Ultimate Guide to Pizza Cheese

When it comes to selecting the best cheese for pizza, there are several factors to consider, including taste, meltability, texture, and the overall flavor profile you desire. Here’s a comprehensive exploration of some of the top cheeses used for making delicious pizzas:

1. Mozzarella: This cheese is a classic choice for pizza due to its mild flavor, excellent meltability, and stretchy texture when melted. It creates those iconic strings of cheese when you take a slice. Mozzarella cheese comes in two main varieties: fresh and low-moisture. Fresh mozzarella, made from water buffalo or cow’s milk, has a soft, moist texture and is commonly used on Neapolitan-style pizzas. Low-moisture mozzarella has a firmer texture and is ideal for longer baking times, making it suitable for New York-style or Chicago deep-dish pizzas.

2. Provolone: Provolone cheese offers a slightly tangy flavor with a firm texture. It melts well and adds a deliciously creamy consistency to pizzas. Provolone is often used in combination with other cheeses to enhance flavor and texture.

3. Cheddar: Cheddar cheese brings a sharp, tangy flavor to pizza and melts beautifully. It’s commonly used in combination with other cheeses to add depth to the overall flavor profile. Sharp cheddar works particularly well on pizzas with bold toppings like barbecue chicken or spicy sausage.

4. Parmesan: Parmesan cheese, known for its nutty and salty flavor, adds a delightful savory element to pizzas. It’s often grated or shaved over the top of the pizza after baking to impart a burst of umami richness. Parmesan pairs exceptionally well with tomato-based sauces and fresh herbs.

5. Fontina: Fontina cheese is creamy, nutty, and slightly sweet, making it a fantastic choice for pizzas. It melts beautifully and has a rich flavor that complements a wide range of toppings, from vegetables to cured meats. Fontina adds a luxurious creaminess to the pizza without overwhelming other flavors.

6. Gouda: Gouda cheese offers a buttery, slightly sweet flavor with a smooth, creamy texture. It melts well and adds a delightful richness to pizzas. Smoked gouda can also impart a unique smoky flavor that enhances the overall taste experience.

7. Blue Cheese: Blue cheese, such as Gorgonzola or Roquefort, provides a bold and tangy flavor to pizzas. It’s typically crumbled over the pizza before or after baking to add a punch of intense flavor. Blue cheese pairs exceptionally well with sweeter toppings like caramelized onions or figs, creating a delicious contrast of flavors.

8. Ricotta: Ricotta cheese offers a creamy, slightly sweet flavor and a light, fluffy texture. It’s commonly used as a topping or a filling for white pizzas or pizzas with a lighter flavor profile. Ricotta adds a luxurious creaminess and richness to the pizza without overwhelming other ingredients.

9. Feta: Feta cheese adds a tangy and salty flavor to pizzas, along with a crumbly texture. It’s commonly used on Greek-style pizzas or pizzas with Mediterranean-inspired toppings like olives, tomatoes, and spinach. Feta cheese provides a burst of freshness and complexity to the overall flavor profile.

10. Fresh Goat Cheese (Chèvre): Fresh goat cheese is creamy, tangy, and slightly tart, making it a unique and flavorful choice for pizzas. It pairs well with a variety of toppings, including roasted vegetables, herbs, and honey. Fresh goat cheese adds a delightful tanginess and creaminess to the pizza, elevating its taste profile.

Ultimately, the best cheese for your pizza depends on your personal preferences and the type of pizza you’re making. Experimenting with different cheeses and combinations can lead to discovering new and delicious flavor combinations that suit your taste buds perfectly. Whether you prefer a classic Margherita pizza with fresh mozzarella or a gourmet creation with blue cheese and figs, the options for cheese on pizza are endless, allowing for endless culinary creativity and exploration.

Certainly! Let’s delve deeper into the characteristics of each cheese commonly used on pizzas:

1. Mozzarella:

   • Fresh Mozzarella: Made from whole milk, fresh mozzarella has a high moisture content, resulting in a soft and creamy texture. It’s typically sold in a ball or log shape and is commonly used on Neapolitan-style pizzas, where it provides a delicate flavor and a light, elastic texture.
   • Low-Moisture Mozzarella: This type of mozzarella has been aged and has a lower moisture content, giving it a firmer texture and a slightly more pronounced flavor. It’s ideal for pizzas that require longer baking times, such as New York-style or Chicago deep-dish pizzas.

2. Provolone:

   • Provolone cheese originates from Southern Italy and is made from cow’s milk. It’s aged for several months, resulting in a firm texture and a slightly tangy flavor. Provolone melts well and adds a creamy consistency to pizzas while offering a hint of sharpness to the flavor profile.

3. Cheddar:

   • Cheddar cheese is a popular choice for pizzas due to its bold flavor and excellent melting properties. Originating from England, cheddar is made from cow’s milk and is available in various aging profiles, ranging from mild to extra sharp. It adds a robust and tangy flavor to pizzas and pairs well with a wide range of toppings.

4. Parmesan:

   • Parmesan cheese, also known as Parmigiano-Reggiano, hails from Italy and is made from cow’s milk. It undergoes a lengthy aging process, resulting in a hard, granular texture and a complex, nutty flavor. Parmesan is often grated or shaved over pizzas to impart a rich umami taste and a salty kick.

5. Fontina:

   • Fontina cheese originates from the Aosta Valley in Italy and is made from cow’s milk. It has a semi-soft texture and a creamy, nutty flavor with hints of sweetness. Fontina melts beautifully on pizzas, creating a smooth and luscious layer of cheese that complements a variety of toppings.

6. Gouda:

   • Gouda cheese comes from the Netherlands and is made from cow’s milk. It has a smooth, creamy texture and a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Gouda melts well and adds a buttery richness to pizzas, making it a versatile choice for both classic and creative pizza recipes.

7. Blue Cheese:

   • Blue cheese varieties, such as Gorgonzola, Roquefort, and Stilton, are made from cow’s, sheep’s, or goat’s milk and are characterized by the presence of blue-green veins of mold. These cheeses have a sharp, tangy flavor with earthy undertones and a creamy texture. Crumbled blue cheese adds a bold and distinctive taste to pizzas, balancing out sweeter or milder toppings.

8. Ricotta:

   • Ricotta cheese is an Italian whey cheese made from cow’s, sheep’s, or goat’s milk. It has a smooth, creamy texture and a slightly sweet flavor. Ricotta is commonly used as a topping or a filling for pizzas, adding a light and fluffy layer of cheese that complements both savory and sweet ingredients.

9. Feta:

   • Feta cheese originates from Greece and is made from sheep’s or goat’s milk. It has a crumbly texture and a tangy, salty flavor. Feta cheese is often used on pizzas with Mediterranean-inspired toppings, such as olives, tomatoes, and fresh herbs, adding a burst of freshness and complexity to the dish.

10. Fresh Goat Cheese (Chèvre):

    • Fresh goat cheese is made from goat’s milk and has a creamy, tangy flavor with a slightly acidic finish. It has a soft and spreadable texture, making it ideal for dolloping or spreading onto pizzas. Fresh goat cheese pairs well with a variety of toppings, from roasted vegetables to cured meats, adding a distinctive and flavorful element to the dish.

By understanding the unique characteristics of each cheese, you can make informed decisions when selecting the best cheese or cheese combination for your pizza creation. Experimenting with different cheeses allows you to explore a wide range of flavor profiles and textures, ensuring that each pizza you make is a delicious and satisfying culinary experience.