The Best Pizza Cheese
It’s certain that pizza is among the most popular foods in America. Within the United States alone there are more than 70 pizzerias that produce greater than $30 billion in revenues every year. If you are the proprietor of the pizzeria, it may be difficult to design an exceptional pizza that stands out from the other pizzerias. There is a lot that goes into making the perfect pizza. The key is to choose the best cheese. We’ve conducted the necessary investigation to find out which cheeses provide your pizza with the most appealing appearance and taste.
Follow these links to go through our recommendations of the top pizza cheeses:
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Provolone Cheese
- Cheddar Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese
- Gouda
- Goat Cheese
- Gruyere
- Ricotta
How Do You Choose Cheese for Pizza?
Before you choose the best pizza cheese to go with your menu, it’s crucial to comprehend what makes a cheese suitable for pizza. These are the qualities to look out for that will make a cheese ideal for pizza baking:
- Browning Capability is able to turn golden brown via the Maillard reaction without burning
- Melting Capacity can be covered without making lumps or getting too thin
- Stretchiness – displays visible strands of pizza that stretch when slices are separated
- fat content – the milkfat mass of solids within the cheese helps it become denser, and also makes it to stretch and melt.
- Moisture Content The amount of liquid contained in the cheese affects the browning capacity of the cheese
The ideal pizza cheese should change to an even golden brown, without burning under the intense temperature that is the pizza oven. It must also possess a low melting point that allows it to be distributed evenly across the crust and keep it from the formation of clumps. The cheese should also have an elongated, slightly stretchy texture to create strings when it is pulled apart, but should not be difficult for chewers to tear apart. Pizza cheese generally has a low moisture content (~50-52 percent) and a lower fat content (~35-40 percent) which results in the desired melt and stretchability.
Best Cheeses for Pizza
There are many varieties of cheese available but not all of them are suitable to make pizza. Mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, parmesan, and provolone are the four primary pizza kinds of cheese. However, there are many other varieties of cheese that are able to be added to your gourmet pizzas to give a unique flavor. Consider incorporating one or more of the following varieties of pizza cheeses to create a diverse menu:
1. Mozzarella Cheese
Mozzarella is one of the sought-after cheeses for pizza and has rapidly become the preferred cheese for different pizza styles also. Since it’s not processed it has a refreshing flavor with a mild and smooth texture. Mozzarella cheese was originally produced using Bufala milk, however, it now is available using cow’s milk as ingredients. You should look for the DOP logo when you’re planning to serve the classic version.
Differentialities between High and Low Moisture Mozzarella
If you’re making pizza using mozzarella cheese, it is possible to select between low and high moisture. The mozzarella with high moisture has a shorter shelf life and needs to be consumed in the very first hour it is created. The mozzarella with lower moisture has a more long shelf life and has a saltier and more dense taste as compared to high-moisture mozzarella. The low moisture content also allows it to melt more quickly when it is baked. Low-moisture mozzarella made of entire milk makes the most suitable pizza topping, regardless of whether it’s used as the sole cheese or incorporated into the cheese blend.
High-Moisture Mozzarella Cheese Characteristics
- Flavor Soft and smooth
- Browning Capability Light to Pale Browning
- Melting Capacity Medium tends to hold its form
- Stretchiness Low tends to puddle.
- Fat Content: 4.8 Grams per 1 oz. Slice
- Moisture Content Very High (52%-60 52%-60%)
Low-Moisture Mozzarella Cheese Characteristics
- Flavor It is creamy with a subtle taste of tang
- Browning Capacity Medium to Light Browning
- Melting Capacity High, evenly melts
- Stretchiness The highest and visible with visible hair strands
- Fat Content: 6 Grams per 1 oz. Slice
- Moisture Content Content: High (45%-52 percent)
Using Mozzarella on Pizza
Use low moisture mozzarella for Margherita pizzas and use high-moisture mozzarella for Neapolitan and Greek pizzas. If using on its own, make sure you slice thinly and then drain any excess moisture off the cheese. Because mozzarella can be used in a variety of ways it is the top cheese to add to an artisanal blend of cheeses. Mozzarella can be mixed with provolone to create a classic cheese pizza or pepperoni pizza.
Mozzarella Pairings for Pizza
The following toppings go well with the mild, creamy taste that mozzarella cheese offers:
- Pepperoni
- Basil
- Vienna Sausage
- Tomatoes
- Salami
- Olives
- Arugula
- Red Peppers
2. Provolone Cheese
Provolone is a semi-hard Italian cheese that is second in sought-after cheese that can be mixed with other cheeses. The taste of Provolone is dramatically based on how long it has been aged. If you’re looking for an apricot-like flavor and creamy consistency to pizzas, select provolone which has aged for a lesser period of time. To give a sharper flavor and a more dry texture, pick the provolone that has been aged for a longer time.
Provolone Cheese Characteristics
- Flavor Creamy and sweet in the early days, but dry and sharp when you get older.
- Browning Capability: Dark Browning
- Melting Capacity High, evenly melts
- Stretchiness Moderate to Low, and with only a little Stranding based on age
- Fat Content: 7 Grams per 1 oz. Slice
- Moisture Content Content: High (45 percent)
Using Provolone on Pizza
Due to the popularity of provolone in the pizza-making community, It can be used on any flavor or type of pizza. Make pizzas like Italian tomato pie St. Louis pizza, Greek pizza, or a pinsa Romana using this cheese that is versatile. It’s sure to please!
Provolone Pairings for Pizza
Try one of the following toppings using provolone cheese for pizza:
- Chicken
- Pesto
- Basil
- Onion
- Broccoli
- Sausage
- Spinach
- Tomato
- Red Peppers
3. Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar cheese is loved by many due to its strong flavor. It’s not often that people think of cheddar cheese as the sole cheese to use on pizza since it isn’t able to tolerate high temperatures. It’s a common ingredient in pie cheese mixes. Cheddar is an excellent option for pizzas because of its lower elasticity, which means that it doesn’t swell as quickly as mozzarella. If you select an extra sharp cheddar cheese with deep orange tones it can give pizza a vibrant color.
Cheddar Cheese Characteristics
- Flavor The flavor is earthy, sharp, and pungent, the sharpness is stronger in cheddars that are darker-colored
- Browning Capability Medium Browning
- Melting Capacity Low fats can segregate from solids when heated to high temperatures
- Stretchiness Low and with only Stranding
- Fat Content: 9 Grams per 1 oz. Slice
- Moisture Content: Medium (34-45%)
Using Cheddar on Pizza
While cheddar isn’t the best choice on its own on pizza, however, it is a great addition to cheese blends that bring color to your dish. Be creative using cheddar and any kind of pizza you’d like to make. Due to the flexibility that cheddar cheese can provide you can incorporate toppings such as savory meat or sweet pineapple for your own unique menu. Cheddar cheese is often used in specialty pizzas such as cheeseburgers, chicken bacon ranch Buffalo chicken pizzas.
Cheddar Pairings for Pizza
If you’re serving cheese on your pizzas, mix it with these toppings:
- Pepperoni
- Ham
- Bacon
- Pineapple
- Chicken
- Caramelized Onion
- Capers
- Broccoli
4. Parmesan Cheese
Parmesan cheese as well as with other Italian soft cheeses may be chopped or shredded and placed over fresh-baked pizzas. It is not recommended to mix it into cheese mixtures and, because of the delicate taste and dryness of the cheese, it is not recommended to bake in ovens. If cheeses like parmesan are subjected to heat the umami flavor will be destroyed. Instead, put parmesan on to garnish pizzas, to enhance the flavor of the entire pizza.
Parmesan Cheese Characteristics
- Flavor Nuts, a little sweet
- Browning Capacity Very Dark Browning is prone to burn
- Melting Capacity Very Low will crack instead of melting
- Stretchiness Very Low snaps instead of stretching
- Fat Content: 1.4 Grams per 1 Tbsp.
- Moisture Content: Low (13-34%)
Using Parmesan on Pizza
If you’re an avid cheese-lover, parmesan cheese like Parmigiano-Reggiano is likely to be the most popular cheeses to add on top of your pizza. The addition of parmesan cheese to any pizza is fine however we would recommend it especially to be used on Sicilian, Margherita, or Hawaiian pizzas. The cheese will enhance the flavor of the other fresh and delicious toppings.
Parmesan Pairings for Pizza
Mix the delicious flavor of parmesan and the following toppings for pizza:
5. Gouda
Gouda It is semi-hard Dutch cheese that is renowned for its distinctive, rich taste and silky texture. Gouda that is older has less moisture and a more tangy flavor than young gouda. Due to its diverse flavor profile, gouda can be an excellent addition to pizzas with barbecue chicken or pulled pork. Additionally, it’s available in straight or smoked form, so you can choose the flavor that will enhance the other flavors of your pizza.
Gouda Cheese Specifications
- Flavor Smoky and buttery
- Browning Capability Medium-Dark Browning
- Melting Capacity Medium to Low does not readily soften, older gouda melts more easily
- Stretchiness low, pools, rather than stretching into Strands
- Fat Content: 8 Grams per 1 oz. Slice
- Moisture Content Mode to High (35%-55 percent)
Using Gouda on Pizza
Due to the buttery taste of gouda, it works well with flatbreads and thin-crust pizzas that blend sweetly with the savory flavor. Gouda is often paired with barbecued meats due to its natural smokiness. cheese.
Gouda Pairings for Pizza
Here are some pizza toppings that work perfectly with cheeses like gouda:
- Pulled Pork
- Barbecue Chicken
- Spinach
- Mushrooms
- Red Onion
- Sausage
- Garlic
- Olives
- Bacon
6. Goat Cheese
Goat cheese is made by consuming goat’s milk. It’s soft and creamy when it is young and can be blended with different flavors such as the flavor of herbs or berries. As it gets older and dries, it transforms to form a hard cheese that is preserved by forming the rind. Goat cheese is famous for its tart and earthy flavor that can provide an original flavor to the pizza.
Goat Cheese’s Specifications
- Flavor Earthy and tart
- Browning Capability Medium to Light Browning
- Melting Capacity From low to medium turns smooth but may separate when heated too much
- Stretchiness Low tends to pool
- Fat Content: 8 Grams per 1 oz. Slice
- Moisture Content The range of content is from High to Very High (53%-59.8 53%-59.8)
Using Goat Cheese on Pizza
While goat cheese won’t melt as mozzarella or provolone do, it softens beautifully when baked inside the oven. Goat cheese makes a great addition to flatbread pizzas, focaccia pizzas, and Mediterranean pizzas. Try dropping tiny smudges of goat cheese over the pizza’s surface. This will provide your customers with an explosion of flavor when they eat each bite.
Goat Cheese Pairings for Pizza
You can try goat cheese for your pizza, with some toppings listed below:
- Caramelized Onions
- Figures
- Peppers
- Arugula
- Caramelized Onions
- Bell Peppers
- Basil
- Mushrooms
7. Gruyere
Gruyere cheese is a form of Swiss cheese that is made from the whole milk of cows. It is a cheese that is hard however, it melts extremely well and has a pleasant and savory taste. While eating gruyere you can taste a variety of flavors that start with sweet and conclude with earthy and nutty.
Gruyere Cheese Qualities
- Flavor Nuts, sweet and earthy
- Browning Capability Medium Browning
- Melting Capacity Higher and Even
- Stretchiness High, then gooey and has visible strands of
- Fat Content: 9 Grams per 1 oz. Slice
- Moisture Content: Medium (39%)
Using Gruyere on Pizza
Gruyere is a well-loved cheese for classic pizza pieces. The sweet and nutty taste is great with white or red pizza sauces. Because gruyere melts evenly and doesn’t brisk easily, it’s an excellent cheese to use on any pizza.
Gruyere Pairings for Pizza
Take a bite of pizza toppings made with the cheese gruyere:
- Potatoes
- Peppers
- Prosciutto
- Sausage
- Caramelized Onion
- Spinach
- Red Onions
- Pesto
8. Ricotta
Ricotta cheese is made from the whey leftover from goat’s or cow’s milk or buffalo’s. The creamy Italian cheese comes with a delicate and slightly sweet flavor, with the texture of creamy and rich. It’s a good choice for various Italian meals, such as pizza pasta, pasta, and even cannolis.
Ricotta Cheese Characteristics
- Flavor Fresh milky, slightly sweet
- Browning Capability Pale to Light Browning
- Melting Capacity Very Low remains in shape even at high temperatures.
- Stretchiness Low turns soft instead of stretching.
- fat content 16 grams in 1/2 Cup
- Moisture Content Very High (55%-80 percent)
Using Ricotta on Pizza
Due to its creamy consistency, it’s utilized as a base cheese for white sauce pizzas such as Pizza Bianca and grilled flatbread pizzas. Ricotta cheese is blended with fontina, mozzarella, gorgonzola, or Gruyere cheeses to create a smooth base. The fresh taste of Ricotta is great with fresh seafood and vegetables.
Ricotta Pairings for Pizza
Ricotta goes well with the pizza toppings listed below:
After you’ve learned the distinctive characteristics of each kind and the flavor of pizza they go well with, you’re ready to start exploring by adding some particular cheeses. When you’re making pizza as a pizza to serve as an integral part of your menu or as a special product that you offer in your restaurant each week, you need to choose a cheese that is suitable for your pizza! You can make delicious pizzas for all your customers.
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