For A Better Mac And Cheese Crust, Skip The Cover
According to Kitchen Seer, most chefs are proponents of baking mac and cheese uncovered and that’s because it’s the easiest way to get that crunchy topping. Even if you cook it without bread crumbs as a topping and simply top it with shredded cheese, you should still bake it uncovered to get a nice crust on top, per All Recipes. Because most macaroni recipes call for you to start with a bechamel-based cheese sauce to coat your cooked noodles, it has a slim chance of drying out.
The thick cheese sauce contains lots of fat and moisture which keeps the cooked pasta nice and tender while it bakes. And since the popular dish is comprised entirely of ingredients that are already cooked through, you don’t need to leave it in the oven very long — just 30 minutes according to our mac and cheese recipe. Due to its short cook time, you can be confident that a crunchy topping can be achieved without resulting in dried-out noodles. So, the next time you make this savory meal at home, skip the cover and enjoy that crunchy topping.
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