Bushra Griffith
Mozzarella is a soft, white cheese that is a popular choice for pizza due to its soft, stringy consistency and beautiful flavour. However, its high moisture content can make pizza watery, so it's important to prepare and cook it properly. Before adding mozzarella to your pizza, you should ensure that it is dry. This can be done by draining the liquids from the bag and shaking off any excess water. Then, the cheese can be cut into thin strips, ready for use. When slicing fresh mozzarella, it's best to use a sharp knife, preferably a serrated cheese knife or thin-bladed knife, and it can be helpful to oil up the knife with vegetable oil to prevent the cheese from sticking.
How to cut mozzarella cheese for pizza
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Knife type | Serrated cheese knife, thin-bladed knife, boning knife, hollow-edge chef knife, or multi-prep knife |
| Knife preparation | Heat the knife, oil the knife with vegetable oil, or slice a groove |
| Cheese preparation | Drain liquids, shake off excess water, dry with a paper towel, chill or freeze |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Use a sharp knife
When cutting mozzarella cheese for pizza, using a sharp knife is the simplest method. It is recommended to use a serrated cheese knife or a thin-bladed knife. Start by holding the mozzarella ball gently with one hand, and slice through it using the entire length of the blade.
However, this method can be challenging when dealing with a ball of fresh mozzarella, as it is a very soft and delicate cheese that can easily get smashed or stick to the knife. To prevent the cheese from sticking to the blade, you can try oiling it up with a slight coating of vegetable oil. This will help each slice fall off the blade after each cut, and the blade will also slide through the cheese more easily.
Another trick to help get the knife started and determine the thickness of each slice is to first slice a groove along the top of the mozzarella ball. You can also try heating up the knife before using it, especially if the cheese has been frozen or chilled. This can be done by running the knife under hot water for a minute and then drying it off, or by heating it above a stove-top burner.
If you are looking for more precision when cutting softer cheeses like fresh mozzarella, a boning knife might be a good option. Boning knives usually have sharp, thin blades with a curve that can provide a lot of control and prevent the cheese from getting smashed.
The Real Deal: Authentic Italian Pizza and Cheese
You may want to see also
Oil up the knife
To cut mozzarella cheese for pizza, you'll need to use a sharp knife, preferably a serrated cheese knife or a thin-bladed knife. A boning knife, which has a thin blade and a curved surface, can also work well for slicing mozzarella.
Oil up the blade of your knife with vegetable oil. Coating the blade with oil will help prevent the cheese from sticking to the knife. Each slice of mozzarella will fall off the blade after each cut, and the blade will slide through the cheese more easily.
If you don't have vegetable oil, you can use other types of oil, such as olive oil, as long as it's food-safe. You can also use non-stick cooking spray as an alternative to oil.
Make sure to only apply a thin coat of oil to the blade, as too much oil may cause the cheese to slide around when you're trying to cut it. You should also wipe off any excess oil before cutting, to avoid getting oil on your hands or the cutting board.
If you're using a soft, fresh mozzarella, you may also want to chill or freeze the cheese for a few minutes before slicing. This will help the cheese firm up slightly, making it easier to cut. However, be careful not to freeze the cheese completely, as this can destroy the texture and flavour.
Domino's Philly Cheesesteak Pizza: Still on the Menu?
You may want to see also
Slice a groove
Slicing fresh mozzarella can be more difficult than cutting other types of cheese due to its soft and delicate texture. To make clean slices, it is important to use a sharp knife, preferably a serrated cheese knife or a thin-bladed knife. Before slicing, you can chill or freeze the mozzarella for up to 10 minutes to firm up the exterior slightly, making it easier to cut. However, freezing the cheese for too long can negatively impact its texture and flavor.
To prevent the cheese from sticking to the knife and to facilitate smoother cuts, you can oil up the knife blade with a thin coating of vegetable oil. Additionally, you can start by slicing a groove along the top of the mozzarella ball to help guide your knife and determine the desired thickness of the slices.
When using a knife to cut mozzarella, it is recommended to use a gentle touch to avoid smashing the cheese. A heated knife can also be utilized, especially when cutting chilled or frozen cheese. To heat the knife, run it under hot water for a minute and then dry it off, or you can heat it above a stove burner.
Cheese Pizza: Carb Count for Four Slices
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Dry the mozzarella
Fresh mozzarella is the perfect cheese to use on pizzas. Its beautifully soft consistency and gorgeous flavour make it a favourite for pizza lovers worldwide. However, its high moisture content can cause a watery mess on your pizza. To avoid this, you will want to dry the mozzarella before adding it to your pizza.
First, drain the liquids from the bag in which the fresh mozzarella was stored. Then, remove the mozzarella and place it onto a plate or cutting board. Shake off any excess water and moisture from the mozzarella, and cut it into three or four pieces. Drain any more water from the cut-up pieces so that the mozzarella can dry faster.
The next step is to place the mozzarella pieces inside a mesh strainer and then place the strainer into a bowl. Put both the bowl and the strainer inside the refrigerator and leave for a few hours. Once this is done, remove the fresh mozzarella from the fridge and dry off the pieces of cheese with a paper towel to remove any more excess moisture. You can also leave this to dry in the paper towel for 10 to 15 minutes to ensure that the mozzarella dries out completely.
Finally, cut the fresh mozzarella into thin little strips, which will make it super easy to add to your homemade pizzas later.
Cheese Crust Pizza: Ordering Guide for a Perfect Pie
You may want to see also
Use a boning knife
Mozzarella is a soft, white cheese with a beautifully soft consistency and a high moisture content. It is one of the most popular cheeses for pizza due to its soft, stringy consistency and beautiful flavour. However, its delicate texture can make it challenging to cut, and it may stick to the knife or get smashed.
To overcome this, a boning knife is a great tool to use when cutting mozzarella cheese for pizza. A boning knife is ideal for slicing cheese due to its thin, curved blade, which provides excellent control and prevents the cheese from getting smashed. Here are some tips on how to use a boning knife to cut mozzarella cheese for pizza:
Firstly, ensure that your boning knife is very sharp. A sharp knife will glide through the soft cheese more easily than a dull knife, reducing the risk of smashing or sticking. If your knife is not very sharp, consider using a knife sharpener to hone the blade before cutting the cheese.
Before cutting, slightly oil up the blade of the boning knife with vegetable oil. This will help prevent the cheese from sticking to the knife, ensuring that each slice falls off the blade cleanly after each cut. It will also allow the blade to slide through the cheese more smoothly.
Next, start by slicing a groove along the top of the mozzarella ball. This will help guide your knife and give you a starting point to determine the thickness of your slices. You can also try chilling or freezing the cheese for a few minutes before cutting, as this will firm up the outer surface, making it easier to slice. However, be careful not to freeze it for too long, as this can affect the texture and flavour of the cheese.
When you are ready to cut, hold the mozzarella ball gently with one hand and start slicing through it, using the entire length of the boning knife blade. Work slowly and carefully to ensure even slices. If you are slicing a large ball of mozzarella, you may need to adjust your grip and reposition your hand as you go.
By following these steps and using a boning knife, you can successfully cut mozzarella cheese for pizza, achieving even slices without smashing or sticking. Remember to dry off any excess moisture from the cheese before adding it to your pizza to avoid a watery pizza.
Cheese Pizza Pops: Vegetarian or Not?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
To cut mozzarella cheese for pizza, you will need a sharp knife, preferably a serrated cheese knife or a thin-bladed knife. Hold the mozzarella ball gently with one hand and start slicing through it, using the entire length of the blade.
You can prevent mozzarella cheese from sticking to the knife by oiling up the knife with vegetable oil. You can also use a hollow-edge chef knife, which has indentations on the blade that prevent food from sticking to its surface.
You can prevent mozzarella cheese from getting smashed by using a boning knife, which has a thin blade and a curve that works well for slicing cheese. You can also chill or slightly freeze the mozzarella cheese before cutting it.
To prevent watery pizza when using fresh mozzarella cheese, you need to ensure that the cheese is dry before adding it to the pizza. Drain the liquids from the bag in which the mozzarella was stored, shake off any excess water, and cut the mozzarella into a few pieces. Then, place the pieces in a mesh strainer inside a bowl and leave it in the refrigerator for a few hours.
