Ain't Nothin' Wrong With No Kroger Mac

@porwest (91092)
United States
October 14, 2023 6:41pm CST
It astounds me that Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is over $1 a box in most places where I have shopped, and that people actually still put it in their cart! The thing is, I have been eating generic mac and cheese forever, and there isn't a darn thing wrong with it. I treated myself to a box of the "real" stuff once or twice and only walked away with one impression. There isn't a single thing creamier, tastier, or special about it. Most of the time the cheapest box of macaroni and cheese I can find is from Ruler Foods, owned by Kroger, a store that operates very similar to an Aldi, and I only pay 59 cents per box. When it comes to mac and cheese, what do you opt for? Brand name or generic?
7 people like this
7 responses
@RebeccasFarm (89870)
• Arvada, Colorado
15 Oct 23
If push comes to shove I do not mind generic as that is what I get sometimes in food boxes..fine with me. If I am buying it though..Kraft. But I don't buy it but once a year maybe, so I figure I'll get the kind that tastes good to me. I love making my own home made with jalapeno peppers in it too.
2 people like this
• Arvada, Colorado
17 Oct 23
@porwest Yes I totally get it.
1 person likes this
@porwest (91092)
• United States
17 Oct 23
@RebeccasFarm And yet you smack that worm like nobody's business.
1 person likes this
@porwest (91092)
• United States
15 Oct 23
I can't eat hot. But I won't knock those who enjoy it, and many do. As for Kraft vs. generic, honestly, these days if you put two bowls in front of me I wouldn't be able to tell you which is which. They're not getting my money.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (119652)
• United States
15 Oct 23
I make it from scratch
2 people like this
@porwest (91092)
• United States
15 Oct 23
I do from time to time. But most of the time I just open the box and go. Much easier, and it is actually still cheaper.
2 people like this
@NJChicaa (119652)
• United States
15 Oct 23
@porwest yes the box stuff is definitely cheaper. I just don't like it.
2 people like this
@porwest (91092)
• United States
15 Oct 23
@NJChicaa I could eat the entire box. lol
2 people like this
@kareng (59312)
• United States
15 Oct 23
I keep a box or two in the pantry for those times when you don't know what to pair with a meal; or emergencies! I always buy generic and that is usually the Great Value brand from Walmart. It was $.50 a box last time I bought it. I have always disliked Kraft because it seems like the noodles never get 100% done!! Next to homemade, and time to make it, I go for generic too 100% of the time on mac 'n cheese!
1 person likes this
@kareng (59312)
• United States
15 Oct 23
@porwest You are 100% right!! I usually add a bit of shredded cheese to ours and it comes out extra creamy!!
2 people like this
@porwest (91092)
• United States
15 Oct 23
Plus, it's like most things like this. You can doctor it up a bit if you want. For example, instead of milk sometimes I will use ranch dressing or sour cream or French onion dip. It can be made into a unique version almost every time you make it. I think some people are just hung up on certain things and can't think outside the box, and as a result they spend more. Or should I say, waste more. And what's worse is MOST of the time those are the very people who can't afford to waste a dime.
1 person likes this
@porwest (91092)
• United States
15 Oct 23
@kareng Yep. Exactly. That is definitely another workable option that turns out delicious.
1 person likes this
@paigea (36317)
• Canada
15 Oct 23
I mostly buy store brands. I make mac and cheese from scratch though. Havent bought that powdered cheese since my kids were small!
1 person likes this
@porwest (91092)
• United States
15 Oct 23
To me the box is just quick and easy. If I made it from scratch I'd hardly ever get it.
1 person likes this
@Dena91 (16634)
• United States
15 Oct 23
On most of our groceries we go with generic over national brands. We watched a few videos where something like mac and cheese are made in the same factory, only thing that changes are the boxes and labels, other wise it is the same food product.
2 people like this
@porwest (91092)
• United States
15 Oct 23
This is very true. I know having worked many years in the food manufacturing industry. Years and years ago this wasn't true. Generics were usually separate companies who simply made versions of things and that was their entire business. Brands got wise to the idea and began to reach out to retailers and nowadays the same companies that make our branded products make our generic ones. And yes, with retailers demanding higher standards for store brands, the products are almost identical to the brand name products at a fraction of the cost.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (178869)
• United States
15 Oct 23
Hubby doesn't like it; so we get it as one of the sides when we get KFC; and I eat it as a meal. Enjoy your Sunday.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (178869)
• United States
15 Oct 23
@porwest Have you ever tried KFC's mac and cheese? Too salty.
1 person likes this
@porwest (91092)
• United States
15 Oct 23
I could eat the entire box. I really have to stop myself when I make it. Luckily my wifey helps me eat it otherwise I'd eat much more of it. lol
1 person likes this
@porwest (91092)
• United States
16 Oct 23
@LindaOHio Yeah. It's not great but I don't mind it. I think everything at KFC is too salty. lol
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (139725)
• Roseburg, Oregon
15 Oct 23
I make mine from scratch if I use a box I will add real cheese to it.
1 person likes this
@porwest (91092)
• United States
15 Oct 23
I like it from scratch too. But of course, I'd eat it much less often considering the time it takes to make it fresh. Actually, that might be a good thing considering I could eat the whole box given the opportunity to. lol