If you’re looking for a super-cheap frozen food option, Michelina’s might be a pretty decent choice. We find these frozen meals pretty much everywhere, and they’re usually priced between $1.00 and $1.50. Obviously, you won’t go into one of these expecting a gourmet dinner, but there are some Michelina’s options that we’ve enjoyed, and it’s hard to beat that price point.
Today we’re checking out the Michelina’s Zap’ems Macaroni & Cheese with Cheddar & Romano. We’ve tried the Wheels & Cheese not long ago, and we found it to be pretty decent. So let’s see how their more traditional-style mac and cheese compares to the wheel-shaped version.
Admittedly, the sub-brand name Zap’ems does have us a little nervous…
Anyway, cooking this is as simple as can be. Crack open the lid, then pop the meal into the microwave for three minutes. Give it a quick stir, then pop it back in for another 60 to 90 seconds. This is not going to be a problem for anyone who knows how to use a microwave. (If you want to read the full cooking instructions straight off the box, check out the package scan at the bottom of this review.)
One of the ways Michelina’s keeps their production costs low is by skipping the inner tray completely. While most frozen meals come in a tray that’s sealed inside a box, Michelina’s uses the box as the tray. You’ll have to be careful because that makes them more susceptible to drying out or getting freezer-burned than their plastic-tray-using peers.
The cheese is a cheddar and romano combo that tastes a little bit like your traditional Velveeta, though not quite as potent. It’s a muted Velveeta, we’d say. The consistency is actually creamier than we were expecting, which is nice, but this is certainly not the best cheese sauce we’ve had in a macaroni dish.
The pasta is your basic elbow shape, which is to be expected. These are a little pudgier than your usual elbows, and they end up a little bit soggier too. Neither of these observations is a dealbreaker for us, of course. This is still a mac and cheese dish, and it’s really not bad.
This is a diet-friendly box of macaroni, with just 250 calories and 630 mg of sodium. It’s pretty small and not super filling, but it’s also not a calorie hog either. We’d say this is more of a hearty snack or side dish than a true meal, though.
The Michelina’s Zap’ems Macaroni & Cheese with Cheddar & Romano definitely prioritizes price over quality, but even then, it’s better than some more expensive macaroni meals we’ve tried. At its buck-fifty-or-less price point, this ends up being a surprisingly competent dish of mac and cheese, and it’s really hard to complain about that.
To learn more about the nutrition content, ingredients, or cooking instructions for this budget-friendly mac and cheese, check out our package scan below.
SO BLAND!!!!!!!!!!