The 10 Best Powdered Cheese for Quick Mac and Cheese, Popcorn Seasoning and More

Yes, we all enjoy quick mac and cheese now and then and the easiest way to make this (without a blue box to hand) is with powdered cheese. Not only does this mean you can make it as cheesy flavored or as mild as you want but it means you always have enough cheese in to whip up a mac and cheese.

In this review, we look in detail at powdered cheese, including how versatile it is and just how it is made. To help you find the right powdered cheese for your requirements, we also offer reviews of some of the best powdered cheeses available.

Things to Consider Before Buying Powdered Cheese

Why Use Cheese Powder?

Powdered cheese can be used for baking with – why not try breads, focaccias, or even muffins – and can be added to casseroles, soups, pasta dishes and more. It makes a great topping for pizzas, salads and even baked potatoes. You can also use it to make easy cheese sauces that you can use for cauliflower cheese, other oven dishes or even whip up a quick hollandaise sauce for Eggs Benedict. Powdered cheese can be added to scrambled eggs and even used in coatings for chicken and other meats, fish and seafoods.

Of course, powdered cheese is always great for sprinkling on snacks such as hot popcorn, nachos, pretzels and fries. With powdered cheese you can use as much or as little as you like which when cooking, makes it more versatile than fresh cheese.

Using powdered cheese is also the quickest way to whip up family favorites such as mac and cheese. It can be mixed in with milk or other dairy liquids and then added straight to the cooked macaroni along with basic seasonings.

If you use powdered cheese along with other ingredients at home to make up recipes such as mac and cheese, you also have full control over what you are cooking with, rather than using readymade versions which may contain additives and preservatives that you want to avoid.

Perhaps one of the main advantages of powdered cheese is that it is shelf stable and unlike fresh cheese does not go bad any time soon. Some powdered cheeses may require refrigerating after opening but most can just be stored in an airtight container in the pantry.

If you live a distance from the grocery store, then keeping powdered cheese along with other powdered essentials means you can easily whip up a cheese sauce or some cheese bread without needing to drive to the store.

Powdered cheese is also handy for taking on your camping trips or even for adding to your emergency preparedness kit to add extra flavor to pasta, noodles, canned chili and other savory foods that you may keep in your kit.

How Much Cheese Does Powdered Cheese Actually Contain?

Powdered cheese does not actually have to meet any federal laws about how much cheese it should contain, so the easiest way to see how much cheese a powdered cheese contains is actually by reading the ingredients label. Likewise, how much cheese a powdered cheese contains will also determine how much beneficial calcium and vitamin D it will contain.

A typical powdered cheese will contain around 15% cheese along with whey, oil, natural and/or artificial flavors and colors, preservatives and anti-clumping agents. A powdered cheese may also contain autolyzed yeast extract or other flavor enhancers. The calorie, fat, protein and sodium content of powdered cheese will vary across manufacturers as well.

Commercially, cheese powder is a dehydrated form of cheese which is usually made by a spray drying process. To do this, the cheese is melted into a liquid, the necessary additives are added, and the liquid is sprayed through a nozzle which turns it to droplets. The droplets are then surrounded with hot air which vaporizes them and creates a powder. The powder can then be packaged ready for distribution and sale.

What to Look for When Buying Powdered Cheese

As well as the cheese content and nutritional profile, other things to consider include the flavor profile and even the color. Powdered cheeses often contain artificial or synthetic yellow/orange colors. Although these brightly colored powders look great when making up a quick mac and cheese, the color may be too obvious when sprinkled on some dishes. In this case, a white or non-colored powdered cheese may be more suitable.

Although most powdered cheeses are cheddar flavored, they can also be made with hard cheese such as Italian style cheeses or even blue cheeses and these bring different flavors to a dish. Powdered cheese can vary in flavor, from being a stronger flavor to much milder. Which one you prefer will also depend on how you want to use it in the kitchen.

Some powdered cheeses are certified as being free from GMO ingredients and may also be gluten free.

Although many cheeses are made with animal-based rennet, some are made with microbial rennet which means they are suitable for vegetarian diets. Powders that are made with nutritional yeast and/or nuts are a suitable alternative for those who are vegan or have a dairy allergy or intolerance.

Powdered cheese is not always easy to find in grocery stores, so it is something that many people choose to buy online.

Conclusion

In this review we have looked in some detail at powdered cheese, including how you can use it, how it is made, how much cheese a powdered cheese actually contains and what you should look for when choosing a powdered cheese.

We have also reviewed some of the best powdered cheese available including a number of products suitable for those with specific dietary needs. So, if you want to throw out the mac and cheese kits and make your own or just want extra flavor on your popcorn for the next movie night, we trust that we have given you the information that you need to choose the best powdered cheese for you and your family.