How Is Homemade Mozzarella Cheese Different From Other Cheeses
Unlike other cheese making processes, this homemade mozzarella cheese recipe calls for heating the curds to 170 F and then stretching it like taffy.
Who hasn’t heard of an old fashioned taffy pull?
Well, I never took part in one but pulling mozzarella cheese reminds me of what they must have been like!
This pulling and stretching gives the mozzarella cheese the stringiness it is famous for. Mozzarella cheese is also one of the easiest soft cheeses to make!
I have found that the process of making homemade Mozzarella cheese is very forgiving.
I use to be careful to use milk that was at least 3 days old as many recipes require – As milk sits, the acidity increases which allows the cheese to stretch.
But, I have found with the milk Emme gives this waiting period is unnecessary.
Before getting started, be sure to check out Cheese Making Basics for helpful tips, supplies and ordering information.
A printable recipe version of the homemade mozzarella cheese follows the photo tutorial.
How Do You Make Homemade Rennet
Instructions for Making Nettle Rennet
Dont Miss: Babybel Cheese Refrigerate
How To Make Mozzarella Using The Stovetop To Stretch The Curds
Step 1. Heat a pot of water to 185°F. This will be the ideal temperature to make your homemade mozzarella cheese using a stove top.
Step 2. Ladle the curds into a colander, folding them together gently toward the center and draining off the whey as you go. You want the whey to be completely drained off from the homemade mozzarella cheese. However, you do not want to press the cheese the hard because you still want the mozzarella to hold some of the moisture from the whey at this point.
Step 3. Dip the colander with the mozzarella curds in it carefully into the hot water a few times, then use the slotted spoon to fold the curds back into the center of the colander until they become stretchy. This will happen when the curds reach 160° to 170°F. It is crucial to make sure the cheese reaches the 160° to 170°F temperature or the mozzarella curd will not become stretchy.
Step 4. Remove the mozzarella curd from the colander and stretch it like taffy. If it does not stretch easily, return it to the hot water. this may take a few tries to get right the first time but once your curd stretches like the curd pictured below you will know it is ready.
*You can save the whey and use it in other projects! Check out our article on Ways to Use Whey.
Read Also: How Long Does Babybel Last In The Fridge Unopened
What Can I Use Instead Of Rennet To Make Cheese
Necoagulant is regarded as one of the most common substitutes for rennet. I was unable to get to Washington due to my exhaustion , but this has returned. The active ingredient in these products is pusillus proteins), a crystalline formulation of parasitica. A type of proteinase produced by parasitica.
How Can I Make Rennet At Home
Instructions for Making Nettle Rennet Rinse 2 pounds fresh leaves under cool, filtered water. Fill a large pot with 4 cups water. Add 1 heaping tablespoon of sea salt to the pot stir gently to dissolve. Place a colander inside a large bowl. The liquid drained from the nettle leaves is the liquid nettle rennet.
Also Check: Does Babybel Cheese Need Refrigeration
What You Need To Make Tiktoks Fancy Grilled Cheese
Everyone knows how to make a basic grilled cheese and for this one, well be using mozzarella slices.
Well need brie, blueberry jam and sourdough toast. Heat everything together, and weve got our fancy grilled cheese.
Now for the moment of truth: Lets measure the cheese pulls of our classic vs. fancy sandwiches to determine the ultimate grilled cheese.
Can You Use Vinegar Instead Of Rennet
Another good option as an alternative for rennet in mozzarella would be vinegar. This is one of the best options youll ever be able to find, and there are many good reasons for this. Vinegar can provide your mozzarella with that sharp flavor which gives the type of cheese its distinct feel as well as overall taste.
You May Like: How Long Does Babybel Cheese Last
Don’t Miss: Spreadable Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Before You Begin I Strongly Encourage You To Read Through Thedirections A Couple Of Times
Youll understand the process better, and you can movesmoothly from step to step. Making mozzarella isnt complicated, but it canfeel a little daunting if youve never made cheese before.
I promise, soon youll be eating delicious mozzarella andthinking about buying another gallon of milk so you can make another batch.
Can I Make Cheese With Pasteurized Milk
If you plan on making cheese, start with raw milk or pasteurized milk. Milk with compromised proteins could in fact only be compensated for by the ultra-pasteurization process. It is possible to ask a local grocery store manager for raw and pasteurized milk if they arent readily available in your area.
How To Make Mozzarella Cheese With Vinegar Without Rennet
Copy the link and share
Also Check: Where Can I Buy Brick Cheese
The Equipment You Need To Make Homemade Mozzarella Cheese
Thankfully, you dont need a whole lot of special equipment to make homemade cheese. Here is a quick list of the cheesemaking equipment you need:
- A large stockpot with a lid
- A thermometer
- A long, thin knife to cut the curd
- A timer- preferably the portable kind. Or, use the timer feature on your cell phone.
- Big jars or pitchers to capture the excess whey
- Clean food-grade rubber gloves.
Make sure all of your cheesemaking equipment is extra clean, since this will be a sorta-raw mozzarella cheese.
*A Note to All Aspiring Cheesemakers* I want to give fair warning before we start. Cheesemaking is fun, but it is also finicky sometimes. So, you cant get discouraged if this is your first batch and it doesnt turn out Its a learning process! The first few times you attempt to make homemade cheese, youll probably be sweating and reading the recipe a million times before starting. But trust me- the more you do it, the easier it becomes, and soon youll be making fresh mozzarella in your sleep. Practice truly does make perfect!
*One More Note: This post is very picture-heavy, so it may take a bit for it to load. Scroll to the bottom for the printable recipe with no pictures.
How To Make This Recipe
Did I mention this vegan mozzarella cheese is really easy to make? First, combine almond milk, olive oil, cornstarch, sea salt, lemon juice, and garlic powder in a saucepot. Place it over medium heat and bring it to a simmer.
As it heats up, make sure you stir or whisk the mixture as it starts to thicken. Then, add coconut yogurt and continue stirring until the mixture has a smooth consistency.
Roll out two sets of plastic wrap on a flat kitchen surface. Split your mixture in two. Wrap the plastic around the mixture to form mozzarella-like balls.
Pour some cold water into a bowl. You can add ice if you like. Place your mozzarella balls in cold water for about 30 minutes. Then, transfer into the fridge and let it set for at least 4 hours.
The wait will be worth it, I promise. Once its set, just slice the indulgent vegan mozzarella cheese and enjoy!
Recommended Reading: How Long Can Babybel Cheese Be Unrefrigerated
What Can I Do With The Leftover Whey
Dont throw out that pot of whey! It is very nutritious and can be used in a variety of ways. Pour it into a couple of mason jars and store it in the fridge. It can be used instead of water in most baking or cooking recipes, or in the following ways:
- Smoothies
- Water the plants with it
- Drink it plain
- Use it to make ricotta cheese
- Make butter with it
- Feed it to the animals
What Do Acid Do In Mozzarella
Milk contains roughly about 85% of water and 15% of solid content. Out of these solid, it has about 22% casein a protein in milk, 38% lactose a sugar, 30% fat, 5% ash, and 5% whey.
Citric acid and rennet are both chelating agents to coagulate or to glue the caseins together.
They worked together to form curds, but in a slightly different approach. Citric acid is also much cheaper than rennet. The commonly used animal-derived rennets also raised the ethical concerns.
Read Also: What Does Brick Cheese Taste Like
Read Also: Do Babybel Cheese Melt
Start With Making Mozzarella
Mozzarella is a great cheese to start with for many reasons. One, it is super simple: You can create a full pound of delicious fresh mozzarella in about 30 minutes, start to finish. Two, it is a very useful fresh cheese: Great on sandwiches and in salads, or topping a pizza or pasta bake, its guaranteed to be used up quickly. Finally, making mozzarella can involve multiple variations, from homemade string cheese and cream-filled burrata to flavored or seasoned versions.
The process is pretty simple. Heres everything you need:
- One gallon of regular whole milk, which you can get from the grocery store
- A large pot
Voila! In about 30 minutes, you can have a pound of fresh mozz floating in a brine to firm up.
Can Feta Be Made Without Rennet
If youre looking for more flavourful cheese, us all goats milk. Since I didnt use rennet in this cheese recipe, there was a need to use a half goat and half cows milk to ensure the curdling of the milk. And longer drying of the cheese before brining. Remember, this is NOT a traditional preparation of Feta cheese.
Don’t Miss: What Sauce Goes On Philly Cheese Steak Pizza
Recipe Notes And Faqs
- If you use goats milk instead of cows, then be even slower and gentler when stirring the milk so as not to disturb the curds too much.
- If your cheese is tough or crumbly, then this is likely down to using too much acidity or heating it incorrectly. However, it can also happen if the curds are broken up too much by rough mixing. Try to reduce the amount of citric acid in the next batch.
- If the cheese is rubbery, then its likely that you overworked it during the stretching phase.
- For a softer mozzarella, stop the curds from becoming as firm and work the cheese even less when stretching .
- You could add some dried herbs to the cheese, if wanted, during the final shaping stage.
- TOP TIP: A failed batch definitely doesnt necessarily mean waste. Even if the cheese is crumbly and wont stretch, this can be used within pasta dishes, into cooked dishes, etc.
How To Store Mozzarella Cheese
If you arent using the mozzarella cheese immediately, place it in a container and pour a little of the whey over it. You can keep it in the refrigerator for almost a week.
Its also possible to freeze mozzarella for up to 6 months. Defrost it in the refrigerator and when ready to use, I like to heat it up in the microwave again.
Also Check: Does Laughing Cow Cheese Need To Be Refrigerated
Why Do We Need Rennet In The First Place
Rennet is derived naturally from the mammal stomach.
It contains a set of protein-cutting enzymes. For vegetarian, you can use gluten-free vegetable rennet like this one. The enzymes like chymosin and lipase will break down the caseins.
With that, rennet acted like a knife to cut off the Casein Macro-Peptide tails which located all over the surface of casein miselles.
See the image above. It results in the release of peptides . Later drained with whey.
Without the tails, casein micelles are then free to bind to each other with the help of calcium ions which facilitates the curd formation.
Hi, this is Aaron, the founder of DarkCheese. I love writing because it combines my two passions: science and helping people.
You May Like: How Long Does Babybel Last In The Fridge Unopened
How To Make Homemade Mozzarella Cheese With Just 2 Ingredients
Pour the milk into a large stockpot or I like to use my dutch oven.
Remember to use raw milk or you can use normal pasteurized whole milk, but NOT ultra-pasteurized. Ultra-pasteurized wont work properly and wont produce a good curd.
I find I get the best results with raw milk. But that can be a little more difficult to find for us here in the States. If in the States try places like Sprouts, Natural Grocers, Whole Foods, etc.
Set the heat in between medium-low and medium. We dont want to heat the milk up too quickly.
Gently keep stirring the milk so it heats evenly and reaches right around 115 F/46 C.
A thermometer really comes in handy for this. But if you dont have one it should feel like hot bathwater.
Once the milk gets to that temp, turn off the heat, and add in the vinegar. Stir in the vinegar for about 30 seconds so it evenly mixes in with the milk. It will start to curdle almost immediately.
Add a lid to the pot and allow it to sit undisturbed for about 5 minutes.
NOTE: Classic cheesemaking uses ingredients like citric acid and rennet. But white distilled vinegar works too! It turns out a little different but still amazing.
If you would like to go the more classic route you can pick up a cheesemaking kit that has everything you need minus the dairy of course.
Recommended Reading: Does Harry And David Cheese Need To Be Refrigerated
Budget Buy: Beginners Mozzarella Cheese Making Kit
If you are looking for a super basic kit to have in your back pocket for a rainy-day activity, and if you already have a decent cooking thermometer, this is a perfect kit for you. It has clear instructions, plus the citric acid, salt, and rennet tablets you need to make four batches of mozzarella.
Buy It: Beginners Mozzarella Cheese Making Kit ,
Courtesy Amazon
Heat Curd & Remove Whey
If in a colander, transfer the curds into a heat safe bowl. Next, microwave the curd for 1 minute.
If desired, add 1 tsp of salt to the curds for added flavor.
You will notice more whey separation from the curd. Drain off all whey as you did before. Quickly work the cheese with a spoon or your hands until it is cool enough to touch .
Microwave two more times for 35 seconds each, and repeat the kneading as in the last step to aid in more whey drain off and ensure even heating of the curds. Drain off all of the whey as you go.
Note: If you prefer to not use a microwave here is a recipe using a water bath where the curds are heated in hot water
Also Check: Soapstone Serving Tray
Gather The Curd And Remove The Whey
After the 5 minutes are up, it is time to gather that amazing cheese curd and separate it from the whey.
Take a spoon or spatula and bring the curd to the side against the pot. Make sure to fish around in the whey, because you will always find extra curd hanging out in there.
As you gather it, push it up against the wall of the pot. Then remove it from the whey and place it in a bowl.
NOTE: If you use regular pasteurized whole milk, the curd may look differently, and be in smaller chunks. If you use citric acid and rennet it will develop a film of curd on top, like a custard. Use a knife to cut the curd several times in a grid pattern.
Time to remove as much whey as possible. Using very clean hands or gloves, grab the curd and cup it in your hands and gently squeeze. This will press out the whey.
Allow the whey to fall into the bowl and then discard it into the big pot of whey.
Keep repeating this process several times, using a bit more force each time. You can also place it in the bowl and knead it a bit.
TIP: You can also use cheesecloth if you like, place the curd in the cheesecloth bundle, it up into a ball, and squeeze, this helps remove the whey as well.
Once you have as much whey as possible pressed out of the cheese, wipe any excess whey out of the bowl with a paper towel and place the ball of cheese in the bowl. Or you can certainly use a new bowl. Make sure the bowl is microwave-safe.
Homemade Mozzarella Cheese Only 2 Ingredients Without Rennet
I love cheese, it is so good! That is one thing I always have on hand. My all-time favorite cheese has to be mozzarella. I love string cheese, eating it plain, and of course on pizza. Time to learn how to make homemade mozzarella cheese using just 2 ingredients.
If you are a cheese lover like me, then you have got to give this easy homemade mozzarella cheese recipe a try. You can use it the same way you use store-bought cheese. And you know exactly what is going into it.
Traditional cheesemaking requires you to use citric acid and a product called rennet. Similar to the process I show in this mozzarella cheese recipe. But, for this recipe, I will teach you how to make it without using those ingredients. It is super easy to make, if I can do it, you can do it. Lets get started!
Read Also: Does Babybel Have To Be Refrigerated
