[Modernist Cuisine at Home] Baked Mac 'n Cheese

[Anonymous Modernist 12636]

I plan on making the baked version for a party this weekend. Worst case is that I make it and it doesn't get eaten for 2 hours. Will it be mush by then? I might be able to put it together at home and bake it at the party.

[Judy Wilson]

Hi Travis,

Is the party at your house or someone else's? It will keep up to 3 days before baking, so you could assemble it in advance and bake it when you get there. Two hours will probably be fine, though the cheese can thicken a bit when it cools. Remember, as a general rule, food should only be left in the "danger zone" (roughly between refrigeration temperatures and cooking temperatures) for only 4, so you might want to consider that as well.

Judy

[Anonymous Modernist 12636]

Thanks I hadn't thought of the 4 hr rule. It'll be at a friends house and they'll have oven on warm to prevent the temp danger zone.

[Anonymous Modernist 12636]

Let the Mac 'n Cheese cool for a bit then left for the party in a thermal pack. Sat in a 200F oven for an hour and a half before being served. A lot of thumbs ups and people preferred it to what they expected baked mac n cheese to be.