Randy Chandler
Cheese powder is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a wide variety of recipes. It is essentially dehydrated cheese, most commonly made from cheddar but also available in Swiss, sharp, and a few other varieties. Cheese powder can be used as a seasoning or ingredient, adding a rich and authentic taste to dishes. It is particularly useful for cheese-based recipes, as it reduces food preparation time while delivering comparable quality to regular cheese. Powdered cheese can be used to make mac and cheese, cheese popcorn, cheese fondue, and even innovative dishes such as masala cheese curry or lobster cheese beehoon. It can also be used to flavour scrambled eggs, chicken cutlets, steamed vegetables, and more.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use | Flavoring for crackers, bread, popcorn, steamed vegetables, homemade cheese, sauces, dips, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, cheese fondue, cheese curry, pasta, and more |
| Benefits | Longer shelf life, cheaper, more flavorful, lack of moisture, accessible price point, easy storage, reduced food preparation time |
| Production | Made from hard cheeses such as gouda, cheddar, parmesan, or Swiss cheese. Can be made by spray-drying, freeze-drying, or dehydrating |
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What You'll Learn
Mac and cheese
To make a quick and easy stovetop mac and cheese, start by cooking your pasta of choice according to the package instructions. Elbow macaroni, cavatappi, gemelli, and small shell pasta are all great options as they provide ample surface area for the creamy cheese sauce to cling to. Drain the pasta without rinsing or shaking off the excess water.
While the pasta is cooking, it's time to prepare the cheese sauce. In a separate pot, melt butter over medium-low heat. Stir in milk and cheese powder, adding more or less to suit your taste preferences. Continue stirring until the sauce is creamy, thick, and free of lumps. You can also add tapioca starch or cornstarch as a thickener to achieve the desired consistency.
Combine the cooked pasta and cheese sauce, mixing thoroughly to ensure every noodle is coated in cheesy goodness. For an extra indulgent touch, consider pouring the sauce over the pasta and mixing directly in the baking dish before popping it into the oven. This ensures every bite is oozing with flavour.
Feel free to get creative with toppings and mix-ins to take your mac and cheese to the next level. Breadcrumbs, bacon bits, hot sauce, and herbs are just a few options to explore. For a plant-based variation, try using nutritional yeast, cashews, and coconut milk as a savoury and creamy base.
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Breads and doughs
Cheese powder is a versatile ingredient that can be used to enhance the flavour of breads and doughs. It is a dehydrated, concentrated form of cheese, typically made from hard cheeses such as cheddar, gouda, or parmesan. When used in baking, it adds a rich, cheesy flavour to rolls, muffins, bread, and doughs.
One of the main advantages of using cheese powder in baking is its ability to deliver a strong cheese flavour without upsetting the balance of the recipe. Grated or shredded cheese can often fail to provide enough flavour, and adding more cheese can affect the texture and slow down the rising process due to the increased sodium content. Cheese powder, on the other hand, is highly concentrated, so a small amount goes a long way. It can be sprinkled into the dough or substituted for part of the flour in the recipe.
When using cheese powder in bread or dough recipes, it is important to consider the water content. Cheese powder tends to absorb more water than flour, so additional water may need to be added to the recipe. The lactose in the cheese powder will also cause the bread or dough to brown more easily, so bakers should be mindful of this when baking to avoid over-browning.
Cheese powder is also useful for adding cheese flavour to doughs that will be fried, such as chicken cutlets or breaded fish. It can be whisked into the flour mixture before coating the food, adding a layer of flavour without the moisture of traditional cheese.
Additionally, cheese powder can be used to make a cheese sauce that can be incorporated into doughs or used as a topping. By mixing the powder with hot water, a cheese sauce can be created that adds a cheesy boost to any bread or dough recipe.
When selecting a cheese powder, it is important to choose one that is intended as a cooking additive rather than just a topping. Checking the ingredient list is crucial to avoid unnecessary additives and to ensure the type of cheese used aligns with the desired flavour profile.
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Popcorn
Cheese powder is a versatile ingredient that can be used to flavour a variety of dishes, including popcorn. It is a convenient alternative to regular cheese, offering a concentrated flavour, a long shelf life, and ease of storage.
When making cheese popcorn, the first step is to pop a batch of plain popcorn using a stovetop, popcorn maker, or air popper. Once the popcorn is ready, it is important to melt some butter and coat the popcorn with it. This step not only adds flavour but also helps the cheese powder adhere to the popcorn.
The cheese powder is then added and tossed with the buttered popcorn to ensure an even coating. It is recommended to use cheddar cheese powder, which can be purchased separately or obtained from boxed macaroni and cheese mixes. The amount of cheese powder added can be adjusted to personal preference, with 4 tablespoons being a common suggestion for a mild to medium cheddar flavour.
For an even distribution of the cheese powder, it is ideal to have two people tossing the popcorn with spoons while one sprinkles the cheese. Alternatively, the popcorn can be placed in a large bowl with a lid or a paper bag and shaken vigorously. Adding a pinch of fine sea salt can also enhance the flavour of the cheesy popcorn.
With its intense cheddar flavour and ease of preparation, cheese popcorn made with cheese powder is a delicious snack for movie nights or parties.
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Seasoning
Cheese powder is a versatile seasoning that can be used to enhance the flavour of a wide range of dishes. It is made from dehydrated cheese, most commonly cheddar, and has a long shelf life, making it a convenient and cost-effective alternative to regular cheese.
One of the most popular uses of cheese powder is as a seasoning for popcorn. It can be tossed with hot, freshly popped popcorn to give it a cheesy flavour. Cheese powder can also be used to season steamed or roasted vegetables, making them more appealing to picky eaters, especially children.
In addition to its use on popcorn and vegetables, cheese powder can be used as a seasoning for meats, such as chicken cutlets, or added to bread dough to give it a cheesy twist. It can also be used to make cheese sauces, such as cheese fondue, or added to milk to create a rich and creamy mac and cheese.
For those who enjoy snacking on crackers, cheese powder can be used as a seasoning to add flavour without introducing moisture. It can also be used to create a signature blend of mac and cheese sauce, which can be mixed with milk, butter, and pasta for a quick and easy meal.
Overall, cheese powder is a versatile and convenient seasoning that can be used to enhance the flavour of a wide range of dishes, from snacks to main courses. Its long shelf life and intense flavour make it a useful ingredient for home cooks and professional chefs alike.
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Sauces
Cheese powder is an incredibly versatile ingredient that can be used to make a variety of sauces. It can be used as a substitute for regular cheese in classic recipes or to create innovative dishes. One of the most popular uses for cheese powder is to make a rich and creamy cheese sauce for mac and cheese. You can make a homemade mac and cheese sauce by stirring in cheese powder into milk or hot water, and adding butter and pasta. This is a quick and easy way to make an ultra-creamy pot of mac and cheese from scratch without having to grate, chop or melt regular cheese.
Cheese powder can also be used to make other cheese-based sauces such as gorgonzola cheese sauce for fusilli, hickory cheese sauce for pasta, or a cheese sauce for a masala cheese curry. Cheese powder is also a great way to add an extra cheesy kick to other sauces. For example, you can add cheese powder to a bechamel sauce to make a cheese sauce for a mac and cheese burger, or to a fondue to make a cheese fondue sauce.
Another benefit of using cheese powder in sauces is that it has a longer shelf life than regular cheese. It can be easily stored in your kitchen at room temperature, without taking up too much space in your fridge. This makes it a convenient ingredient to have on hand, especially for restaurants, as it reduces customer waiting times.
Cheese powder can also be used to add flavour to sauces without cooking them from scratch. For example, you can sprinkle cheese powder over steamed vegetables or roasted veggies to give them an extra cheesy kick. You can also add cheese powder to mashed potatoes, cauliflower, parsnips, or celery root for an extra cheesy twist.
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Frequently asked questions
Cheese powder is dehydrated cheese, usually made from hard cheeses such as gouda, cheddar, or parmesan. It is a common ingredient in cheese recipes and can be used as a seasoning or flavouring agent.
Cheese powder can be used in a wide variety of recipes. It can be used as a substitute for regular cheese in classic recipes like mac and cheese, or to create innovative recipes like masala cheese curry, cheesy fried frog legs, or cheese fondue. It can also be used as a seasoning for popcorn, steamed vegetables, crackers, and other snacks.
Cheese powder can be used as-is by adding it directly to a dish, or it can be turned into a cheese sauce by mixing it with hot water, milk, or butter. When using cheese powder in cooking, it is important to check the intended usage and manufacturing and expiry dates before purchasing. It is also important to consider the type of cheese used in the recipe to ensure that the cheese powder does not ruin the taste of the dish.
