A quick guide to pizza cheeses

There’s nothing like a good pizza cheese. A lot of times, what gives a certain restaurant’s pizza its particular taste is the type of cheese they use. Many places have their own unique blend. Some places even have a secret recipe that they won’t share. Here are some of the most commonly used ones.
Mozzarella
Without a doubt, mozzarella is the king of pizza cheeses. It originated in Naples and was originally made of buffalo milk. These days, it is made of cow’s milk. This cheese is packed with moisture and has a short shelf life. You have to use it soon after buying it. There are several mozzarella varieties with different fat and moisture content.
Provolone
The second most popular cheese is provolone, which comes from the Neapolitan word ‘prova,’ meaning ‘ball.’ Provolone is firm and smooth with a golden colour on the outside and a creamy interior. The key to this cheese’s flavour is its smokiness. It is cured for several months and this gives it a pungent flavour. Like mozzarella, there are different varieties that are commonly used.
Cheddar
Cheddar is a good cheese for mixing. It is rarely used by itself because it does not stretch well. Instead, it is usually mixed with other types of cheese. It varies from mild to sharp flavour and the whole range is good for making pizzas. The sharper types of cheddar aren’t usually used because they don’t blend well.
Mixes
In many places they use a mix of mozzarella and cheeses that are harder. They do this to add variety to the flavour and also cut down on the cost of the mozzarella. Mixing cheeses include parmesan, provolone, Romano, and dry jack.
Cheese-less?
It may surprise you to know that some people prefer their pie with no cheese on top. This might seem like a wild new idea, but it has been the norm in Europe for years. Deep-dish pizza loaded with cheese is actually an American concoction. In Europe (including Italy), they often skip on the cheese so that the flavour of the other toppings can come through better.
If you’re making your own pizza at home, you should experiment with cheeses. Even if you’re buying a frozen one from the grocery store , hit the deli and pick up some different type of cheese. The flavour difference just might turn that cheap store-bought pie into something as tasty as what you get at your favourite Italian restaurant.