(I'm including CR's frozen selections for comparison purposes)

Cheddar type

Stouffer's Mac and Cheese, Kraft Mac and Cheese Dinner, Lipton Pasta and Sauce Mild Cheddar, Annie's Shells (white cheddar), Rice a Roni Pasta Roni (white cheddar), Kraft Deluxe, Kraft Light Deluxe, Ragu Cheese Creations Double Cheddar Pasta Sauce, Lean Cuisine Mac and Cheese. (Kraft Mac and Cheese, at .38/serving, is the best buy and best tasting here, but has 12g of sat fat/serving compared to Lipton's 6g .)

Parmesan/Romano/Alfredo

Rice a Roni Pasta Roni Fettucine Alfredo, Lipton Noodle and Sauce Alfredo, Lipton Pasta and Sauce Bow Tie Italian Cheese, Rice a Roni Pasta Roni Angel Hair Pasta with Parmesan Cheese, Ragu Cheese Creations light Parmesan Alfredo, Near East Fusilli w/Parmesan and Romano, Healthy Choice 4-Cheese Alfredo Sauce (the top Rice a Roni is .70/serving, Lipton Alfredo is .61/serving, Lipton Bow Tie is .63/serving). Not a whole lot of difference in taste between the top Rice a Roni and the next Lipton. The top RaR has 15g sat fat/serving, Lipton 9g.

CR noted that two microwave products made by Kraft and Hormel would have been at or near the bottom of the ratings.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), November 30, 1999

Answers

Thanks OG --

If its available, would recommend Annie's Shells and Cheddar: since its made from real cheese, not whey, hydrogenated oils, salt and flavorings.

-- SH (Squirrel@huntr.com), November 30, 1999.

Annie's is expensive and worth it.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), November 30, 1999.

You guys are into the fancy stuff. I looked strictly at the protien content per dollar spent and bought all Best Yet or Surfine or other store brands. On the other hand my PBJ's will have handpicked, homemade blackberry, raspberry etc. jams. Seriously, the store brands are a good buy. Pam

-- Pamela (jpjgood@penn.com), November 30, 1999.

Annie's also has an alfredo that is good! Annie's brand isn't fancy, it's just real food.

-- Margo (margos@bigisland.com), November 30, 1999.

Another possibility... get just the cheese powder and use any pasta:

http://www.sfherb.com/baking. html

Check their prices on herbs and spices - like a # of cayenne for ~$3-$4

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), December 01, 1999.

Uh! I tried Annies to avoid strange food additives, and thought that Annies all tasted like cardboard....... I have stored up Kraft Mac and chees! And VELVEETA.....just because of the long shelf life - we don't usually eat it...

-- (formerly nobody@nowhere.zzz), December 01, 1999.

I have lots of velvetta because we eat a lot of cheese dip. My homemade mac and cheese calls for a cup of velvetta and cheddar cheese. Velvetta is great to cook with. Kids love it and that is what will matter in the long run.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), December 01, 1999.