News

Subscribe to Get 10% Off Your First Order

Which Mozzarella Cheese Should You Choose? Types, Brands, and more!

in News

Which Mozzarella Cheese Should You Choose - Pizza Bien

 

When we first come to think of pizza, we think of Mozzarella. The cheese is soft, has a creamy feeling that engulfs your mouth with a stringy milk taste. The flavor and texture of Mozzarella are extremely rare to duplicate with any other pizza. 

However, when you first start baking a pizza, you may be confused by different varieties. Mozzarella has many kinds of its own, and it can get especially tricky while baking.

 

Undoubtedly, the best mozzarella cheese for your pizza is the authentic Buffalo Mozzarella, also known as mozzarella di bufala. The authentic Neapolitan pizzas were made from this particular cheese, and it continues its supremacy to date.

Hence, to help you figure out which brand of mozzarella cheese is best for pizza and to know all about Mozzarella with pizza, we've come to curate this article. Without any further ado, let's start!

 

What is Mozzarella?

Mozzarella is an ordinary cheese that is soft, milky, and stringy in texture. Its birthplace is the southern part of Italy, mainly Neapolitan. The cheese has a unique property to melt softly into the famous gooeyness everyone enjoys rather than burning the cheese. 

The authentic Mozzarella was made from buffalo milk, and it's still produced in some parts of the world. However, alterations in the recipe led to creating the cheese from cow milk. We're usually acquainted with cow milk variants nowadays as it's widely available in the market. 

Fun Fact: Did you know there's an international regulation for pizza? In Neapolitan, the True Neapolitan Pizza Association has formed a law to make Mozzarella the staple cheese for authentic Neapolitan pizza. Truly, Mozzarella is the god of all types of cheese when it comes to pizza!

 

Is Cheese Pizza Healthy?

Whether a pizza is healthy or not mostly depends on your topping preferences. However, if we're talking about mozzarella cheese in a classic Neapolitan style, you're eating more nutritious food than other cheeses. 

When you're consuming cheese pizza, each slice will consist of around 180 calories maximum. Unless you add other toppings, the calorie count is considered healthy for a meal. Besides, mozzarella cheese can be beneficial for you in various ways. 

Mozzarella is a low-fat, low-calorie cheese that has a mild flavor. As a result, it is a more nutritious cheese choice when compared to other cheeses. It includes probiotics such as the microorganisms Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus fermentum, which are very beneficial for your health. 

Therefore, cheese pizza doesn't always have to be unhealthy! You can mix and match different cheese combinations with Mozzarella or have it plain. Mozzarella cheese pizza has a negligible impact on cholesterol levels as long as you eat in healthy proportions. 

 

Best Types of Mozzarella For Pizza

When you go mozzarella shopping with the intention of baking pizza with it, you'll get tons of options. Hence, it's better to check in with different varieties of Mozzarella constantly, so you're familiar with the different tastes and textures. 

Below, you'll find a short description of some of the most popular mozzarella cheese for your pizza. We'll also mention different mozzarella cheese brands that we find to be the best for each category. 

 

Fresh Mozzarella (Fior di Latte)

For Fior di latte, cow's milk is used to make fresh Mozzarella. It's hard to argue with the fact that this is the most popular of the Neapolitan varieties. People often use a liquid bag to keep fresh Mozzarella. 

The fresh taste of the cheese is superior to that of the pre-shredded dry cheese. It's perfect for hot pizza since it melts well and doesn't burn fast. It's best for authentic new-york based Neapolitan pizza.

Fresh Mozzarella's main drawbacks are its short shelf life and high moisture content caused by its liquid storage. It's tough to shred fresh Mozzarella since it's so brittle.

Drying out fresh Mozzarella by baking it in a hot wood-fired oven is a common culinary practice. Moisture may be absorbed into the crust in a home oven, preventing the top from getting crispy. When baking in your home oven, consider using a pizza stone or steel to help the process along.

 

Best Fresh Mozzarella (Fior di Latte) Brand: Belgioioso Fresh Mozzarella 

 

Buffalo Mozzarella (Mozzarella di Bufala)

This cheese is primarily used for Neapolitan style pizza with a NY twist. In 1993, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana was granted the DOC label by the European Union. In 2008, the EU designated M. di Bufala Campana as a Protected Geographic Area. 

Buffalo Mozzarella, also known as mozzarella di bufala, is a kind of cheese from Italy. The cheese is richer in fat and taste than regular cow's milk cheese. It has a butter-like flavor, which is perfect for pizza, according to many. Hence, the price and accessibility of this cheese are more than average. 

The distinction between mozzarella di bufala and regular Mozzarella is simple: People produce mozzarella di bufala from the milk of native Italian water buffalo. Mozzarella di bufala is made only in specific locations. It's made in Lazio, Campania, and Apulia near Foggia.

Buffalo mozzarella, on the other hand, is a lot drier. It's up to two times as wet as ordinary Mozzarella, so be careful while eating it. Before using buffalo mozzarella, make sure to drain and pat it dry.

 

Best Buffalo Mozzarella (Mozzarella di Bufala) brand:  Galbani Italian Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese 

 

Fresh Low-Moisture

Fresh low-moisture Mozzarella was developed in the United States, and it is often seen on American pizza, particularly New York-style pizza. Because it is made from skimmed cow milk, it has less fat than classic Italian Mozzarella. It's the best cheese for deep dish pizza. It is also famously used for thick crust pizza.

The moisture content is very low. The manufacturing method for Mozzarella is similar to that for Italian Mozzarella, except that it is dried using chemicals to remove excess moisture. As a consequence, the cheese's shelf life extends. This process may require any acid, including vinegar. As a consequence, the cheese will have a unique taste.

 

Fresh Low-Moisture - mozzarella cheese brands - Pizza Bien

 

Low-moisture Mozzarella does not have the same fresh, delectable flavor as Italian Mozzarella. There is a mild but somewhat sharper taste than Italian Mozzarella and a little increase in salinity. When melted, the consistency becomes much more stringy than that of the cheese.

One of the benefits of utilizing low-moisture Mozzarella is that it shreds easier than regular Mozzarella due to the cheese's firmer hardness. Additionally, it is usually less costly.

If you're looking for a block of fresh low-moisture Mozzarella, you'll often have to visit your local grocery store's deli counter.

Best Fresh Low-Moisture Cheese Brand: Galbani Low Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese

 

Pre-Shredded Mozzarella

Shredded Mozzarella has grown in popularity. It is made from the same kind of low-moisture Mozzarella, but the producer delivers it pre-shredded. As a consequence, it is very convenient. In a couple of seconds, open the box, and you'll be able to pour the cheese over your pizza. Additionally, it is the most inexpensive kind of Mozzarella, available in virtually every grocery store in the nation.

Because it is the same cheese as low-moisture Mozzarella, the flavor profiles are very similar. It's a bit sharper and not quite up to the standard Mozzarella, but it's still very delicious.

For proper preservation of the strings of pre-shredded Mozzarella, starch and other anti-caking chemicals are added to the bags of pre-shredded Mozzarella. This affects the taste. The taste of pre-shredded Mozzarella is inferior to that of fresh, low-moisture mozzarella bricks, which are more costly.

Additionally, these carbohydrates obstruct melting. They absorb some moisture from the melting cheese, resulting in a dry cheese coating on the top. Further, the starches may be more prone to burning in the oven. As a consequence, it is not advised to use pre-shredded Mozzarella in high-temperature baking.

Best Pre-Shredded Mozzarella: Kraft Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese. 

 

Cheese Alternatives For Pizza

Those who are lactose intolerant or generally have an issue with the fat content in cheese can not ingest the regular cheese. Instead, they can try cheese alternatives for pizza. Some of the alternatives:

  • Make a cauliflower pizza crust. The crust will have less cholesterol and gluten than in general pizzas. It will also help provide a milky flavor that you can substitute for the cheesy factor in the pizza. 
  • Use tofu. Tofu is one of the most commonly used substances for substituting cheese. It's great for health and will help bring out the cheese texture in your cheese-less pizza. 
  • Use Paneer cheese. One of the most lowkey cheeses is paneer, which is a cheese made in the Indian subcontinent. It's a lot less fat and healthier for those looking for a substitute. However, it's produced from milk, so lactose-intolerant people cannot have it.
  • Use pesto. Pesto is completely vegan and fat-free and yet helps substitute cheese when you taste it. It's completely different from your regular pizza, but you may fall in love with its taste!

 

Conclusion:

No matter the variation, mozzarella always hits your palette on a godly level. Therefore, we hope you know everything there is to know about buying mozzarella cheese. You can try different brands out to know which one suits you the best. 

If you were wondering which brand of mozzarella cheese is best for pizza, we hope our article has helped you tons! Till the next time, happy feasting! 

 

Our delicious pizzas are handmade with all-natural of high quality and fresh ingredients in Italy delivered straight to you, anywhere in the U.S. Free Shipping to most locations. Click Here to Buy Now!

 

0 comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *