If mozzarella cheese has turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use it with confidence and how to choose it, cook it, store it, what to substitute, and 955 recipes to try it in.
Mozzarella cheese is a generic term for several kinds of Italian cheeses that are made using spinning and then cutting.
In recipes, if mozzarella is specified the recipe is normally referring to low-moisture mozzarella that is commonly available in most stores.
Low-moisture mozzarella can keep refrigerated for up to a month, though some pre-shredded low-moisture mozzarella is sold with a shelf life of up to 6 months. Mozzarella of several kinds are also used for most types of pizza, lasagna, or served with sliced tomatoes and basil in Insalata caprese.
Fresh mozzarella is generally white, but may vary seasonally to slightly yellow depending on the animal's diet. It is a semi-soft cheese.
Due to its high moisture content, it is traditionally served the day it is made, but can be kept in brine for up to a week, or longer when sold in vacuum-sealed packages.
Mozzarella is available fresh; it is usually rolled in the shape of a ball of 80 to 100 grams (6 cm diameter), sometimes up to 1 kilogram (about 12 cm diameter), and soaked in salt water(brine) or whey, sometimes with added citric acid, until sold.
It is also available in smoked (called affumicata) and reduced-moisture packaged varieties.
There are now offered a number of variations, such as "stuffed mozzarella", filled with olives and cooked or raw ham, as well as small tomatoes.
Specific kinds of mozzarella cheese and the recipes that use them.
Non-fat mozzarella is mozzarella cheese made from skim milk, with almost all the fat removed. It shreds and tastes mild like regular low-moisture mozzarella, and it shows up on pizzas, calzones, and baked pasta when you want the cheese pull for far fewer calories.
Mozzarella's famous stretch comes from fat lubricating the protein strands as they soften. Pull most of that fat out and the melt changes: it still melts, but it pulls shorter and dries out faster.
Smoked mozzarella is fresh or low-moisture mozzarella that has been cured in cool smoke, which tans the surface amber-brown and works a savory, woodsy flavor through the cheese. In Italy this style is scamorza affumicata, a close cousin of plain scamorza.
The smoke does two things. It carries a real campfire aroma into the milky cheese, and it firms the body so the curd slices and shreds more cleanly than soft, watery fresh mozzarella.
Underneath the smoke it is still mozzarella: mild and milky, and a champion melter that pulls into long strings when it is hot.
Where to find mozzarella cheese: Mozzarella cheese is usually found in the cheeses section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group: Mozzarella cheese is a member of the Dairy and Egg Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 ounce | 28 grams |
There are 992 recipes using and its varieties.
Italian sausage stuffed bell peppers with mozzarella cheese and oregano in marinara sauce. Easy baked peppers ready in under an hour, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Spaghetti squash is a healthy, low-carb, gluten-free substitute for regular pasta. One cup of spaghetti squash has 42 calories, 10 grams of carbs and 2 grams of fiber. The same amount of cooked spaghetti has 220 calories, 43 grams of carbs and 3 grams of fiber.
Three-cheese biscuits made with sharp cheddar, mozzarella, and Swiss Emmentaler folded into a flaky butter dough. Wheat germ and powdered milk add nutty depth. Ready in 35 minutes.
A delicious one-dish meal has lots of great flavors and textures, even picky-eaters can't stop asking for more.
Cheese-stuffed hamburger patties with four global variations: French with brie, Mexican with Monterey Jack, Italian with mozzarella, and Greek with feta. Grilled over charcoal.
Try something different for lunch with this scrumptious dish you can use to make amazing sandwiches.
This Delicious Hot Sandwich Is Great To Eat On A Chilly Afternoon! Hot Off The Grill...Steamy Hot!! ...Or On Any Day For Me!! Melted Soy Mozzarella With Broccoli Rabe All Grilled And Served Up Hot And Steamy!!
Very good, made this omelet sandwiches for breakfast, and I really liked it. Quite easy to put together, and it tasted delicious. I drizzled some hot sauce before eating it over the lettuce, yum!
Moist and Delicious These Vegan Sour Cream-Eggplant Meatballs Are Great Tasting In My Homemade Sauce!! ..Topped Over A Bed Of Spaghetti Pasta!
Oven-Dried heirloom tomatoes are juicy yet tender, line these yummy bites underneath other topping ingredients in order to prevent from being burnt when the pizza is baked in the oven. There are so many layers of great textures and flavors, you will find all these delicious goodness in every bite of this freshly baked pizza.
Make some cheesy and oozy Halloween pizzas for your Halloween dinner and they are delicious. Nobody will resist these hot pizzas.
This quick, easy and delicious tortilla pizza is made with whole wheat tortilla, basil pesto, fresh vegetables, pickled jalapenos and mozzarella cheese. Perfect for breakfast or brunch.
A quick, easy and delicious recipe for you to make a simply tasty meal within ten minutes.
Gourmet vegetarian pizza topped with roasted potatoes, blanched broccoli rabe, fresh rosemary, and two cheeses. This Italian-inspired pizza balances bitter greens with creamy potatoes.
A delicious egg pancake is folded with sauteed vegetables and feta cheese. A delicious and energetic breakfast to start you day.
Multiple layers of Italian flavour. Salami, roasted peppers, eggplant and cheese sandwiched in between crusty Italian bread.
Fantastic focaccia bread layers garlic, mozzarella, romano, plum tomatoes and olives on a pre-made pizza shell for a fast, cheesy Italian-style flatbread baked in 35 minutes.
Grilled pizza is absolutely flavorful, grilling develops the smokey flavor, and crispy texture on both toppings and crust. Spread with mashed roasted garlic, topped with grilled potato slices, crisp-fried pancetta bits, black olives and rosemary, sprinkled with mozzarella cheese.
Make this tortilla pizza for a quick yet delicious lunch or supper. It's spread with basil pesto, sprinkled with mozzarella cheese, topped with broccoli, green bell pepper, mushrooms, onions and sun-dried tomato. Much lower calories and fat, but still tastes yummy.
A delicious and filling vegetarian main dish. Meaty mushrooms, rigatoni tomatoes veggies and two kinds of cheese make this a pleasing hearty main dish.
Why go to Subway when you can make your meatball sub sandwich in the convenience of your kitchen!
Made this Italian grilled cheese with 15-minute tomato soup (see the linked recipe below) for lunch, and what more can I say other than delicious. Grilled cheese and tomato soup are a classic pair, so it always a winner.
Grilled pizza is absolutely flavorful, grilling develops the smokey flavor, and crispy texture on both toppings and crust. This pizza is spread with tomato sauce, topped with Chorizo slices, sweet bell pepper rings and mozzarella cheese. Enjoy the different yummy flavors and layers of the textures all in one bite.
Caprese Con Mozzarella Di Bufala (Mozzarella,Tomato and Basil) recipe
Sauteed button mushrooms and shredded mozzarella cheese are only two ingredients you need in this pizza, and it is so delicious.
Easy spinach artichoke dip: spinach and artichokes baked into a three-cheese, Alfredo-based dip until hot and gooey. A warm, crowd-pleasing party appetizer for chips and bread.
Pesto focaccia topped with sliced tomatoes and melted mozzarella, baked until bubbly and golden. A 5-ingredient Italian flatbread pizza ready in 20 minutes.
Italian gnocchi with spinach and white beans topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan. Comes together quickly and hits all the right notes. An easy and delicious vegetarian dinner to make for your family.
Several kinds of cheeses are topped on the dough that has been brushed with garlic olive oil. After baking in the oven, topped with fresh arugula and olive oil. Enjoy this refreshing white pizza with arugula!
Great comfort food. Its simplicity makes it a dish loved by many. The ingredient that makes this recipe special is the cottage cheese, which is not traditionally used in lasagna.
Are you a cheese lover? If you use a cheese tortellini this can turn into a 4 cheese pasta dish.
This focaccia turns out crusty outside and fluffy inside, onion and sage add the deliciously refreshing flavor, mozzarella gives the mildly cheesy flavor, and olive oil brings the tang to the bread. Eating it plain is absolutely tasty and it can be made into a delicious sandwich!
Instead of pizza, use same yummy ingredients to make pizza rolls. These rolls turn out cheesy and delicious, the best is to serve them warm.
This easy yet tasty arugula and mushroom pizza takes no time to make, and it satisfies everyone in your house. The peppery arugula and meaty mushrooms work deliciously well with warm and melted mozzarella cheese. Use whole wheat pizza dough to make it even healthier and still taste delicious.
Sausage braid: pizza dough filled with browned Italian sausage, peppers, onions, and mozzarella, then woven into a golden braid and baked. An impressive, shareable stromboli-style bake.
Easy and delicious chicken wraps are packed with goodness and yumminess.
An Italian twist to Eggs Benedict. Pesto replaces the Hollandaise sauce, mozzarella and tomatoes replaces the ham.
We didn't have English muffins, so used rosemary-olive oil bread that we bought from Costco instead, and it worked perfectly.
Basil pesto, juicy tomatoes and mozzarella cheese with a little heat from jalapeno make this grilled cheese sandwich taste absolutely delicious.
Brushed with extra-virgin olive oil, topped with shaved asparagus, sliced cremini mushrooms, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. The aroma from the oven during the baking fills up your entire place, the pizza comes out cheesy, oozy, refreshing and tasty.
Grilled pizza is absolutely flavorful, grilling develops the smokey flavor, and crispy texture on both toppings and crust. This simply delicious pizza is made with freshly sliced sweet vine-ripe tomatoes, mozzarella and fresh basil. Cheesy, juicy and refreshing! Delicious pizza is made within no time and it's quite simple!
A rosemary foccacia is baked in a pizza pan, brushed with garlic-infused olive oil, topped with roasted garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and chunks mozzarella cheese. Loaded with delicious goodness and packed with flavor.
A rosemary foccacia is baked in a pizza pan, spread with olive oil sauteed red onion, topped with chunks of mozzarella cheese, black olives and fresh rosemary leaves. The aramo from the oven during the baking will make your neighbour wonder over to see what delicious food you are making...
Looking for a quick tasty snack? It's easy to make your own smoked mozzarella (in less than a minute), add a handful of scallions and melt it together in minutes for a smokey and gooey satisfying treat.
Home made basil and spinach lasagna with home made red and white sauce, with the thousand layers juice sauce and tasty lasagna, it is a great recipe when you have company coming or a holiday dish for your family.
This is super quick, easy and simple chicken recipe to prepare - all in one pan to facilitate easy cleanup!
These quick and easy tortilla pizzas take no time to make and absolutely delicious. Simply spread some pizza sauce, top with some your favorite toppings, and sprinkle some cheese. No need to order from outside, get a few tortillas and make these yummy warm pizzas from scratch.
A Calzone is a turnover that originates from Italy. It is made of ingredients similar to pizza folded over and shaped like a crescent. The typical Calzone is stuffed with tomato and mozzarella, and may include other ingredients usually associated with pizza toppings.
