Table of Contents
Introduction
Mac and cheese is such a simple yet delicious food item. It’s no surprise Trader Joe’s offers a variety of mac and cheeses. The first of the bunch I’ll be looking at is Joe’s Diner Mac ‘n Cheese. With four cheeses, this already sounds good! Let’s find out if you should try this.
If you’re new here, check out my other food reviews!
Overview: Joe's Diner Mac 'n Cheese
Verdict: Joe’s Diner Mac ‘n Cheese is amazing for a frozen mac and cheese food product. The minor cheese pulls remind you of how cheesy this thing is. When taking a bite, the creamy cheese covers your mouth with four different cheese flavors.
It’s then supported by the soft, delicate macaroni. However, I didn’t like the powdery texture in the cheese as it gave an artificial feeling. Despite that, Joe’s Diner Mac ‘n Cheese is delicious and will surely satisfy your cravings!
Price
Joe’s Diner Mac ‘n Cheese can be found at Trader Joe’s for a price of $2.99. For the price, you get a nicely sized tray of frozen mac and cheese.
Heating Instructions #1: Microwave
There are two ways to cook this mac & cheese. The first through microwave (1200 watt):
- Remove package from box.
- Puncture holes with fork in plastic film.
- Microwave on high for 5 to 6 minutes.
- Let stand for 1 minute.
- Remove film, stir and serve.
Microwave cook times may vary depending on oven wattage.
If you don’t have a 1200 watt microwave, check out this microwave calculator!
Heating Instructions #2: Conventional Oven
The second method involves using the oven:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Remove package from box and remove film from package.
- Place on a baking sheet.
- Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 20-25 minutes.
- Let stand for 1 minute.
- Stir and serve.
Cooking times may vary depending on oven.
Caution: Product may be hot!
Impressions & Taste
For this first mac and cheese, I decided to heat it in the oven. I was afraid the plastic tray would melt in the oven but I’m glad that didn’t happen. I originally heated it for 20 minutes but it still seemed a bit cold. I popped it back in the oven for 5 more minutes and it was better. That’s just my experience though.
The macaroni itself is really delicate and soft. You don’t even need to chew it and it’ll break down in your mouth. I love the amount of cheese in this. Every bite has tons of cheese in it. It’s a bit tough to distinguish between the four cheeses but that shouldn’t be a big issue. I don’t know many people who would sit there trying to differentiate between all the cheeses.
At first, I thought the cheese was a bit powdery and chunky. After eating a few more bites, I believe the powdery sensation is from the cheddar. Not sure where the chunks are from though. Maybe I didn’t heat it long enough… Nevertheless, I love the creaminess brought into this dish by the cheese. It seems to me there’s at least a 2 to 1 ratio of cheese to macaroni, which is fantastic! Trader Joe’s did a nice job with this one.
Verdict & Rating
Joe’s Diner Mac ‘n Cheese is amazing for a frozen mac and cheese food product. The minor cheese pulls remind you of how cheesy this thing is. When taking a bite, the creamy cheese covers your mouth with four different cheese flavors.
It’s then supported by the soft, delicate macaroni. However, I didn’t like the powdery texture in the cheese as it gave an artificial feeling. Despite that, Joe’s Diner Mac ‘n Cheese is delicious and will surely satisfy your cravings!
Nutrition Facts
A serving size (1 cup [198g]) is 360 calories. A whole container contains 720 calories. For more information on nutrition facts check out the image below.
Ingredients
Ingredients: Cooked Elbow Macaroni (Water, Enriched Semolina [Durum Wheat Semolina, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Avid]), Milk, Cheddar Cheese (Pasteurized Cow’s Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes Annatto [Color]), Havarti Cheese (Pasteurized Cow’s Milk, Cheese, Culture, Salt, Rennet, Calcium Chloride), Imported Gouda Cheese (Pasteurized Cow’s Milk, Cheese Cultures, Rennet, Salt, Carotene [Color]), Imported Swiss Cheese (Part Skim Cow’s Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Unbleached Flour (Unbleached Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Butter (Pasteurized Cream, Salt, Annatto [Color]), Modified Rice Starch, Salt, Spices.
Made On Shared Equipment With Peanuts, Eggs, Tree Nuts, Soy, Fish, & Shellfish.
Hope you enjoyed my Joe’s Diner Mac ‘n Cheese review!
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