Randy Chandler
Mozzarella is the most popular cheese for pizza, but there are many other varieties that can be used to add a unique taste. One of these varieties is provolone, a semi-hard Italian cheese that is the second most popular cheese to blend with other cheeses. Provolone has a bit more sharpness than mozzarella and is often blended with it to give pizza more depth of flavour. Provolone is also popular on its own as the main cheese used on pizzas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Popularity | Provolone is the second most popular cheese to blend with other cheeses. It is also the main cheese used in Pizza King, a pizza chain in Indiana and possibly other Midwestern states. |
| Taste | Provolone has a bit more sharpness than mozzarella. Provolone dolce is aged for two months and has a mild, sweet flavor. Provolone piccante is aged longer and has a sharper taste, making it a more popular choice for pizza. |
| Texture | Provolone is a semi-hard Italian cheese. |
| Meltability | Provolone melts well on pizza. |
| Blends | Mozzarella and provolone can be blended to make a traditional cheese or pepperoni pizza. Provolone is also blended with swiss and cheddar to make Provel, a low-moisture, high-fat cheese. |
| Other | Mozzarella is the most popular cheese option for pizza. |
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What You'll Learn
Mozzarella is the king of pizza cheeses
Mozzarella has perfect properties for melting on top of pizza. The oils do not separate from it easily, which minimises the greasy puddles your pizza may develop. It browns nicely and has a satisfying texture. Originally made with buffalo milk, most mozzarella today is made from cow's milk. When making pizza with mozzarella cheese, you can choose between high and low moisture. Use low-moisture mozzarella for Margherita pizzas and high-moisture mozzarella for Neapolitan and Greek pizzas.
Mozzarella is so versatile that it can be blended with provolone to make a traditional cheese or pepperoni pizza. Provolone is the second most popular cheese to blend with other cheeses. It has a bit more sharpness than mozzarella and is often blended with it to give pizza more depth of flavour. Provolone comes in two types: provolone dolce, which is aged for two months and has a mild, sweet flavour, and provolone piccante, which is aged longer and has a sharper taste, making it a more popular choice for pizza.
While provolone is a popular cheese for pizza, it is not the standard. Mozzarella is the classic ingredient that makes pizza what it is.
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Provolone is a popular choice for pizza
Mozzarella is the most popular cheese option for pizza. It is a defining ingredient in Neapolitan pizza, but it is a versatile cheese that can be used for any pizza style. However, provolone is also a popular choice for pizza. It is a semi-hard Italian cheese and is the second most popular cheese to blend with other cheeses.
Provolone has a bit more sharpness than mozzarella and is often blended with mozzarella to give pizza more depth of flavour. It comes in two types: provolone dolce, which is aged for two months and has a mild, sweet flavour, and provolone piccante, which is aged longer and has a sharper taste, making it a more popular choice for pizza.
In addition to its versatility, provolone's popularity may be due to its firmness. When compared to mozzarella, provolone has a slightly firmer texture, which can give the pizza a boost in terms of texture and mouthfeel.
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Cheddar is a good addition to any pie
While mozzarella is the classic choice for pizza, cheddar is a great addition to any pie. It has a sharp, nutty, rich flavour and holds up well as it cools, remaining soft and pliable. It is also a good melting cheese, which is key for a pizza topping.
Cheddar is a versatile cheese that can be used in a variety of pies, both sweet and savoury. For example, apple pie with cheddar cheese is a well-known combination. The sharpness of the cheddar is said to serve as a nice counterweight to the sweetness of the apples and syrup. In fact, it is said that in Wisconsin, it is illegal to serve a slice of apple pie without some cheddar cheese!
Cheddar can also be used in the crust of a pie, as seen in recipes for apple cheddar pie, which combines a buttery cheddar cheese pie crust with a sweet, gooey cinnamon apple filling.
When it comes to pizza, cheddar can be used as a substitute for mozzarella or blended with it to create a flavourful cheese blend. While cheddar may be too oily to be used alone on a pizza, when combined with mozzarella, it creates a delicious combination.
So, whether you're making a sweet or savoury pie, don't be afraid to get creative and experiment with cheddar!
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Parmesan is a hard, sharp Italian cheese
While mozzarella is the most popular cheese for pizza, other cheeses can be used to add more nuanced flavours. Provolone, an Italian cheese, is often blended with mozzarella to give pizza more depth of flavour.
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Feta is an increasingly popular choice
While mozzarella is the classic pizza cheese, feta is an increasingly popular choice. Feta is a Greek curd cheese traditionally made from goat's milk, though most feta sold in the United States is made from cow's milk. It is crumbly yet moist, salty, and tangy, with a bold flavour and a bit of texture.
Feta is a great choice for a simple yet delicious homemade pizza. It pairs well with mozzarella, which has a creamy texture and is known for its perfect melting properties. When making a pizza with feta, it is best to get a block of feta in brine, as the pre-crumbled and fat-free versions are dry and tasteless.
Feta is commonly used on Greek pizzas, which typically also include toppings such as red onions, tomatoes, oregano, olives, and basil. Feta is also a popular choice for white pizzas, which are pizzas without any sauce. On a white pizza, feta is often paired with garlic, onion, and Parmesan.
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Frequently asked questions
No, mozzarella is the most standard cheese for pizza. However, provolone is the second most popular cheese to blend with other cheeses.
Provolone is a semi-hard Italian cheese. Its flavor varies depending on how long it has been aged. Provolone can be aged for a shorter amount of time to add a sweeter flavor and a creamier texture to the pizza. Aging it longer will add a sharper taste and a drier texture.
Other types of cheese that can be used on pizza include mozzarella, cheddar, parmesan, feta, fontina, gouda, jack, muenster, raclette, swiss raclette, and asiago.
