Hoosier Hill Farm Cheddar Cheez Powder, 1LB (Pack 1)

First, the texture is a powder with the same texture as white powdered sugar. I was hoping it would have a texture similar to spices like Paprika but it's much more fine so it's not the best for seasoning but more for mixing with stuff. I haven't had Kraft Mac & Cheese in probably 30 years so I can't compare it to that but it's nothing like the current Kraft Mac & Cheese. Compared to the cheese powder on Cheetos, it's nearly identical except the texture and it has a hint of some weird aftertaste. Overall it's a great flavor. Although I've been trying it on a lot of different foods, the best thing ever was mixing it with Cattle Drive Gold Chili from Costco. All I can say is this is simply amazing for making chili cheese and way better than real cheese as it's got a better flavor for this and it mixes better. It was also pretty decent with sliced cucumbers despite sounding disgusting. It's a bit on the salty side for most people so it will good with a lot of things salt normally goes good with.

Unfortunately, as you probably know, Kraft quit marketing their cheese powder, so I've been on a search for a replacement and this seemed like a likely candidate. The Hoosier Hill powder, while ostensibly is made by Kraft, is *not* the same thing that comes in a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese today. The powder that now comes in the blue box is a lighter color, and has less flavor than this product. I compared them raw side-by-side, and the Hoosier Hill powder is a darker orange color, and has more cheese flavor. Kraft has monkeyed with the cheese powder more than once through the years, so I know it's not the same as it used to be. So, I made the blue box last night, and I added two tablespoons of this powder in addition to the stuff in the packet. The results were absolutely stunning, and I don't use that word lightly. All of a sudden the anemic modern Kraft Mac 'n cheese of today was gone, and it was like I had fallen through a wormhole in space and time all the way back to 1975, when I was 10 and I adored the blue box above all others. My mac was now a deeper shade of orange, and had a much stronger and deeper cheese flavor. It was glorious. I had to restrain myself from eating the entire box standing right there at the stove. It was that good. And the leftovers this morning (served with a poached egg on top) were marvelous (try it!) My next box, I'm just throwing out the packet completely and just using this, which means in the future, I don't have to buy the box anymore, at all. I just need some good thin macaroni and this stuff and I'm good to go. Oh, and it was pretty good on popcorn, too.

Yep, stop the search, this is what you're looking for. This has those bright notes as well as the cheesy flavor of Kraft Mac and Cheese. IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN CHEESE POWDER THAT TASTES LIKE THE BLUE BOX OF MAC AND CHEESE, SEARCH ELSEWHERE. The Big Daddy Mac Mix by Hoosier Hill has a more "cheesy flavor" akin to what many offbrands use and if you're into that flavor, that's what you want. It is also more intense than this regarding flavor as this one needs a bit more powder to accomplish the same amount of flavor. This Cheddar Cheez powder does have a bit more of an orange tint to it than most, so if you're offput by color for some reason, then don't buy it. It's just how it looks, it has nothing to do with the taste. I've been using this as a recipe for what I consider to be some of the best mac and cheese I have had the pleasure of gracing my pots and pans: 1 cup of your favorite brand of pasta (This is in relation to normal size elbow macaroni, adjust accordingly if you have larger or smaller pasta) 4-5 tbsp of the Cheddar Cheez powder 2-3 tbsp of milk Dash of pepper Get your water started on the stovetop. Scoop the Cheddar Cheez powder into a small bowl. Add the milk and pepper (optional). Mix with a fork (should be very thick, you can let it sit and it will soak. It my look clumpy, but it will be fine, trust me). Set aside. Once your water is at a boil, add pasta and cook until almost al dente (has a bit of a bite to it but just about to be perfectly al dente. Drain a small portion into your bowl (1/6 of a cup or so), then drain the pasta completely and set off to the side of the burner still in the pot. Stir the mix until homogenous, then pour/scrape into the pasta. Mix pasta thoroughly with the sauce, bringing it over the burner if need be if you have a small amount of excess, but to also thicken and incorporate the sauce with the pasta. Serve immediately. If you need more cheesy flavor, just add more cheez powder to your container along with a bit more milk and mix before adding to the rest of the pasta. If you need to refrigerate a portion, simply add a bit more milk and a bit more powder to the mac and cheese when reheating in the microwave, then stir to incorporate. Cheers and happy mac and cheese-ing! :D

My first exploration into powdered cheeses was to see if any brand would be EXACTLY like Kraft mac & cheese. None are really. But Hoosier Farm makes some good powdered cheeses. I don't make mac & cheese with them after finding it not ideal for that purpose, but if I make a thick stew or chili that didn't turn out as nice a flavor as I'd expected, adding Cheddar Cheez Powder makes the whole thing taste better (whereas to grate some fresh cheese into the stew can be gummy on pot, plate, and spoon). It's turning out to be a useful ingredient for many things.

Packaging: Good. It comes with a safety seal on the opening of the container that has to be peeled off. This assures freshness of course safety. Label is easy to read and not micro print. Professionally done. Taste: Is very good not too cheesy and not bland, just right. You control the strength of the cheese taste by the amount applied. Application: If you use a spoon it will be lumpy and will drop in blotches. If you use a small sifter screen it will be dispersed more uniformly. Should you decide to use this on popcorn, you will end up with messy sticky fingers, however its well worth it and its finger licking good! When applying to popcorn, sprinkle a light layer and then toss the popcorn to mix and reapply to taste. Great for Macaroni for Mac-n-Cheese. Distribution is more evenly and easily applied. Clumping: This is very dry and it could absorb moister over time and clump. I make a small pouch out of cheesecloth (pardon the pun) and put uncooked rice in it. Seal the pouch and place inside the container. The rice will absorb the moisture to help prevent caking/clumping. This will not effect the taste of the product. Summary: You can't go wrong with this product. The use is only limited by your imagination. I would most definitely purchase this again.

I got it originally as a replacement for the hard to find and getting very expensive Kraft Cheese (for their mac). While not the same, in many ways much better. It is closer to cheddar also. Since it is not super processed like Kraft, you have to be carefull if you mix it with macaroni or pasta, because it melts like real cheese and tends to clump like real cheese...but it tastes much better so it is worth it. I think once I experiment more, I will get the hang of it. I also use it for my hash browns and grits, which is great, and for popcorn. At this price, per ounce is MUCH cheaper then craft or the stuff in the "sprinkle bottles". I even tried to sprinkle it on my hamburger, (while making patties). It worked great! Very handy to have, many uses, I am happy to use it. REVISED: Now the label says made by KRAFT and the formulation changed a bit. How? Just read the label....the salt content increased dramatically. WAY over the minimum daily requirement, about 140%. This is on the label, It's glaring the amount of salt in it now. Yes the original Kraft mac & cheese was high, but not nearly what they have here. Doesn't matter about carbs/gluten/sugar..Salt content is a huge issue here. If youy are on a salt restricted diet, this is not for you.

Tastes like Kraft!

I bought this because I always wish that stuff that comes with cheese powder came with MORE cheese powder, (LOL), such as Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, and Orville Redenbacher's Extra-Cheese Flavored Microwave Popcorn. This stuff tastes EXACTLY like the cheese powder that comes with both of those products. Even sprinkled over plain butter-flavored microwave popcorn it tastes amazing! I thought one pound would be bigger...but that's just my own misguided expectation of what a pound of powder looks like, so I think now I wish it came in FIVE POUND tubs. Nonetheless this will be a staple in my house and I an foresee other uses for it (adding some zip to sauces, for example). The ingredients are: "A dehydrated blend of cheese (granular and blue (milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes)), whey, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, whey protein concentrate, lactose, maltodextrin, salt, sodiumphosphate, citric acid, lactic acid, yellow 5, yellow 6)." Yes, I realize it's not that good for you nutritionally, but this is a splurge item for me. One side note: The seller advertises in the name of the product, "made by Kraft." There is nothing on the label indicating that. It says Hoosier Hill Farm Brand Since 1999. They have a website you can look up - no mention of Kraft. Doesn't matter to ME, but just sayin'. My only despair is that this is not currently (02/28/2013) on Subscribe and Save. I will still buy it, but I would be much happier about it and might even buy it in greater quantities if it were on the S&S program. What do you say, seller? :) THANK YOU for making this available.

Stores well and adds a great cheesy taste to everything from pasta to popcorn! Garlic and a sprinkle of this cheese adds a delicious taste to buttered toast too!

Good flavour, make everything delicious and cheesy.. taste like good old 80-90s where they make delicious snacks and cheese rings

Not many great choices of cheddar cheese powder in australia, or at a pretty decent price either. Thankfully prime ships free from the US to Australia. Taste is addictive, goes great with most things. Can get clumpy and the sodium content is pretty high if you overly indulge like me but it's worth it imo.

The taste was so nice

Although the cost of this cheese powder and international shipping made me think twice, I'm so glad I bought it. This tastes great and incorporates well into the pasta. I think it will go well with hot buttered popcorn to make cheese popcorn as well. I recreated Kraft M&C (Kraft Dinner) using an Instant Pot cooker and tweaked it just a bit with a splash (or two) of the remaining pasta water to add a silky smoothness to the finished dish.