Pizza is one of the most popular foods around the world, and cheese is an essential part of it. The right cheese can make or break a pizza, and that’s why choosing the optimal cheese is crucial.

There are several factors to consider when selecting cheese for pizza.

Cheese Types and How They Melt

One of the most critical aspects of cheese for pizza is how well it melts. Cheese is primarily made up of protein and fat, and how it melts depends on the interplay between the two.

Some cheeses are more elastic and create a stretchy, gooey texture ideal for pizza, while others melt and mix better with the sauce.

Here are a few types of cheese and how they behave when heated for pizza:.

Mozzarella

Mozzarella cheese is the most popular cheese choice for pizza, and for a good reason. It melts quickly and produces a stringy, cheesy texture that’s perfect for pizza.

Mozzarella also has a neutral flavor, making it an excellent base upon which to add other toppings.

Provolone

Provolone cheese is another melty cheese that’s ideal for pizza. It has a slightly sharper taste than mozzarella and melts evenly, giving the pizza a golden brown color and a pleasant flavor.

Cheddar

Cheddar is a cheese with a strong flavor and a tendency to become oily when melted. As a result, it’s not the most popular cheese for pizza.

Fontina

Fontina cheese is a cheese that gives pizza a slightly nutty, sweet flavor. It melts smoothly and forms a stringy texture, just like mozzarella. However, it’s not as popular on pizza as some other cheese varieties.

Parmesan

Parmesan cheese is a hard, aged cheese that adds a sharp, salty flavor to pizza. It doesn’t melt as quickly as some other cheeses, but it can be grated thinly over pizza as a finishing touch.

Ricotta

Ricotta cheese has a mild, creamy flavor and a crumbly texture. It’s not an ingredient that’s typically used as the main cheese on pizza but makes for an excellent addition to toppings like spinach and other vegetables.

The Right Cheese for Different Types of Pizza

Pizza can take many forms, and the right cheese for one pizza type may not be the same as another. Here’s a quick breakdown of the optimal cheese for different types of pizza:.

Neopolitan Pizza

Neopolitan pizza is one of the most popular pizza types, and it features a simple, thin crust, and minimalist toppings. Mozzarella is the ideal cheese for Neopolitan pizza.

New York Pizza

New York-style pizza is another popular pizza type that features a thick crust and toppings like pepperoni, sausage, and vegetables. Mozzarella and provolone work well on this type of pizza.

Chicago-style Pizza

Chicago-style pizza is deep-dish, and the cheese is an essential part of the pizza for this style. Mozzarella is used in abundance, but it’s mixed with other cheeses like cheddar and parmesan.

The Importance of Fresh Cheese

When it comes to cheese, fresh is always better. Cheese that’s been sitting in the fridge for too long or has been frozen loses both its flavor and texture. For the best pizza, always use fresh cheese.

Conclusion

Cheese is an integral part of pizza, and choosing the right cheese is crucial. Mozzarella is the most popular cheese for pizza for a good reason, but there are also other cheese choices that work well.

Understanding how different cheeses melt and finding the optimal cheese for different pizza types is the key to making the perfect pizza.