Anyone who loves cheese loves mozzarella. It is delicious and becomes stretchy after melting. So, you enjoy the cheese pull on your pizzas, sandwich, and whatnot. It goes without say mozzarella tastes best when melted. There are many ways in which you can melt mozzarella cheese on a pizza.
The best way to melt mozzarella cheese on a pizza is to microwave it. If you do not own a microwave, you can also melt it over a stovetop using a double boiler. You can obviously use an oven to do it. You can also melt mozzarella cheese on a pizza in a pan over a stovetop.
If you are a bit puzzled as to how you can do it, don’t worry! I’ll tell you how you can melt mozzarella in different ways.
Different Ways to Melt Mozzarella Cheese
There are multiple ways you can melt the mozzarella cheese on a pizza. Read on to find out.
1. In A Microwave
The easiest way to melt mozzarella is to melt it in the microwave. You can put the pizza directly in the microwave or you can melt cheese separately and put it in the pizza. You can also use the separately melted cheese in other recipes.
If you are melting the cheese directly on the pizza, I recommend you put shredded mozzarella on top of it. The shredded cheese melts evenly when heated. You’ll get the perfect cheese pull this way in just 30 seconds.
If you want to melt the cheese in a bowl, you should use shredded too. But when melting it in a bowl, you can use slices as well. If you want the cheese should stay unseparated, add a little bit of evaporated milk and cornstarch.
A trick to keep the cheese smooth when it melts is to add a bit of an acidic ingredient. But the ingredient shouldn’t have a strong taste. It shouldn’t overpower the taste of the cheese. Mild white vinegar would be an ideal match.
Once you add all of the ingredients to the bowl, melt it for 30 seconds. Take it out and mix it for a few seconds. This helps to remove the lumps. Your melted cheese is ready.
2. On A Stovetop
You can melt the cheese on a stovetop using a double boiler. Keep in mind that the double boiler provides heat indirectly, so it isn’t as quick as the microwave. Keep the boiler You can place the pizza on a plate that’ll heat up fast. You can melt the cheese in a bowl. The little tricks are applicable here as well. You can still add evaporated milk, cornstarch, and acidic ingredients.
3. In The Oven
You can obviously melt the mozzarella in the oven. Simply put the pizza, along with cheese and toppings in the oven. Cook it for about 5 minutes. Once done, you get a delicious pizza with bubbly cheese.
If you want to melt the cheese separately, you can put it in a skillet. Add some olive oil and herbs for an extra flavor. This will make the cheese into a delicious spread as well as a dip. Cook it for 5 minutes and you’ll get delicious melted mozzarella.
4. In A Pan
You can also melt mozzarella in a pan. All you have to do is to use a non-stick pan and keep the heat on low. Also, the best way to make sure the mozzarella will melt quickly and evenly is to use shredded mozzarella.
Place the pizza in the pan and cover it. Keep it on low flame for some time. Keep checking it after an interval of a few minutes. Take out once the cheese has melted.
Melting of Mozzarella Cheese Depends On Its Type
The melting of mozzarella cheese also depends on the type of mozzarella cheese you are using. The lesser-known fact is that not all kinds of mozzarella cheese melt well. I’ll tell you about the commonly found types of mozzarella and how well they melt.
1. Fresh Mozzarella
Fresh mozzarella melts quickly but doesn’t melt well. There’s a reason I say that. Fresh mozzarella, usually the one stored in brine, has a high moisture content. So, when you put it on a pizza, it melts quickly but releases the water in it. It makes your pizza watery and that is something nobody wants.
This is the reason you should not use fresh mozzarella on your pizza. It may end up spoiling the whole thing.
2. Processed Mozzarella
Processed mozzarella is the best type to put on pizza as it melts well and leaves your pizza with a cheesy pull and bubbly texture. The reason being that processed mozzarella has a very low moisture content.
The low moisture content is the reason that it melts quickly and well. It’ll perfectly complement your pizza and is the definite winner.
3. Mozzarella String Cheese
Mozzarella string cheese actually doesn’t melt well. The reason being string cheese is made with partly skimmed milk and thus, has low-fat content. It has low moisture content as well but that doesn’t help it melt.
When you heat string cheese, it doesn’t melt but simply softens. This is something that you don’t have on a pizza.
4. Vegan Mozzarella Cheese
Vegan mozzarella melts too, though not completely like the real mozzarella cheese. But there are some versions of advanced manufactured cheese that melt well.
Vegan cheese melts at a higher temperature than real cheese. It also takes more time to melt. But it becomes bubbly and stretchy after melting like the real cheese.
If Your Mozzarella Cheese Isn’t Melting, What Is The Reason?
There are actually a few reasons for the mozzarella cheese not melting.
1. Moisture Content
The moisture content of mozzarella is a very important factor to consider. If the mozzarella has a high moisture content, it doesn’t melt well. When mozzarella with high moisture content is melted, it releases water.
If you want to put mozzarella on a pizza or just melt it separately, you should use the one with low moisture content.
2. Fat Content
Another key factor in the melting of mozzarella is the fat content of the cheese. Even if you buy cheese with low moisture content, it might not melt. This is because it may have a low-fat content.
When looking for mozzarella that melts well, pick the one with high-fat content. A good example of mozzarella with high-fat content is whole milk mozzarella.
3. Age
Mozzarella is not among the cheeses that have to be aged. But age is still a key factor when it comes to melting mozzarella. You cannot use fresh mozzarella on a pizza. It is because fresh mozzarella has a high moisture content.
So, if you want a mozzarella that’ll melt better, the slightly aged mozzarella, which is regular mozzarella, would be ideal. It has low moisture content and thus, will melt well.
These are the key factors you need to keep in mind when picking mozzarella that’ll melt.
Conclusion
So, this was all about the ways you can melt mozzarella on a pizza. Now you also know the types of mozzarella cheese that melts best and the key factors that determine what mozzarella will melt best.
Hope this information helped. Now, go melt the cheese on your pizza and enjoy that stretchy cheese pull.
