Kamil Perry
Macaroni and cheese is a popular meal choice for those cooking with a Jetboil Flash. While some users caution that Jetboils are only good for boiling water, others have successfully cooked pasta, sausage, peppers, and even muffins in their Jetboil Flash. To cook macaroni and cheese, users recommend bringing salted water to a boil in the Jetboil vessel, adding pasta, and cooking until al dente. Then, drain the pasta, turn the heat down to a low simmer, and add butter to the pasta, tossing to coat. While the pasta is cooking, whisk together eggs, milk, hot sauce, dry mustard, salt, and pepper. After combining the butter and pasta, stir in the egg mixture and add the cheese. Continue to stir over low heat until creamy.
Characteristics and their values for cooking macaroni and cheese with Jetboil Flash:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Water | Bring salted water to a boil in the Jetboil vessel. |
| Pasta | Add pasta and cook until al dente. |
| Draining | Drain the water. |
| Heat | Turn the heat down to a low simmer. |
| Butter | Add butter to the pasta and melt, tossing to coat. |
| Sauce | Whisk together eggs, milk, hot sauce, dry mustard, salt, and pepper. |
| Cheese | After combining butter and pasta, stir in the egg mixture and add cheese. |
| Stirring | Continue to stir over low heat for 3 minutes or until creamy. |
| Fuel | Using a simmer control Jetboil can help conserve fuel. |
| Practice | It may take some practice to perfect the technique. |
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What You'll Learn
Boil salted water in the Jetboil Flash
To cook macaroni and cheese with a Jetboil Flash, you'll first need to boil salted water in the Jetboil. The deep and narrow design of the Jetboil Flash makes it well-suited for boiling water. The insulated pot can boil one litre of water in around four minutes in perfect conditions. However, in windy conditions, it may take a little longer—around one minute more with 2-4 mph winds. To save fuel, try to find a sheltered spot to boil your water.
The Jetboil Flash has a colour-changing heat indicator that will let you know when the water is ready. The flame-shaped heat indicator panel on the side of the stove will change colour as the water approaches boiling. This will allow you to monitor the stove and turn it down before it boils over.
To boil salted water, simply fill the Jetboil Flash with water, add some salt, and ignite the stove. The piezoelectric ignition makes it easy to turn on the stove, and the long control valve will help you avoid scalding your hand.
Once the water is boiling, you can add your macaroni. Remember, you don't need to keep the burner going the whole time—you just need to keep the water hot. You can give the burner a few quick bursts of heat every couple of minutes to maintain the temperature.
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Add pasta and cook
To cook macaroni and cheese with a Jetboil Flash, you will first need to bring salted water to a boil in the Jetboil vessel. Once the water is boiling, add your dried macaroni pasta and cook until al dente. Be sure to keep the burner on throughout the cooking process to maintain the water temperature.
After the pasta is cooked, drain the water. Turn the heat down to a low simmer and add butter to the pasta in the Jetboil vessel. Toss the pasta until it is coated in melted butter. While the pasta is cooking, whisk together eggs, milk, hot sauce, dry mustard, salt, and pepper in a separate container.
Once the pasta is coated in butter, stir in the egg mixture. Finally, add the cheese and continue to stir over low heat for about 3 minutes or until the sauce becomes thick and creamy. For a quicker option, you can use microwave macaroni and cheese, such as Kraft Easy Mac or Trader Joe's equivalent, and simply add boiling water.
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Drain water and add butter
Once the pasta is cooked to your liking, drain the water from the Jetboil Flash. Be careful when doing this, as the water will be extremely hot. You can drain the water by pouring it out of the pot, or by using a colander if you have one available.
After draining the water, return the pot to the stove. At this point, you'll want to add butter to the pasta. The amount of butter you add will depend on your personal preference and the desired creaminess of the dish. For a single serving of macaroni and cheese, one or two tablespoons of butter is a good starting point.
To melt the butter, turn the heat down to a low setting. Use a utensil to toss the pasta until it is evenly coated in butter. Continue this process until the butter is completely melted and the pasta is looking glossy.
While the pasta is cooking, you can prepare the cheese sauce by whisking together eggs, milk, hot sauce, dry mustard, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl. Once the butter has melted and the pasta is coated, stir in the egg mixture and add the cheese. Continue to stir the pasta over low heat for about three minutes, or until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
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Mix eggs, milk, hot sauce, dry mustard, salt and pepper
To make the cheese sauce for macaroni and cheese, you'll need to mix eggs, milk, hot sauce, dry mustard, salt, and pepper. Here's a detailed guide on how to do it:
First, beat an egg in a small bowl and set it aside. The egg acts as an emulsifier, helping to create a smooth and creamy sauce. Next, prepare the milk. It's best to use whole milk for a creamier sauce, but you can also use reduced-fat milk or 2% milk if preferred. Warm the milk in the microwave or on the stovetop until it is just slightly warmed through.
In a separate pot, melt some butter over medium heat. The amount of butter used can vary, but a common ratio for a roux (the base of the sauce) is equal parts butter to flour by weight. Once melted, add an equal amount of flour to the butter, creating a paste. Whisk the mixture constantly for about 2-3 minutes, until it turns a light brown colour and smells nutty. This is a crucial step in cooking out the raw flour taste and creating a rich sauce.
Now, it's time to combine the ingredients. While whisking, slowly pour the warmed milk into the butter and flour mixture. Continue whisking to avoid lumps and cook until the sauce begins to bubble and thicken. This step is crucial, as it cooks out the flour taste and creates a smooth sauce. Then, remove the pan from the heat and start building the flavour. Add dry mustard, which will give your sauce a tangy sharpness. You can add a generous amount, starting with two teaspoons, and adjust from there. If you like a spicy kick, you can also add some cayenne pepper or hot sauce. A pinch of nutmeg adds depth, too.
Next, season the sauce with salt and pepper. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed. Remember, salt is essential to enhancing the overall flavour profile of the dish, so don't be afraid to season generously. At this point, you can also add other seasonings like onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, or other spices like thyme or oregano. Finally, slowly pour the egg into the sauce, whisking constantly to avoid cooking the egg. Continue whisking until the mixture is smooth and well-combined.
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Stir in cheese
Once your pasta is cooked to al dente, turn the heat down to a low simmer. You should have already melted butter into your pasta—if not, do this now. While the pasta is cooking, whisk together eggs, milk, hot sauce, dry mustard, salt, and pepper. After combining the butter and pasta, stir the egg mixture into your pasta and add the cheese.
Stir continuously over low heat for about 3 minutes, or until your sauce reaches a creamy consistency. The sauce will thicken further once removed from the heat. If you are cooking macaroni and cheese in a Jetboil, it is best to use a powdered cheese that can be stirred in easily. Hard cheese is also a good option, as long as you don't cook it, which will make cleaning the pot more difficult. You can also use a cheese packet, as some do when making Easy Mac.
If you are making macaroni and cheese at home, you may have more cheese options. You can use a cheese powder or a cheese sauce. You can also use a block of cheese, such as cheddar, and grate it into the pasta. If you are using a block of cheese, it is important to add it slowly and stir continuously to prevent the cheese from clumping together.
You can also add other ingredients to your macaroni and cheese at this stage. Some people like to add hot dogs, bacon, or vegetables such as broccoli or carrots. If you are adding ingredients, make sure they are fully cooked before stirring them into your macaroni and cheese.
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Frequently asked questions
First, bring salted water to a boil in your Jetboil Flash. Add pasta and cook until al dente, then drain the water. Turn the heat down and add butter to the pasta, tossing to coat. Whisk together eggs, milk, hot sauce, dry mustard, salt, and pepper in a separate container. Add the egg mixture to the pasta and stir in the cheese. Continue to stir over low heat until creamy.
It is recommended to use microwave macaroni and cheese, such as Kraft Easy Mac or Trader Joe's equivalent, as there is no draining required. You can also use boxed macaroni and cheese, such as Kraft or Velveeta shells and cheese.
It is important to keep the water at a near-boiling temperature to avoid using too much fuel. You can do this by turning off the heat after bringing the water to a boil and then giving it quick bursts of heat every couple of minutes. It is also recommended to practice cooking macaroni and cheese with your Jetboil Flash a few times before relying on it for a meal.
