The best cheese for pizza is mozzarella. Mozzarella cheese is a classic choice for pizza due to its excellent melting properties, mild flavor, and smooth, creamy texture when melted. It creates that perfect stretchy, gooey layer of cheese that most people associate with a delicious pizza.
When using mozzarella cheese for pizza, you have a few options:
Fresh Mozzarella: This type of mozzarella is soft, moist, and has a delicate, milky flavor. It's usually sold in balls or logs and should be sliced or torn into small pieces and distributed evenly on the pizza. Fresh mozzarella works well for Neapolitan-style pizzas and those cooked at high temperatures for a shorter time.
Low-Moisture Mozzarella: This type of mozzarella has less moisture content than fresh mozzarella, making it easier to grate and melt. It's commonly used for New York-style and other American-style pizzas. It comes pre-shredded or in blocks, and it provides that classic stringy, cheesy topping.
Combining different types of mozzarella can also add complexity to the cheese layer, with fresh mozzarella offering a creamier texture and low-moisture mozzarella providing more browning and chewiness.
While mozzarella is the most common choice for pizza, some other cheeses can be used or added for extra flavor. For example, grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano can be sprinkled on top for a tangy kick, and some pizzerias even use a blend of mozzarella with cheddar, provolone, or fontina to create a unique taste.
Ultimately, the choice of cheese depends on your preference and the type of pizza you're making. However, if you want that classic, delicious pizza experience, mozzarella is the way to go.