Why it works: Cheddar cheese and parmesan cheese match in chemistry and in kitchens. They rank in the top 1% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 592 recipes. Both carry ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, which smells fruity, apple. The science ↓
Easy Sliced Baked Potatoes
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare
Scrub and rinse potatoes, then cut into thin slices but not all the way through.
Put potatoes in a baking dish and fan slightly.
Bake and finish
Sprinkle with salt and melted butter, then sprinkle chives over top and bake at 425 for 50 minutes.
Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheeses.
Place back in oven for 15 minutes to allow cheeses to melt.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 6 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Potato | 1 medium (173g) baked | 161 |
| Cheddar Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 113 |
| Parmesan Cheese | 1 oz (28g) | 110 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Chives | 1 tbsp (3g) | 1 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Cheddar cheese + parmesan cheesetop 1% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together592 recipes
Shared aroma: ethyl 2-methylbutyrate (fruity, apple).
-
Potato + chivetop 2% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together611 recipes
Shared aroma: decanal (soap, orange peel).
-
Potato + cheddar cheesetop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together932 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Butter + cheddar cheesetop 8% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together2,436 recipes
Shared aroma: delta-dodecalactone (sweet, creamy).
-
Butter + parmesan cheesetop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together4,163 recipes
Shared aroma: guaiacol (smoky, sweet).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Potatoes
- Form the main body of the dish, becoming tender and fluffy as they bake.
- Melted butter
- Adds fat and moisture, helping the surface brown and the potatoes stay soft.
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Melts into a sharp, savoury layer that binds slightly to the potato slices.
- Parmesan cheese
- Browns during baking and adds a concentrated, salty savoury flavour.
The step that matters
Adding the cheeses after the first bake. Cheese added at the start would over-brown or dry out during the long bake. Adding it late lets it melt and turn golden without burning.
Swap the chive
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (potato, butter, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese):
- Chivethe original
- Onionfits about as well
- Tomatofits about as well
- Asparagusfits about as well
Fit is the average pairing score against potato, butter, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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