Why does cauliflower cheese sauce go runny?!


Question: Why does cauliflower cheese sauce go runny!?
Ok!.!.!.!. When I make Cauliflower cheese I usually like to cook in oven for nice browning!. When I have done this the cheeses sauce has gone watery!.
I have just been pouring sauce over cauliflower (hot) and eating it but I don't think it's the same!.
Any ideas of what I'm doing wrong!?Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
I'm not a chef or professional Cook so there may be a better explanation out there !. However cauliflower is from the cabbage type food & those tend to make water when cooking!. So try steaming the cauliflower in a seperate pan above water or when you bake it put it on a rack!. When nearly cooked to the doneness you want take off the rack, pour the water off & finish cooking with the cheese sauce!. That's what worked for me!. Good luck :))Www@FoodAQ@Com

Some of the other answerers gave you good reasons for the runny sauce, I think, but I would like to offer a different suggestion: I love the combination of cauliflower and cheese, but i have stopped making a sauce altogether!. Instead, I cook my cauliflower to desired doneness, drain it thoroughly, spread it in a large, flat bowl, then top with LOTS of freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese!. I use 1-1/2 cups of cheese (loosely packed) per small to medium head of cauliflower!. The cheese melts on the cauliflower and is more intense than if you put it in a sauce!. I love this dish and eat it at least once a week!. I also put salt and freshly ground black pepper on the cauliflower!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

You're doing very little wrong!.!.!.

It is down to two things: the heat in sauce and the water in the cauliflower!.!.!. draining the cauliflower as much as you can will help, but not a great deal!.!.!. vegetables are mostly water, heating them brings out more water, and more water and more water!.!.!. as the sauce cools it will get thicker too!.!.!.

Maybe make a thicker sauce and cover just the top of the cauliflower, this will mix with the water from the cauliflower as it cooks!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Its the water coming out of the cauliflower!.
Try making it in a shallow dish then some of the water will evaporate and you will still have a nice brown top!.

Alternatively grill it, this will get to top brown quickly and wont give the cauliflower chance continue cooking and release too much water in to your sauce!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

maybe you arent draining your cauliflower properly!.!.!.!.!.i made a cauli cheese on sunday and i put it in the over to brown, and it came out great, not watery at all, maybe its not water and is grease!? from the cheese perhaps!?

Edit:- my cheese-sauce was homemadeWww@FoodAQ@Com

You must make sure the boiled cauliflower is thoroughly drained and dry before pouring on the cheese sauce and putting it in the oven!.
Cauliflower retains water!. The water mixes with the sauce in the oven, making it runny!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Too much moisture left on your cauli love, try straining it through a colander then leaving too cool slightly before adding your sauce, then put into the oven on 180 C for 15-20 mins and top with some grated cheese and a pinch of ground pepper lovely!Www@FoodAQ@Com

Is it a packet sauce or home made!? Maybe you should heat the sauce on the stove first, this will reduce the liquid content a bit, then pour over the cauliflower and add cheese!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Try and make your sauce a bit thicker in the beginning, as cauliflower may realse some water after its cooked!.
How do you make your sauce, if you don't mind my asking!?Www@FoodAQ@Com

Its possible the cauliflower is still holding a lot of water after blanching!. let it drain for a long time then pat it with kitchen towel once its cool!. this way it should get the extra moisure out!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

It''l be water if your boiling your cauliflower steam it next time and i think it'll come out trumps!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Try steaming the cauliflower rather than boiling it in water!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Make sure your cauli is well drained!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Make a rue for the sauce base!. It will thicken up very nicely!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

maybe you need to put some thickening agent in it!.!.!.!.like w/ gravy!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Cauliflower Cheese
1 large Cauliflower
300ml (? pint) Milk
110g (4oz) Cheddar Cheese
3 tbsp Plain Flour
50g (2oz) Butter
25g (1oz) Fresh Breadcrumbs
? tsp Mustard
Nutmeg
Salt & Black Pepper

Trim the cauliflower boil in salted water for 10-15 minutes or until just tender!.
Drain and place in a flameproof dish!.
Add the milk, flour and butter to a saucepan!.
Heat, stirring continuously until the sauce thickens, boils and is smooth!.
Allow to simmer for a further 2 minutes!.
Add three-quarters of the grated cheese, mustard, a pinch of nutmeg and seasoning!.
Cook for further minute stirring well!.
Pour the sauce over the cauliflower!.
Mix the remaining cheese and breadcrumbs together, sprinkle over the top!.
Place under a hot grill until golden brown!.
Serve immediately!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





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