With the wide-selection of cheeses available, it can be challenging to choose which one to put on your pizza. According to an international team of scientists, you must consider the cheese’s elasticity, free oil, moisture, water activity and baking temperature. Take a look below at some of the best cheeses for pizza.
Mozzarella Cheese
This is the most commonly used cheese for pizzas due to its light and creamy texture. Typically, you’ll see this as a the base of every cheese pizza while other pizzas like the Margherita include mozzarella.
When opting for mozzarella cheese, consider the low- and high- moisture options. High-moisture mozzarella has a shorter shelf life so it must be used same day. Because this cheese is high-moisture, you’ll notice the pizza is soggy in the middle which is ideal for Neapolitan pizzas. The lower- moisture option is saltier and denser in flavor than the high-moisture cheese and it’s easier to melt.
Also, consider the fat content. A higher fat content means the cheese will melt much easier.
Cheddar Cheese
This sharp-tasting cheese isn’t commonly associated with pizza. However, this is a good addition to pizza because it doesn’t blister easily but make sure you grab a sharp cheddar with an orange tint. You’ll often find cheddar cheese on specialty pizzas such as chicken bacon ranch and cheeseburger pizzas.
Parmesan Cheese
Parmesan is used as an addition to a pizza so if you have a pizza filled with cheddar or mozzarella, feel free to sprinkle a dusting of parmesan over it. Consider parmesan as a garnish rather than a pizza topping.
Gouda Cheese
If you’re adding barbecue or pork to your pizza, gouda is the way to go. Gouda is a semi-hard Dutch cheese that is recognized for its smooth texture and unique flavor.
Goat Cheese
Since goat cheese doesn’t easily soften, it’s best to put a few dollops on the pizza, allowing you to have savory bites. Goat cheese also pairs perfectly with caramelized onions, figs and peppers.
Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta is used for white sauce pizzas and it’s usually blended with mozzarella, fontina, or gorgonzola cheese. Pair your ricotta based pizza with shrimp or chicken for a heartier meal.
At Quattro, we have a wide selection of brick oven pizzas including the classic Margherita, Napoletana, Potato & Herb and Parma Prosciutto. We make the best brick oven pizza in Boston’s North End.