Kamil Perry
Brick cheese is a type of cheese that originated in Wisconsin in the 1870s and is considered a key ingredient in Detroit-style pizza. It is a cheddar-like cheese with a mild and tangy flavour, and a smooth texture that melts easily, creating a bubbling layer of browned cheese around the edges of the pizza. This cheese is traditionally used in Detroit-style pizza, which is baked in a rectangular pan, resulting in a thick and crispy crust. While substitutions such as mozzarella, Muenster, or Monterey Jack can be used, brick cheese is considered the classic and essential cheese for this style of pizza, contributing to its unique taste and texture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese used for Detroit-style pizza | Brick cheese |
| Origin of brick cheese | Wisconsin, United States |
| Taste | Mild, tangy, buttery |
| Texture | Smooth, melts easily |
| Substitutes | White Muenster, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella, Mild Cheddar |
| Availability | Uncommon outside the Midwest |
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What You'll Learn
- Brick cheese is a Wisconsin cheese, typically used for Detroit-style pizza
- It is hard to find outside the Midwest, but substitutions are available
- Detroit-style pizza is baked in a rectangular pan, with cheese spread edge-to-edge
- The cheese caramelises and creates a fried effect, resulting in a crispy crust
- Blending brick cheese with mozzarella is a popular choice for Detroit-style pizza
Brick cheese is a Wisconsin cheese, typically used for Detroit-style pizza
Brick cheese is a Wisconsin cheese that is typically used for Detroit-style pizza. It is a semi-soft, mild, buttery, high-fat cheese with a smooth texture that melts easily, creating a bubbling layer of browned cheese around the crust—a signature trait of Detroit-style pizza. The cheese is applied edge-to-edge, caramelizing the crust and resulting in a crispy exterior and light and airy interior.
Brick cheese was invented in Wisconsin in the 1870s as a lighter-tasting version of Limburger cheese. It falls somewhere between mozzarella and cheddar in taste, with a mild but tangy flavour. When young, it has a mild taste, but when aged, it becomes more pungent and Limburger-like. The young variety is usually used in Detroit-style pizza due to its superior melting properties.
The cheese is considered one of the defining characteristics of Detroit-style pizza, with Buddy's Pizza, the small chain believed to have invented the style, using a blend of brick and mozzarella. However, it can be difficult to find outside the Midwest, and substitutions such as mozzarella with Muenster or Monterey Jack are sometimes used.
Detroit-style pizza has gained widespread popularity, with national chains like Pizza Hut adding it to their menus and Instagram loaded with images of the photogenic pies. This has brought attention to Wisconsin's brick cheese, with sales increasing in recent years.
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It is hard to find outside the Midwest, but substitutions are available
Brick cheese is considered the classic type of cheese for Detroit-style pizza. It is a cheddar-like cheese that originated in Wisconsin in the 1870s and has a mild but tangy flavor. It is a popular cheese in the Midwest and Northeast, but it can be difficult to find and expensive outside of these regions.
If you don't live in an area with a good cheese selection and still want to stick to tradition, you can try ordering brick cheese online. It is shipped by both specialty shops and some larger retailers. However, if you don't have the time or energy to search for this elusive cheese, you can easily fashion a substitute by combining other types of cheese.
Detroit-style pizza typically blends brick cheese with mozzarella. Some possible substitutions for brick cheese include white Mueller, Monterey Jack, or mild cheddar. These cheeses can be blended with mozzarella to create a taste and texture that are very similar to a brick and mozzarella blend. For example, you could use a combination of mild cheddar and Monterey Jack or mild cheddar and mozzarella.
While these substitutions may not produce the exact same flavor as brick cheese, they can still result in a delicious Detroit-style pizza. Experimenting with different cheese combinations can be a rewarding experience and may even lead to the creation of a unique and signature Detroit-style pizza recipe.
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Detroit-style pizza is baked in a rectangular pan, with cheese spread edge-to-edge
Detroit-style pizza is a unique culinary delight, with a thick and crispy crust, baked in a rectangular pan. The signature trait of this pizza style is the cheese, specifically brick cheese, spread edge-to-edge, creating a caramelized, crunchy exterior. This style of pizza originated in Detroit, Michigan, and has gained widespread popularity, with people across the country seeking to recreate this delicious treat.
The rectangular shape of the pizza is a defining characteristic, and it is said that the original pans used for this style were square-shaped industrial trays from Motor City factories. The pans are typically dark, which increases heat conduction, contributing to the formation of the coveted crispy, bronzed crust. This style of pizza is not just about the shape, but also the generous amount of cheese used, with up to a pound of cubed cheese spread from end-to-end.
Brick cheese, a key component of Detroit-style pizza, is a cheddar-like cheese with a mild, buttery taste and a smooth texture. It was invented in Wisconsin in the 1870s and has gained renewed attention due to the popularity of Detroit-style pizza. This cheese is considered one of the defining factors of Detroit-style pizza, and its high-fat content contributes to the crispy, oily texture of the crust. When baked, it forms a trademarked layer of blackened cheese at the edges, a signature of this pizza style.
While brick cheese is traditional for Detroit-style pizza, it can be challenging to find outside the Midwest. Substitutes such as mozzarella, white Mueller or Monterey Jack can be used, either blended with each other or with brick cheese to achieve a similar taste and texture. Some chefs also add Parmesan or smoked pepperoni to enhance the flavour. The cheese blend is a matter of personal preference, and experimentation is encouraged to create unique combinations.
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The cheese caramelises and creates a fried effect, resulting in a crispy crust
Detroit-style pizza is characterised by its crispy, bronzed, and crunchy edges, and its buttery crust. This unique texture and colour is achieved by applying cheese evenly across the pizza, edge-to-edge, so that it caramelises and creates a fried effect, resulting in a crispy crust.
Brick cheese, a cheddar-like cheese invented in Wisconsin in the 1870s, is considered the classic cheese for Detroit-style pizza. Its mild, buttery, and tangy flavour, as well as its smooth texture and high fat content, make it ideal for this style of pizza. When melted, brick cheese forms a bubbling layer of browned cheese that leaks around the edges of the pizza, creating the signature crusty and fried effect.
While mozzarella is a well-known and versatile cheese that can be used as a base for many pizzas, it is often blended with brick cheese for Detroit-style pizzas. The low-moisture variety of mozzarella is preferred, as the moisture content of the cheese can affect the dough during baking. Other cheeses that can be used as substitutes for brick cheese include white Muenster, Monterey Jack, and mild cheddar. These cheeses can be blended with mozzarella or with each other to create a similar taste and texture to brick cheese.
However, it is important to note that brick cheese can be difficult to find outside of the Midwest and certain regions of the United States. Those seeking authentic Detroit-style pizza may need to search specialty shops or order online to find this elusive cheese. Nevertheless, with the growing popularity of Detroit-style pizza, more people are discovering the unique qualities of brick cheese and incorporating it into their pizza recipes.
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Blending brick cheese with mozzarella is a popular choice for Detroit-style pizza
Detroit-style pizza is known for its rectangular shape and thick, crispy crust. But what really sets it apart is the cheese—specifically, brick cheese. This cheese, traditionally made in Wisconsin, is known for its buttery taste and melt-in-your-mouth texture. When used on Detroit-style pizza, it creates a salty, crunchy edge and a light and airy interior.
However, brick cheese can be difficult to find outside the Midwest and Northeast regions of the United States. As a result, many pizza makers and enthusiasts have started blending brick cheese with mozzarella, a more widely available cheese, to create an authentic-tasting Detroit-style pizza.
Mozzarella is a well-known and versatile cheese that can be found in most grocery stores. When combined with brick cheese, it helps to tone down the richness of brick cheese while still achieving the desired flavour and texture. This blend of cheeses is then spread edge-to-edge on the pizza, creating a consistent layer of cheese that caramelizes with the crust when baked.
While some pizza purists may argue that only brick cheese should be used for Detroit-style pizza, the reality is that this cheese can be hard to come by for many people. By blending brick cheese with mozzarella, pizza lovers can still create a delicious and authentic-tasting Detroit-style pizza without having to compromise on flavour or settle for a completely different type of cheese.
Additionally, blending brick cheese with mozzarella allows for experimentation with other toppings and ingredients. For example, some pizza chefs add a sprinkling of Parmesan before baking, while others top their pizzas with feta cheese for a unique twist. Ultimately, the blend of brick cheese and mozzarella provides a versatile base that can be customized to suit different tastes and preferences.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, brick cheese is considered the classic type of cheese for Detroit-style pizza. It is one of the things that make the pizza Detroit-style.
Brick cheese is necessary for Detroit pizza because it lends the pizza its signature flavour and texture. It is also used to achieve the trademarked layer of blackened cheese at the edges, which fills the pan and helps cook the rest of the crust, giving it a focaccia-like crispy bottom and a wonderfully oily flavour.
Brick cheese is a cheddar-like cheese that was invented in Wisconsin in the 1870s. It has a mild but tangy flavour and a smooth texture that melts easily. It is also known as the cheese used for Detroit-style pizza.
If you live in Wisconsin or the Midwest, you can find brick cheese in most places. However, if you live outside these regions, it may be difficult to find brick cheese in grocery stores. In this case, your best option is to order it online from specialty shops or larger retailers.
