Welcome to this week’s Try Me Tuesday. As a reminder…each week I will grab a new set of products and test them out. I’ll put the Publix brand up against a national brand product and report back.
I know many times I struggle with what brand to choose. Often a sale or a coupon/sale combination make that an easier decision…but what about those times when you need an item and there is not a sale? Do you grab the house brand or pay more and get the national brand? More importantly, is there really a difference in taste?
This week we tried Publix Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese.
Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese, 14 oz, 2/$6
Calories – 320
Total Fat – 10g
Sodium – 920mg
Total Carb – 44g
Dietary Fiber – 1g
Sugars – 3g
Ingredients: Enriched Macaroni Product (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate [Iron], Thiamin Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Riboflavin [Vitamin B2], Folic Acid); Cheese Sauce (Whey, Colby Cheese [Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes, Annatto (Color)], Parmesan Cheese [Part-Skim Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Canola Oil, Cheddar Cheese [Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Asiago Cheese [Part-Skim Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Sodium Phosphate, Milk, Salt, Contains less than 2% of Milk Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Milkfat, Sodium Alginate, Sorbic Acid as a Preservative, Lactic Acid, Oleoresin Paprika [Color], Annatto Extract [Color], Natural Flavor, Cheese Culture).
Publix Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese, 14 oz, $2.29
Calories – 320
Total Fat – 10g
Sodium – 850mg
Total Carb – 47g
Dietary Fiber – 2g
Sugars – 6g
Ingredients: Enriched Macaroni (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Cheese Sauce (Water, Cheddar Cheese [Pasteurized Milk, Cheese Culture, Salt, Enzymes], Canola Oil, Whey, Non-fat Dry Milk, Natural Flavors, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Contains 2% of less of Colors Added [Beta Carotne, Paprika Extract], Sodium Alginate, Mono and Diglycerides, Latic Acid, Sorbic Acid [To Preserve Freshness] Xanthan Gum).
RESULTS
- Publix – 4
- Kraft – 4
- Taste the same – 1
Beware guys…if you come to my house there is no telling what you are in for.
I had family here this past weekend for a big Mother’s Day feast. Every year, we do a low country boil that is amazing—but quite spicy. So I typically make something else for the kids. I decided on mac & cheese and hot dogs as a quick and easy meal. When I spotted the Publix Deluxe Mac & Cheese, I thought it would be the perfect time to sneak in a Try Me Tuesday!
So while my family gathered outside chatting, I decided to bombard them with some mac & cheese. I walked around handing everyone spoons and had them taste bowl A and bowl B. From there everyone had to pick their favorite. As you can see above, we had a TIE! Well, with the addition of Jeb’s vote that they taste the same. That boy refused to tell me which he liked best, so I just let it go 😉
Everyone had a comment as to why they chose a specific version. Some preferred the smaller pasta (Publix) while others like the big texture pasta of the Kraft version. One person said the Kraft cheese was too salty, while another person said the Publix cheese wasn’t as “creamy/cheesy” as the Kraft version.
I thought they both were quite tasty. I couldn’t do a blind taste test as I could tell the size of the pasta which was which. Honestly, I would have happily chowed down on either if I hadn’t had a bunch of seafood waiting for me.
If I had to grab a box for dinner, I would go for the best price and know that my guys would chow down with no complaints!
So, have you guys tried both? Which did you choose as the favorite?
