Bushra Griffith
Fried mozzarella cheese sticks are a delicious snack or appetizer that can be easily made at home. They are crispy, gooey, and melty, with a breaded coating that gives them a crunchy texture. The key to achieving the perfect cheese stick is to ensure that the cheese is properly coated and chilled before frying, preventing the cheese from leaking out during cooking. The cheese sticks are then fried in hot oil until golden brown, resulting in a delicious treat that can be enjoyed on its own or with various dipping sauces such as marinara, nacho cheese, or aioli. Making fried mozzarella cheese sticks at home allows for customization and guarantees freshness, making them a fun and indulgent snack to share with family and friends.
Characteristics and Values Table for Fried Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Texture | Crispy, gooey, melty, ultra-cheesy |
| Taste | Salty |
| Ingredients | Mozzarella cheese, flour, eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, milk, oil for frying |
| Equipment | Frying pan, saucepan, oven, spider spoon or tongs, cooling rack, baking sheet, thermometer |
| Cooking Method | Deep-fried, baked, or air-fried |
| Cooking Time | 30 seconds to 2 minutes, until golden brown |
| Serving Suggestions | Marinara sauce, nacho cheese sauce, aioli, ranch dressing, or rosa alfredo |
| Storage | Refrigerate or freeze |
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What You'll Learn
Preparing the cheese
Next, prepare your dredge components. Set up three shallow bowls for the dredging process. In the first bowl, place some flour. In the second, whisk an egg with a touch of water and a pinch of salt. In the third bowl, add breadcrumbs. For extra flavour, you can season the breadcrumbs with garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, or other Italian seasonings. You can also use Italian-style breadcrumbs, which are already seasoned.
Now you are ready to begin the dredging process. Take each cheese stick and dip it first into the flour, shaking off any excess. Then, dip it into the egg mixture, letting any excess drip off. Finally, dip the stick into the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring it is completely coated. Repeat this process for a double breading, or even a triple breading, to ensure a robust crispy shell and to prevent the cheese from leaking out during cooking. Place the coated sticks on a wire rack over a baking sheet and repeat the process until all the sticks are coated.
Once all the cheese sticks are coated, place them in the freezer for at least one hour. This step is essential, as it will bring down the temperature of the cheese before frying and help prevent the cheese from melting and leaking out. If you are not frying the cheese sticks immediately, transfer them to an airtight container and keep them frozen until you are ready to fry them.
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Dipping and dredging
Preparing the Dipping Components:
Before you begin, prepare your dredging components. Set up three shallow bowls for dipping. In the first bowl, place the flour, ensuring it is plain flour. In the second bowl, beat and whisk an egg with a touch of salt and water. The salt and water will enhance the flavour and act as a binding agent. In the third bowl, add the breadcrumbs. You can use Italian seasoned breadcrumbs or plain/regular breadcrumbs. If using plain breadcrumbs, add seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, or other Italian herbs to elevate the flavour. Additionally, consider using panko breadcrumbs for an extra crispy texture.
Now, it's time to dip and dredge! Take each mozzarella stick, or slice if you prefer thinner pieces, and carefully dip it into the flour first. Ensure the cheese is fully coated, then gently shake off any excess flour. This step helps create a dry base for the subsequent coatings to adhere to.
Next, dip the floured cheese into the egg mixture. Allow any excess egg to drip off, ensuring an even coating. This egg layer will act as a glue for the final breadcrumb coating.
Finally, dip the cheese into the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure the entire surface is coated generously with breadcrumbs. Use your hands or a spoon to gently press the breadcrumbs onto the cheese to create a robust outer shell. This breadcrumb layer is crucial to achieving the desired crispiness and preventing cheese leakage during frying.
Repeat this entire process for a double or even triple coating. Multiple coatings will ensure a truly crunchy exterior and minimize the risk of cheese oozing out during frying.
Once all your cheese sticks are coated, place them on a wire rack over a baking sheet. This setup allows any excess oil to drip off later. Now, transfer the coated cheese sticks to the freezer for at least one hour. Freezing is vital, as it solidifies the cheese, preventing it from melting too quickly during frying and reducing the chances of cheese leakage.
Frying:
After freezing, remove the cheese sticks from the freezer, heat your oil to 350°F to 365°F, and gently place the sticks into the hot oil. Fry in small batches to avoid overcrowding, and cook until golden brown, usually about 2-3 minutes. Use a spider spoon or tongs for safe handling.
And there you have it! A comprehensive guide to dipping and dredging your mozzarella cheese sticks. By following these steps, you'll achieve that coveted crispy exterior and prevent unwanted cheese leaks. Enjoy your delicious, gooey, and crispy creation!
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Freezing the sticks
Freezing the mozzarella cheese sticks before frying them is an essential step in the cooking process. It helps to prevent the cheese from oozing out of the coating before it has crisped up. Freezing the sticks also means you can make a large batch and store the extras in the freezer for up to three months.
To freeze the sticks, first prepare a dredge with flour, beaten eggs, and a panko crumb mixture. Working with one stick at a time, dip the cheese into the flour, shake off any excess, then dip it into the egg, and finally into the panko crumb mixture, ensuring the cheese stick is fully coated. Place the coated sticks onto a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Repeat this process until all the sticks are coated.
Once all the sticks are coated, place them in the freezer for at least one hour. If you are planning to freeze them for longer than an hour, remove them from the freezer after 60 minutes and place them in an airtight container or zip-top bag before returning them to the freezer. Be sure to label the bag with the date.
When you are ready to fry the mozzarella sticks, heat a saucepan of vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C). Remove the cheese sticks from the freezer and gently place them into the hot oil, frying in small batches to avoid overcrowding. Fry the sticks until they are golden brown, which should take around 2–3 minutes.
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Frying methods
Mozzarella cheese sticks can be fried, baked, or air-fried. However, frying them is generally recommended for the best taste and texture.
To fry mozzarella cheese sticks, you will need to first prepare the cheese sticks by cutting a block of mozzarella into sticks. It is important to cut them smaller than you think because the cheese sticks will expand in size during the breading and cooking process. You can skip this step if you are using string cheese.
Next, you will need to set up a dredging or breading station. This typically involves three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with breadcrumbs or a panko crumb mixture. Some recipes suggest adding seasonings such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, or Italian seasoning to the breadcrumbs.
After preparing the cheese sticks and breading station, you will begin the dredging process. Dip each cheese stick into the flour, then the eggs, and finally the breadcrumbs, ensuring that each stick is fully coated. Repeat this process to create a double or triple layer of breading, which will help prevent the cheese from leaking out during frying.
Once all the cheese sticks are coated, place them on a wire rack or baking sheet and transfer them to the freezer for at least one hour. Freezing the cheese sticks before frying helps to bring down the temperature of the cheese and prevent the cheese from spilling out into the oil during frying.
While the cheese sticks are in the freezer, heat up your frying oil. Neutral frying oils with a high smoke point, such as avocado oil, grapeseed oil, or vegetable oil, are recommended. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan or a large pot to a temperature between 350-365°F (175-185°C). Use a deep-fat thermometer or a spider spoon to carefully lower the cheese sticks into the hot oil. Fry 3-4 cheese sticks at a time, for about 2-3 minutes, or until they turn golden brown.
Remove the fried cheese sticks from the oil and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil. Repeat the frying process until all the cheese sticks are cooked. Serve the mozzarella cheese sticks immediately while they are still hot and crispy on the outside, with a gooey, melted cheese centre. They can be served with a variety of dipping sauces, such as marinara sauce, nacho cheese sauce, aioli, or ranch dressing.
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Serving suggestions
Fried mozzarella cheese sticks are a perfect snack or appetiser, and they are great for parties. They are best served hot and fresh, straight out of the fryer. You can serve them with a variety of sauces for dipping, such as warm marinara sauce, pesto sauce, or your favourite tomato sauce. If you're making these for a party, it's a good idea to cook only one or two at a time to prevent them from sticking together.
If you have any leftover cheese sticks, they can be refrigerated or frozen and reheated later. To reheat refrigerated cheese sticks, place them in an oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5 minutes, or until heated through. For frozen cheese sticks, place them in an oven preheated to 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 15 minutes, or until heated through.
When serving fried mozzarella cheese sticks, it's important to consider the presentation. You can arrange them on a platter with the dipping sauce in a small bowl in the centre, or you can provide individual servings with a few cheese sticks and a small cup of sauce. Garnishes such as chopped parsley or grated cheese can also add a nice touch.
For a more substantial meal, fried mozzarella cheese sticks can be served as a side dish or appetiser alongside other fried foods, such as chicken tenders or french fries. They can also be served with a salad or vegetables to balance out the richness of the cheese.
Lastly, don't forget to provide napkins or wet wipes, as fried cheese can be messy to eat! Enjoy your delicious fried mozzarella cheese sticks!
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