How to melt mozzarella cheese?

Have you ever put mozzarella cheese on a pizza and taken it out of the oven to find that it hasn’t melted?

This is because not all types of mozzarella are created equal, and some just don’t melt. As for the types that do melt, you have to know the proper technique to do it.

How do you melt mozzarella cheese?

The easiest way to melt mozzarella cheese is to do it in the microwave. You can also melt it with a double boiler on the stove or in the oven with the help of the broil setting. The key is to use a variety of mozzarella that melts well, such as a high-fat variety.

In this article, you’ll not only get step-by-step instructions for melting mozzarella cheese, but also which types of mozzarella are best to melt.

Does mozzarella cheese melt?

There are many varieties of mozzarella. Whether the cheese melts or not depends on its type.

Also, the process of melting the cheese just seems simple. There are a lot of things that happen to cheese slices when you heat them up.

Let’s see what happens when the cheese melts.

When you start to heat the cheese, the solid milk fats in it start to turn into a liquid. This occurs when the temperature reaches about 90 degrees. As the solid milk fat liquefies, the fat particles rise to the surface of the softened cheese.

As you continue to keep the cheese warm, the temperature increases. When it reaches 130 degrees, the casein (protein) breaks down. This is the time when you see that the solid bits of your mozzarella cheese have become mushy and sticky.

Because the different elements of mozzarella cheese melt at different temperatures , some people run into the problem of separation.

When mozzarella melts, it does so differently than all other varieties of cheese, creating the strings of cheese we all admire when we pull out a slice of mozzarella-covered pizza.

The secret to the strings that mozzarella creates when melted lies in the technique used to make the cheese.

You may have seen the fascinating process of making mozzarella, called pasta filata.

During this process, the curd is stretched and kneaded to create a soft, dough-like mass. The dough is then formed into balls to make the world famous fresh mozzarella cheese balls.

Why isn’t my mozzarella cheese melting?

There are three factors that affect the meltability of cheese.

First of all, whether mozzarella cheese melts or not depends on its moisture level. Mozzarella with a lot of moisture does not melt well. If you’re looking for a mozzarella that melts, choose a variety with a low moisture content.

Second, the fat content of the cheese plays an important role in whether it melts. Semi-skimmed mozzarella does not melt well. Whole milk mozzarella, on the other hand, melts better due to its high fat content.

Part-skim milk mozzarella cheese browns quickly, unlike whole milk mozzarella, which softens and becomes sticky.

And last but not least, age is key. Although mozzarella cheese is not aged like other cheeses, the non-fresh variety of mozzarella is often referred to as aged.

Because fresh mozzarella has a high moisture content, it doesn’t melt well. “Aged” mozzarella, also known as regular mozzarella, melts better because it’s not as moist as fresh mozzarella.

So if you’ve bought low-fat or high-moisture mozzarella, don’t expect it to melt well.

The best type of mozzarella to melt

There are different types of mozzarella cheese. And as we have already told you, not all of them blend well.

Here are the most popular types of mozzarella. We will tell you which are the best to melt.

fresh mozzarella

Fresh mozzarella cheese that has been stored in salt water (brine) or whey does not melt well. This is because the moisture content of fresh mozzarella is very high.

If you put fresh mozzarella on a pizza, it will melt quickly. But what happens then is the main reason why fresh mozzarella is not the best for melting.

The cheese begins to release water. Watery pizza? This is most likely not what you’re looking for if you don’t want your pizza crust to be soggy.

processed mozzarella

Processed mozzarella, that is, commercially manufactured, melts better than fresh.

If you want to get those sticky threads on your pizza or sandwiches, low-moisture processed mozzarella is what you need.

Processed mozzarella is sold well wrapped in plastic, which is the main reason for its low water content. Also, it is quite firm and easy to scratch.

And shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese is what you need if you’re looking for the perfect mozzarella variety for pizza or lasagna.

Mozzarella cheese strips

String cheese is usually made from partially skimmed milk. This means that it has a low fat content. And while queso frame has a low moisture content, it doesn’t melt. It just softens.

If you can find string cheese that is a combination of mozzarella and another variety of cheese, like cheddar, you can try melting it in the microwave.

As you do so, pull the cheese into thinner strips and place it on top of the loaf of bread or cracker you want to eat the cheese with. This type of string cheese will become elastic and soft at about 140 degrees.

How to melt mozzarella cheese

There are several ways to melt mozzarella cheese. Depending on how much time you have and how easy you want the process to be, you can melt the mozzarella cheese in the microwave, on the stove, and in the oven. 

As long as you choose a variety of mozzarella that melts, all of these methods will work for you.

1. Melt the mozzarella cheese in the microwave

The microwave oven is the fastest way to melt mozzarella cheese. It’s also very easy as there isn’t much to do other than watch the time and stir the cheese a couple of times.

This is how mozzarella cheese melts in the microwave. 

1. Put the grated or sliced mozzarella cheese in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Add a splash of evaporated milk and 1/5 teaspoon cornstarch. These are the magic ingredients that will keep the cheese from separating once it has melted.
3. When melting mozzarella cheese in the microwave, it is also recommended to add an acidic ingredient. This keeps the cheese soft as it melts. Distilled white vinegar or any other variety of vinegar with a mild flavor will work. Do not use wine, beer, or other strong-tasting acid components.
4. Put the bowl with the cheese in the microwave and set the timer for 30 seconds. Heat the microwave on the high setting.
5. Remove the bowl from the oven and stir in the melted cheese. Stir the cheese until it has a smooth consistency.
6. If there are still lumps in the cheese that you cannot smooth out by stirring, microwave the cheese again for a few more seconds until it is completely melted and can become a smooth, lump-free mixture.

Don’t be put off by the cheese mixture. Over-mixing the melted cheese or mixing it too forcefully can result in a lumpy texture rather than a smooth one.

2. Melt the mozzarella cheese on the stove

To melt mozzarella cheese on the stove, you’ll need a double boiler or a makeshift version of it.

For the latter, you will need a saucepan filled with water and a bowl that fits well in it. This DIY double boiler works in the same way as a professionally made one.

Once the double boiler is ready, you can proceed to melt the mozzarella cheese on the fire. Here’s how to do it:

1. Crumble the mozzarella cheese and put it on the upper tray of the boiler. Don’t forget to measure the cheese before melting it if you’re following a particular recipe.
2. Keep the heat medium to low.
3. As the water begins to heat up in the bottom pot, the steam will begin to melt the cheese. So be patient. The double boiler does not work as fast as the microwave oven.
4. With a silicone spatula, clean the sides of the pot of the melted mozzarella cheese and fold it into the rest of the cheese that has not yet melted. Leaving melted cheese on the sides of the pot can cause them to burn. Also, removing it will speed up the melting process.
5. Once the cheese starts to melt, add a small amount of evaporated milk and cornstarch to keep it from separating.
6. Continue stirring the cheese until it is completely melted.

The nice thing about melting mozzarella cheese on the stove using a double boiler is that you can keep it warm until you need to use it in a dish.

3. Melt the mozzarella cheese in the oven

Melting mozzarella cheese in the oven is possible. To do this, you will need to use the oven rack setting.

If you never use the broiler in your oven, it is an oven setting that provides direct, concentrated heat. If you put the mozzarella cheese under this heating element, it will soften and melt beautifully.

You will need a cast iron skillet to melt the mozzarella cheese in the oven. And if you go a little harder and add herbs and spices to the cheese, you can take melted mozzarella cheese from plain and boring to extremely tasty.

Here’s how to melt mozzarella in the oven:

1. Turn on the oven broil setting. Keep the heat low.
2. Add mozzarella slices to a cast iron skillet. If you want, you can cover them with Parmesan.
3. Drizzle the cheese with olive oil.
4. (Optional) Add herbs, such as thyme or rosemary to the cheese. You can also add spices to taste.
5. Put the pan under the grill for a little over 5 minutes.
6. Remove the cheese from the oven when it is all melted, bubbly and charred.
7. Serve with bread while the cheese is still warm.

If you want to experiment with baked mozzarella, pour a can of crushed tomato into the pan before adding the mozzarella slices.

Baked mozzarella is a delicious appetizer when served with breadsticks.

Can mozzarella cheese be melted in a skillet?

It is possible to melt mozzarella cheese on the stove using just a skillet. But there are some important things you must do.

First of all, you must use a non-stick pan. Second, you have to always keep the heat low. And last but not least, you have to grate or crumble the mozzarella cheese first, as that’s the only way to start melting it evenly.

To melt the cheese in a pan, spread it evenly on the cooking zone, add a little cornstarch and evaporated milk for a smooth texture. A slice of American cheese would also help to get a smooth consistency. Don’t forget to add a splash of vinegar.

Beat the cheese while it melts. Add other ingredients if necessary and transfer the cheese from the skillet to another container.

Tips for melting mozzarella cheese

Melting the mozzarella cheese shouldn’t be difficult if you follow the instructions. Here are some tips to make the process even easier.

Tip No. 1: Don’t stick

When the mozzarella cheese melts, it becomes very sticky. So whether you melt it on the stovetop using a double boiler or in the microwave, be sure to use your nonstick cookware and dinnerware.

Use rubber or silicone spatulas to mix the melted mozzarella cheese. They are non-stick and easy to clean when you are done cooking.

Tip #2: Start with smaller pieces

Trying to melt a large chunk of mozzarella cheese is not a good idea. It is always recommended to crumble, grate or cut the cheese into slices before melting it.

It will only take a few seconds to divide the cheese into smaller pieces. But doing this will significantly help melt the cheese quickly.

Tip No. 3: Put the cheese at room temperature

If you know you are going to melt the mozzarella cheese, take it out of the fridge for a few minutes before heating it. This will allow time for the cheese to come to room temperature and prepare it for melting.

Exposing the cheese to drastic changes in temperature will negatively affect the final result, making the melted mozzarella cheese too greasy.

Tip #4: Substitute Evaporated Milk

The recipe may tell you to add evaporated milk to the cheese to prevent it from separating. If you don’t have evaporated milk at home or simply want to reduce the amount of dairy on your plate, there are multiple alternatives that you can use.

As for non-dairy substitutes, you can use almond, coconut, soy, and even hemp milk. You will use milk in little quantity. Thus, it will not affect the flavor of the melted cheese.

If your non-dairy milk is too watery, you may need a few more minutes to evaporate the liquid.

If you don’t have evaporated milk at home, but want to make sure the melted mozzarella has a smooth consistency, you can substitute milk, cream, or media crema instead.

Does vegan mozzarella melt?

Vegan cheese does not usually melt in the same way as real cheese. However, due to advanced technologies, manufacturers are now developing vegan mozzarella cheese that melts and does it quite well.

Most vegan mozzarella cheeses bubble and stretch just like real mozzarella . But you may have to melt them at a temperature higher than the 130 degrees Fahrenheit that regular mozzarella needs to soften and become stringy.