Frederic Melton
Pizza cheese is a soft spun-curd cheese made from cow's milk, similar to mozzarella, but with less water content. Mozzarella is the most popular pizza cheese globally, but it has been estimated that in the United States, only about 30% of all pizza cheese used is actual mozzarella. Other popular cheeses used in pizzas include provolone, cheddar, gouda, parmesan, and processed cheese blends. The choice of cheese depends on various factors such as flavour, texture, stretchability, and browning capability.
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What You'll Learn
Mozzarella
Low-moisture mozzarella is commonly used on pizzas to prevent the cheese from becoming too wet. This type of mozzarella can be kept refrigerated for up to a month, and some shredded varieties have a shelf life of up to six months. When making pizza, it is important to avoid using pre-shredded mozzarella as it contains starch that prevents caking. Instead, it is recommended to shred the cheese yourself or purchase it in blocks and shred it as needed.
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Provolone
Testers describe the flavour of provolone as that of a "classic run-of-the-mill pizzeria pizza." Provolone is also said to give pizza a "signature pizzeria taste."
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Cheddar
When using cheddar on pizza, it is important to consider the type of pizza and cooking method. For a thinner crust pizza, it is recommended to cook at a lower temperature for a longer time. It may also work well for grill pizzas where the toppings are added towards the end.
Some pizza chains, like Domino's, have been known to use a mixture of mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and white cheddar in equal proportions. However, they have since changed their recipe, and their current cheese blend includes provolone flavouring.
Overall, cheddar is a suitable cheese for pizza, but it may require some experimentation to find the right combination of cheeses and cooking methods to achieve the desired results.
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Parmesan
When using Parmesan on pizza, it is important to note that it should not be baked in the oven as this will ruin its umami taste. The cheese should be shaved or shredded on top of freshly baked pizzas. Parmesan is a hard cheese, and the older it is, the less it will melt. Therefore, younger Parmesan is better suited for pizza as it melts more easily.
Some pizza chains, such as Pizza Hut and Domino's, use blends of cheese that include Parmesan. Domino's, for example, has used a mix of mozzarella, Pecarino, Parmesan, and Asiago cheeses. However, it is important to note that the specific cheeses used may vary by region and over time as recipes are updated.
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Low-moisture mozzarella
Mozzarella is the most popular cheese used on pizzas globally. However, it is estimated that only about 30% of all pizza cheese used in the United States is actual mozzarella. In the US, low-moisture mozzarella is the cheese of choice for most pizza styles, including New York-style, Greek-style, bar pies, New Haven apizza, and Chicago deep-dish pies.
When purchasing low-moisture mozzarella, it is important to distinguish it from high-moisture varieties. Low-moisture mozzarella is typically found in blocks or bags at grocery stores and is often labelled as such. It has a drier texture, grates easily, and is less sticky compared to high-moisture mozzarella, which is usually sold in vacuum-sealed balls or logs with visible liquid in the package.
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Frequently asked questions
Mozzarella is the most popular pizza cheese, with provolone coming in second. Cheddar, gouda, Parmesan, and Asiago are also commonly used.
Mozzarella is used because of its meltability and stretchiness. It is also America's favourite pizza cheese.
Pizza shops tend to use low-moisture mozzarella because it has a lower water content than regular mozzarella, which can make pizza soggy.
