Go to the Recipe: Stovetop Mac and Cheese
I'm planning to make some traditional fondue (Gruyère, Emmentaler, Appenzeller or somthing like that). Is there any downside of including too much NaCitrate and SHMP? (Probably just going to try 3%/1%.)
There are a few downsides to adding too much of sodium citrate or SHMP to a cheese sauce:
1. The sauce will get watery (too much sodium citrate)
2. The sauce will get rubbery (too much SHMP)
3. The sauce will have a slightly metallic flavor
This recipe is 3% citrate to .25% SHMP. For a fondue application, I think this formula works well for Gruyère and Emmentaler (can't speak to Appenzeller).
Good luck!
Thanks!
I've always made my cheese sauce with roux, but the melting salts are intriguing. Why would someone not want to use them? Is it similar to how people try to avoid MSG (which is amazing!)?
I'm not a health expert, but my armchair take: Melting salts are associated with ultra-processed foods (e.g. Kraft singles), which as a category are highly scrutinized in public health/nutrition discourse. UPFs have a bad reputation for multiple reasons: Higher intake of saturated fats, sugars, sodium, and most relevant to this discussion, additives like melting salts.
The question becomes, "what are the potential health concerns related to melting salts specifically?" Well, the answer is it depends on the melting salt, and the effective dose in question. For example:
Sodium citrate: Primary concern is elevated sodium intake; high intake (like unrealistically high, and way higher than the amount called for in this recipe) may lead to nausea and other digestive issues, as well as some kidney dysfunction
SHMP: Primary concern is elevated phosphate intake at high doses, which is potentially hard on the kidneys, and affects calcium metabolism. The SHMP amount in this recipe is minuscule and doesn't approach these levels
If people take issue with Kraft singles and other commercial utlra-processed cheese products, then they will take issue with this recipe for many of the same reasons. But in regards to such discourse, I'd submit that the most salient takeaway is: Do your research, and make an informed decision.
Hope this helps!
