Macaroni and Cheese

also called mac and cheese · macaroni cheese · baked macaroni · macaroni pie · baked mac

The table

Bake this one rather than stirring a sauce through it. The egg and evaporated milk set into a custard around the noodles, which is what lets a pan of it be cut in squares and held on a steam table.
1 lb(450 g)elbow macaroniboil 7 min, drain short of donetoss hot with butter and cheesepour the custard overbake 350°F 45 min
1 Tbskosher salt
4 Tbs(55 g)unsalted butter
12 oz(340 g; coarsely grated)sharp cheddar
3large eggswhisk the custard
12 fl oz(355 mL)evaporated milk
1 cup(240 mL)whole milk
1 tspdry mustard
1 tspblack pepper
1/4 tspcayenne
4 oz(115 g; coarsely grated)sharp cheddar
Rest it ten minutes before cutting. Straight out of the oven the custard is still loose and the square will not hold its edge
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.13 things to get out.

Pans and tools

Before anything else

2boil 7 min, drain short of done

3whisk the custard

4toss hot with butter and cheese

goes in with what step 2 made

6bake 350°F 45 min

goes in with what step 5 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 52 mintwo waits that overlap count once
Needs you
none givenof the steps that give a time

3 of the 5 steps never say how long they take, so both numbers are floors. The recipe itself says 1 hr 20 min.

  1. boil 7 min, drain short of done

    7 minwalk awayfrom the start

  2. whisk the custard

    not timedfrom the start

  3. toss hot with butter and cheese

    not timed7 min in

  4. pour the custard over

    not timed7 min in

  5. bake 350°F 45 min

    45 minwalk away7 min in

Drawn to scale, so a long wait really does take up the room it takes. The shortest stretches keep a sliver so they stay visible; their times are printed beside them.

You'll need 9x13-in baking dish

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Macaroni and Cheese
>> category: Noodles
>> tags: pasta, cheese, baked, southern, side
>> counters: Meat and Three
>> aka: mac and cheese, macaroni cheese, baked macaroni, macaroni pie, baked mac
>> servings: 8
>> time: 1 hr 20 min
>> pairs-with: cheddar-cheese-sauce, collard-greens, fried-chicken, candied-yams
>> step.1: Bake this one rather than stirring a sauce through it. The egg and evaporated milk set into a custard around the noodles, which is what lets a pan of it be cut in squares and held on a steam table.
>> step.2: boil 7 min, drain short of done
>> step.3: whisk the custard
>> step.4: toss hot with butter and cheese
>> step.5: pour the custard over
>> step.6: bake 350°F 45 min

Bake this one rather than stirring a sauce through it. The egg and evaporated milk set into a custard around the noodles, which is what lets a pan of it be cut in squares and held on a steam table.

Boil @elbow macaroni{1%lb}(450 g) in water with @kosher salt{1%Tbs} for ~boil{7%min}, a minute short of the packet.

Whisk @large eggs{3}, @evaporated milk{12%fl oz}(355 mL), @whole milk{1%cup}(240 mL), @dry mustard{1%tsp}, @black pepper{1%tsp}, @cayenne{1/4%tsp}.

Toss @&(~2)drained macaroni{} hot with @unsalted butter{4%Tbs}(55 g), @sharp cheddar{12%oz}(340 g; coarsely grated).

Pour @&(~2)custard{} over @&(~1)dressed macaroni{} in a #9x13-in baking dish{}.

Bake @&(~1)assembled dish{} at 350°F (175°C) under @sharp cheddar{4%oz}(115 g; coarsely grated) for ~bake{45%min}.

Rest it ten minutes before cutting. Straight out of the oven the custard is still loose and the square will not hold its edge.