Supermarket Standoff: Macaroni and Cheese

We have embarked on a taste test tour of your favorite supermarket foods. We nibble, we score, and we share the results with you to help you avoid the paralysis that can come with Brand Choice Overload.
Today's topic: macaroni and cheese. What a bummer. We were looking forward to this taste test, reminiscing late-night binges on Annie's or good old Kraft. Okay, maybe we don't have the most accurate memory of those late-night binges for one reason or another. But we were still surprised when this taste test evoked a unanimous feeling: Store-bought mac and cheese just isn't very good. Nearly all of the brands we tested were plastic-y and lacked a satisfying bite. We believe--strongly, in this case--that homemade mac and cheese is better than boxed. Still, as we've said a million times, it's good to know in a pinch how things stack up in the aisles of your local grocery store.

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Our Favorites for Flavor

#1 Joe's Diner Mac 'n Cheese
Nutrition (prepared): One serving (1 cup/198g) = 360 calories, 15g total fat, 40mg cholesterol, 590mg sodium, 42g carbs, 3g sugars, 16g protein, 8% vitamin A, 0% vitamin C, 20% calcium, 8% iron, 1g fiber.
Ingredients: Cooked elbow macaroni (water, enriched semolina [durum wheat semolina, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid]), milk, cheddar cheese (pasteurized cow's milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes, annatto [color]), havarti cheese (pasteurized cow's milk, cheese culture, salt, rennet, calcium chloride), imported gouda cheese (pasteurized cow's milk, cheese cultures, rennet, salt, carotene [color]}, imported swiss cheese (part skim cow's milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), flour (beached white flour, enzyme, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), butter (pasteurized cream, salt, annatto [color]), rice starch, salt, spices.
Cost: $2.99 for a 14-ounce box at Trader Joe's in New York, NY
Blind Tasting Notes: "Good cheese flavor"; "Tastes like the cheese is more authentic/less synthetic".


#2 Kraft Velveeta Shells and Cheese
Nutrition (prepared): One serving (4 ounces/112g) = 360 calories, 12g total fat, 20mg cholesterol, 940mg sodium, 49g carbs, 4g sugars, 13g protein, 4% vitamin A, 0% vitamin C, 20% calcium, 10% iron, 2g fiber.
Ingredients: Enriched macaroni product (wheat flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate [iron], thiamin mononitrate [vitamin B1], riboflavin [vitamin B2], folic acid); cheese sauce (milk, whey, water, canola oil, milk protein concentrate, sodium phosphate, salt, contains less than 2% of lactic acid, sodium alginate, oleoresin paprika [color], natural flavor, cheese culture, enzymes, annatto [color], sorbic acid as a preservative).
Cost: $3.79 for a 12-ounce box at Gristede's in New York, NY
Blind Tasting Notes: "Noodle has good bite"; "Hint of pepper"; "Yay".


#3 Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner Deluxe
Nutrition (prepared): One serving (3.5 ounces/98g) = 320 calories, 10g total fat, 15mg cholesterol, 900mg sodium, 45g carbs, 3g sugars, 12g protein, 2% vitamin A, 0% vitamin C, 15% calcium, 10% iron, 1g fiber.
Ingredients: Enriched macaroni product (wheat flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate [iron], thiamin mononitrate [vitamin B1], riboflavin [vitamin B2], folic acid); cheese sauce mix (milk, whey, water, canola oil, milk protein concentrate, whey protein concentrate, salt, sodium phosphate, contains less than 2% of lactic acid, sodium alginate, sorbic acid as a preservative, oleoresin paprika [color], annatto [color], natural flavor, cream, enzymes, cheese culture).
Cost: $3.79 for a 14-ounce box at Gristede's in New York, NY
Blind Tasting Notes: "Not bad." Not bad.

Nutritionist Sandra Frank's Picks

"None of the macaroni and cheese products tested is low in sodium or fat. Three of the thirteen products tested are considered high in fiber."
#1 Lean Cuisine Macaroni and Cheese Nutrition: One serving (1 package/283g) = 280 calories, 6g total fat, 15mg cholesterol, 570mg sodium, 450mg potassium, 43g carbs, 5g sugars, 14g protein, 0% vitamin A, 0% vitamin C, 20% calcium, 8% iron, 1g fiber.
Ingredients: Blanched macaroni (water, semolina, wheat gluten), skim milk, water, cheddar club cheese (cheddar cheese [cultured milk, salt, enzymes], water, salt, annatto color), 2% or less of cheese flavor (cheddar, granular, semisoft and blue cheese [cultured milk, salt, enzymes], water, sodium phosphate, whey, vinegar, salt, citric acid), modified cornstarch, cheddar cheese (cultured milk, salt, enzymes), rice starch, bleached wheat flour, salt, potassium chloride, cheese flavor (cheddar cheese [cultured milk, salt, enzymes], water, salt, enzymes, cultures, phosphoric acid, xantham gum), cheese flavor (cheddar cheese [cultured milk, salt, enzymes], water, salt, disodium phosphate, natural flavors), spices, cultured whey, carrageenan, yeast extract, annatto color, natural flavor.
Frank's Comments: "Lowest in fat and one of the lowest in calories, sodium and cholesterol."
Cost: $3.99 for a 10-ounce box at The Food Emporium in New York, NY
Our Assessment: This ranked in the middle. Comments varied, so the consensus is: Not bad, not good. "Pretty good: moist, rich"; "Bland and plastic-y"; "A little too squishy".

#2 Annie's Homegrown Macaroni & Cheese
Nutrition: (as packaged) One serving (2.5 ounces/71g) = 270 calories, 4g total fat, 10mg cholesterol, 530mg sodium, 47g carbs, 5g sugars, 10g protein, 2% vitamin A, 0% vitamin C, 10% calcium, 4% iron, 2g fiber.
Nutrition (prepared): One serving (2.5 ounces/71g) = 280 calories, 14g total fat, 10mg cholesterol, 540mg sodium, 48g carbs, 7g sugars, 11g protein, 2% vitamin A, 0% vitamin C, 15% calcium, 4% iron Preparation: This as-prepared nutritional information was put together by Annie's, assuming that the cooks would add 1/4 cup lowfat milk. That's what we did. (Ours was organic milk).
Ingredients: Organic wheat macaroni, cheddar cheese (cultured pasteurized milk, salt, non-animal enzymes), whey, buttermilk, salt, cream, natural flavor, natural sodium phosphate, annatto extract for natural color.
Frank's Comments: "A close second. The lowest in cholesterol and sodium and one of the lowest in calories."
Cost: $2.39 for a 6-ounce box at The Food Emporium in New York, NY
Our Assessment: Although the comments were unfavorable, this certainly wasn't the worlst out of the bunch. It ranked #7. "Bitter, almost"; "Kinda dry"; "Fake taste, and congealed fast".

#3 365 Organic Three Cheese Macaroni
Nutrition: One serving (1 tray/255 g) = 370 calories, 12g total fat, 30mg cholesterol, 760mg sodium, 45g carbs, 0g sugars, 20g protein, 2% vitamin A, 15% vitamin C, 25% calcium, 15% iron, 5.1g fiber.
Ingredients: Cooked organic macaroni (organic durum wheat semolina), organic pasteurized milk, organic cheeses (cheddar [organic raw milk, cheese cultures, sea salt, microbal enzymes], parmesan [organic raw milk, sea salt, cheese cultures, microbal lipase, microbal enzymes], part-skim mozzarella [organic pasteurized partially skimmed milk, sea salt, microbal enzymes, cheese cultures]), water, organic canola oil, sea salt, organic locust bean gum, annatto color.
Cost: $3.19 for a 9-ounce box at Whole Foods in New York, NY
Frank's Comments: "The best in fiber, providing over 5 grams per serving."
Our Assessment: We'll let the comments speak for themselves: "Bitter, ashy taste, and strange gritty texture" ; "Tastes like bad soup"; "Bleough" .

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