Kamil Perry
Panera Bread is famous for its creamy, rich mac and cheese, which is made with a blend of two types of cheese: Vermont White Cheddar and White American Cheese. The former is a sharp cheddar cheese, while the latter is a pasteurized cheese product that helps to create a creamy consistency. In addition to the cheese, the recipe includes butter, flour, milk, heavy cream, dijon mustard, hot sauce, and seasonings such as garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. The dish can be served as a side or main course and is often paired with toppings such as bacon, chicken, or broccoli. Panera's mac and cheese have inspired many copycat recipes, aiming to recreate the unique flavor and texture at home.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese Type | Pasteurized Process Yellow American Cheese, Vermont White Cheddar Cheese |
| Cheese Sauce | Made with butter, flour, milk, heavy cream, cheddar cheese, water, whey, milkfat, sodium citrate, modified food starch, salt, lactic acid, sodium alginate, enzymes |
| Additional Ingredients | Soybean oil, butter, dried dairy cream, sea salt, corn starch, wheat flour, nonfat dry milk, whey protein concentrate, lactic acid, acacia & xanthan gum, sodium citrate, nisin preparation |
| Allergens | Wheat, Egg, Milk |
| Spices | Garlic powder, black pepper, kosher salt, mustard powder |
| Secret Ingredients | Hot sauce, dijon mustard |
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What You'll Learn
Panera's grilled cheese
Creating a copycat version of Panera's grilled cheese at home involves a few simple steps. First, shred the cheese and set it aside, ensuring it is close to room temperature. Next, boil water in a large pot and cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Al dente pasta works best for grilled cheese. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the cheese sauce by melting butter in a saucepan. Once melted, add flour and whisk until the mixture turns golden. Cook this roux for a couple of minutes, then slowly whisk in milk, heavy cream, or a combination of both. Continue whisking until the sauce thickens.
At this point, you can add seasonings like garlic powder, black pepper, kosher salt, and mustard powder to enhance the flavor. A small amount of Dijon mustard or hot sauce can also be added for a distinct taste without making the dish spicy. With the sauce ready, gradually sprinkle in the shredded cheese, whisking continuously until it melts. Finally, combine the cooked pasta with the cheese sauce, stirring until well coated.
For an extra indulgent touch, serve Panera's grilled cheese with toppings such as bacon, crushed Ritz crackers, or Panko breadcrumbs. This dish can be enjoyed as a side or a main course, pairing well with various proteins like baked chicken breasts or steak.
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Vermont White Cheddar
Vermont is known for its classic cheese, and its rich-tasting cheddar is a staple for many meals, from breakfast omelets to dinner mac and cheese. Vermont Cheddar Cheese is handmade in small batches using the purest ingredients, and it is great for cooking or enjoying on its own. The cheese is available in a variety of flavours, including sharp, extra sharp, aged, or mellow, as well as truffle, maple, garlic, and maple-smoked.
Panera, a popular bakery-café chain in the United States, is known for its creamy White Cheddar Mac & Cheese. While the exact brand of cheese they use is not publicly known, their mac and cheese recipe includes White Cheddar Cheese made from pasteurized milk, cheese cultures, salt, and enzymes. This cheese is combined with other ingredients like cooked pasta, butter, milk, heavy cream, and various seasonings to create a rich and creamy dish.
To recreate Panera's White Cheddar Mac & Cheese at home, it is recommended to shred the cheese from a block and bring it to room temperature before mixing it into the sauce. This ensures a creamy consistency. The sauce is prepared by melting butter, whisking in flour, and then slowly adding heavy cream and milk. The cooked pasta is then combined with the sauce and can be served directly or baked with toppings such as crushed Ritz crackers or Panko breadcrumbs.
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American cheese slices
While I cannot find explicit confirmation of the brand of cheese Panera uses for their grilled cheese sandwiches, multiple sources indicate that the type of cheese used is "Pasteurized Process Yellow American Cheese".
Panera's popular Vermont White Cheddar Mac and Cheese uses a blend of cheeses, including extra sharp Vermont White Cheddar and White American Cheese slices. The American cheese is said to be a key ingredient in achieving the right consistency and texture. The emulsifiers in American cheese stabilize the cheese so that when it heats up, it melts smoothly instead of becoming gritty and grainy.
To recreate Panera's Mac and Cheese, it is recommended to use White American Cheese slices and extra sharp Vermont White Cheddar cheese. The cheese should be shredded from a block, as pre-shredded cheese may not melt as well and can affect the texture of the dish. The cheese is then combined with cooked pasta and a cheese sauce made from butter, flour, milk, heavy cream, dijon mustard, and hot sauce. Optional ingredients include crushed Ritz crackers or Panko breadcrumbs, which can be sprinkled on top before baking.
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Pasteurized Process Cheese Spread
While I cannot confirm if this is the exact type of cheese used in Panera's grilled cheese sandwiches, the closest match I could find is "Pasteurized Process Yellow American Cheese".
The cheese ingredients can include cheddar, washed curd, colby, granular, brick, muenster, and swiss cheese, among others. The dairy ingredients may include milk, whey, whey protein concentrate, milkfat, and skim milk. Emulsifying agents such as monosodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, trisodium phosphate, and sodium citrate are also added, ensuring that their weight does not exceed 3% of the spread's total weight.
Optional ingredients can be added to enhance the flavor and texture, including carob bean gum, guar gum, gelatin, carrageenan, and xanthan gum. These optional ingredients contribute to the spreadable consistency of the final product, ensuring that it is easily spreadable at 70 °F.
This type of cheese is convenient as it does not require refrigeration and retains its taste and texture, making it suitable for picnics and outdoor events.
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White Cheddar Mac & Cheese
Panera's White Cheddar Mac & Cheese is a popular menu item, and while the exact recipe is not public, home cooks have been able to recreate it with great success. The key to achieving a creamy texture is to shred the cheese from a block and bring it to room temperature before mixing it into the sauce. The base of the sauce should also be warm, not hot, to avoid a gritty consistency.
Ingredients
- Pasta (elbows, penne, fusilli, or cavatappi)
- Butter (unsalted or salted)
- All-purpose flour
- Milk (whole milk is preferred, but skim or nonfat milk can be used)
- Heavy cream
- Sharp white cheddar cheese (block)
- Hot sauce (optional)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- Breadcrumbs (optional)
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of water and cook the pasta according to the package instructions for an al dente texture. Drain well when finished.
- Prepare the sauce while the pasta cooks. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour for about 1 minute, until it turns a light golden colour.
- Slowly whisk in the heavy cream and milk. Continue whisking for about 3 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low and gradually sprinkle in the shredded cheese, whisking continuously until fully melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add a hint of hot sauce if desired, and stir to combine.
- Combine the cooked pasta with the cheese sauce, stirring to coat the pasta.
- Serve immediately, or bake in an oven-safe dish for a crispy, golden top.
- Optional: Top with breadcrumbs and bake until golden brown and bubbly.
Enjoy your homemade White Cheddar Mac & Cheese!
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Frequently asked questions
Panera uses a blend of Vermont White Cheddar and White American Cheese.
The brand of cheese used in the classic grilled cheese sandwich at Panera is not publicly known. However, it is speculated to be "Pasteurized Process Yellow American Cheese".
The secret to making creamy Panera-style mac and cheese is to use a blend of Vermont White Cheddar and White American Cheese, along with butter, flour, milk, heavy cream, dijon mustard, and hot sauce.
Panera uses shell-shaped pasta in their mac and cheese, but you can also use macaroni to achieve a similar result.
Panera's mac and cheese can be used in a variety of recipes, such as adding chorizo sausage and other southwestern ingredients for a spicy take, or topping it with bacon, chicken, or broccoli for a simple meal.
