Do the eggs cook in stove top mac & cheese?

14 years ago

Good morning, I've been experimenting with the Cook's Illustrated Stovetop Mac & Cheese. Basically, you cook the pasta, drain & return to the pot over low heat, add butter, toss to melt. You then add a mixture of 2 eggs, a can of evaporated milk, salt, pepper, dry mustard mixed with water, and 3 cups of cheese stirring for a few minutes until the mixture is hot & creamy. I did it this way a couple times. It is fast & tastes good. However, I'm not a fan of using raw eggs, and since this dish does not go into the oven, I am wondering if the eggs actually get cooked or not? I tried it without the eggs last night, and it didn't work as well. You really need the eggs to bind it since there is no roux to thicken it.

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Comments (8)

lindac
14 years ago
When the eggs thicken the sauce, they are cooked enough.....just like in a custard...like is used for banana pudding.
ci_lantro
14 years ago
I'm sure the eggs are a lot more cooked in the mac/cheese than Eggs over easy are cooked, which is the way I prefer my breakfast eggs. The recipe method is very similar to how I make Spaghetti Carbonara where you can continue to apply heat to the desired 'doneness' level. Personally, I wouldn't give it a second thought but if there are other health or age issues, perhaps you'd be best to seek out another recipe sans eggs.
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lindac
14 years ago
If it will make you feel better.....cook the eggs and the milk, water and mustard to a simmer and simmer 3 minutes before adding the cheese....then just cook until the cheese melts.
elba1
Original Author
14 years ago
Great, thanks, I don't think I've ever made a homemade custard. My son tests very positive for egg allergy, and when he was little, did have a bad reaction to egg, but could always tolerate a small amount in baked goods like cookies, cake, etc. I have a sense that he might not be allergic any more, but we would have to do a food challenge at the allergist to be sure, and he was ok the 2 times I tried that dish. That was one of the reasons I was asking as especially for him I would still not serve raw eggs. So this is good to know, thanks again!
annie1992
14 years ago
I agree, the eggs are sufficiently cooked in the hot pasta, they only need to come to 160F to be considered safely cooked.

Check with a thermometer if you are uncertain.

Annie
foodonastump
14 years ago
Salmonella risk aside, are egg allergies subject to the doneness of the eggs?
Olychick
14 years ago
Foas, I know my grandson's egg allergy is affected by the way eggs are incorporated. He can have eggs in cakes, cookies and that type of thing, but no custards or more "eggy" type things. I don't give him spanikopita when I make it because of the eggs, but I'm not sure if he could eat it or not.
elba1
Original Author
14 years ago
My son sounds like olychick's grandson. No, egg allergies aren't directly subject to the doneness of the eggs. When my son was a toddler, the first time I made him an egg, his face puffed up & his eyes became swollen shut; he had to have a dose of steriods. So of course we avoided eggs. Then I remembered that he had already tolerated small amounts in cake, cookies, etc. so for him it wasn't an "all or none" thing like it is with nuts for him (he had an anaphalactic reaction to the littlest bit of nuts). So we make pancakes, but not french toast, for a long time he didn't have mayo, etc. We re-test his food allergies every 3 yrs to see if anything has changed. He gets huge skin reactions where he is tested for both the white & yolk, but again, he does have bits of egg in baked goods - there is not always a direct correlation to the skin test & how you will react. We still don't make quiche, strata, or anything like that, however, like I said he did have the mac & cheese a couple times & was fine. I guess I just try to stay away from uncooked eggs period, and I wasn't sure if they would be considered to be cooked in that mac & cheese recipe.

Do the eggs cook in stove top mac & cheese?

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lindac

ci_lantro

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Do the eggs cook in stove top mac & cheese?

Comments (8)

lindac

ci_lantro

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