac and cheese, in order to avoid mistakes it's best to pick a pasta with a surplus of "nooks and crannies" that will hold the cheese like elbow noodles or shells. And much of the nation's mac and cheese isn't made from scratch at all. According to Statista, 8.95 million of your fellow citizens devoured a minimum of five packages of regular Kraft Macaroni and Cheese in 2020 alone. Canadians, however, eat 55% more Kraft — or, as they call it, "Kraft Dinner" — than their American neighbors, gobbling up 1.7 million of the 7 million boxes sold each week across the globe (via Global News). 

Now that you've filled your head with all sorts of mac and cheese facts, there remains one thing that many have yet to discover. What is the best way to reheat your macaroni and cheese without sacrificing its creamy texture? 

If the reheating process has ever transformed your gooey, creamy mac and cheese into a crusty clump of dry chewiness, you will be happy to know that there are ways to prevent this. According to renowned culinary expert and restauranteur Chef Michael Zentner, the key to creamy results is to add a tablespoon of milk per every cup (or serving) of your dish before reheating it (via Yahoo!). Your noodles will soak it up and retain their moistness instead of getting hard or rubbery.As Zentner shared with Yahoo!, you should microwave your mac and cheese at half-power.

Other tips include First For Women's recommendation that you cover your dish with plastic wrap before microwaving it. Don't forget to open one edge to let the steam escape. The wrap will stop too much of your liquid from evaporating, preventing a dried-out dinner. And Southern Living recommends that if you are microwaving it, reheat it at 50% power.

Don't worry if you don't have a microwave. Southern Living says you can use your oven as well. Simply separate any clumps, "add one tablespoon of milk per cup of macaroni," add some cheese, and place it in an oven-friendly casserole dish. Let it bake at 350 degrees until you can see bubbles forming and, ta-da, your pasta creation will be as good as it was before it became leftovers. And these aren't the only methods for warming up your delectable pasta dish. 

Did you know that you can also reheat your macaroni and cheese on the stovetop? Southern Living recommends that you add a tablespoon of milk for every cup of macaroni, put it on a burner set to "low to medium heat," and stir repeatedly. You can add more milk if it begins to get dry. Once it's warmed to your liking, you're good to go.

Not sure which reheating option to choose? Bon Appétit says you should reheat your macaroni and cheese using the same method it was cooked. If it was baked, heat it in the oven. If it was made on the range, use the stovetop. Hopefully, by following these steps you can enjoy the best mac and cheese ever. 

Each of these methods is very easy and fairly foolproof. As you can see, the secret to success is milk. And, of course, the addition of cheese is always a good thing. No matter which way you choose to warm up your delectable dish, you are bound to feel oodles better once you bite into the most comforting of comfort foods around.