Have you ever spent your whole Saturday making what you thought would be the world’s best pizza, only to find out it’s all soggy? That’s super disappointing, right? Guess what, it’s probably not your fault! The sneaky problem could be fresh mozzarella cheese. Even though it tastes amazing on pizza, it also has a lot of water in it. But don’t worry, we’ve got an easy solution to make your cheese, and your pizza, just right. Here’s how to drain mozzarella cheese for a pizza that’s out of this world!
What is fresh mozzarella cheese?
Mozzarella is a soft, white cheese that originates from southern Italy. Traditionally, it was made from buffalo milk. Today, this cheese is the top choice for pizza in Naples, Italy’s pizza capital, as well as in the rest of the country.
Most of the mozzarella cheese available in grocery stores is made from cow’s milk, not buffalo milk. This variant is known in Italy as “Fior di latte.” The moisture content of cow’s milk mozzarella is lower than that of buffalo mozzarella, but it still needs preparation to avoid making your pizza soggy.
Read more about different types of mozzarella here.
Why is my mozzarella watery?
Mozzarella is a high moisture containing about 50% water. Fresh mozzarella often comes in a container filled with liquids like water, brine, or whey to keep the cheese fresh.
All this water is going to make your pizza watery.
However, watery mozzarella is less of an issue for Neapolitan pizzas that are baked in hot, wood-fired ovens. These ovens can reach temperatures close to 900°F (or 500°C), which helps to evaporate some of the liquid. Even so, it’s still a good idea to drain the cheese to avoid ending up with a soggy pizza.
How do you get the moisture out of fresh mozzarella?
Removing excess moisture from your fresh mozzarella cheese can be accomplished in two simple steps:
- Drain the water from the mozzarella
- Pat it dry using paper towels
1. How to drain mozzarella
The first step is to drain the liquid in which the mozzarella cheese is stored. Start by opening the container or plastic bag and taking out the ball of cheese. Shake off any excess water and tear it into 3-4 smaller pieces. Smaller pieces will drain faster.
Next, place the mozzarella pieces in a fine-mesh strainer and let them sit in the fridge for at least a couple of hours. Leaving them for a day is even better.
To prevent a dry crust from forming on the exterior of your cheese, it’s a good idea to cover the strainer with some plastic wrap or a lid while it’s in the fridge.
2. How to dry mozzarella using paper towels
The second step is to dry the mozzarella with a paper towel. Simply place the cheese on a folded piece of paper towel. Then place another folded piece of paper towel on top and let it sit for at least 15-20 minutes. If you plan to leave it longer, it’s a good idea to put the cheese in the fridge until you’re ready to use it.
For easier and more effective drying, consider cutting the cheese into sticks. This will not only help it dry faster but also make it convenient to add to your pizza later.
Use dry mozzarella cheese
When you’re ready to use the cheese, just take it all out from the paper towel and put it in a bowl. This makes it easier to use the cheese since it tends to stick a little bit to the paper.
How to prepare Buffalo Mozzarella for pizza
When using Buffalo mozzarella it’s even more important to drain and dry off the chees before adding it to the pizza. Follow the same process as for regular fresh mozzarella.
- Drain off any water from the bag or box the buffalo mozzarella comes in
- Cut it into slices and place them in a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl to drain for at least 2 hours
- Pad dry with a paper towel before use
How to prepare mozzarella balls for pizza
Mozzarella balls are usually not cut when you use them to top your pizza. So all you need to do to prepare mozzarella balls for pizza is to drain off the water and pad them dry.
- Drain off any water from the bag or container the mozzarella balls come in
- Place in a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl to drain for at least 2 hours
- Pad dry with a paper towel before use
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