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looking for mozzarella brand recommendations

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RRP
RRP Posts: 25,895
in EggHead Forum
While I do like to make my own mozzarella for pizzas from time to time it's nice to have it available commercially. I'm not interested in Kraft products and my usual go-to cheese is Murray's brand. Murray's is good, but doesn't have that final kicker whatever it is to make it lip smacking good on a pizza. Anybody got a recommendation or two or know of some highly rated mozzarella brands? TIA
Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • Jstroke
    Jstroke Posts: 2,600
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    First of all we need some clarification. do you want fresh or aged-. the second thing I need to know is if you have GFS marketplace out there
    Columbus, Ohio--A Gasser filled with Matchlight and an Ugly Drum.
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,895
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    Jstroke said:
    First of all we need some clarification. do you want fresh or aged-. the second thing I need to know is if you have GFS marketplace out there
    I find that the fresh I make is truly the best, but for convenience then yes I will buy it commercially. I have tried several brands over the years including smoked, but have yet to find the good stuff commercially. BTW yes we have a GFS locally...tell me more!
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • Botch
    Botch Posts: 15,487
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    Fresh here, can't recommend a brand though (have none at the time, I know what the label looks like).
    I have purchased mozz in a tub, pieces about the size of a grape and perfectly round.  NOT recommended for pizzas; when you "snap" the pie onto your stone half the mozz balls rolled off and that was Not Good.  
    _____________

    "Pro-Life" would be twenty students graduating from Sandy Hook next month  


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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,895
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    Botch said:
    Fresh here, can't recommend a brand though (have none at the time, I know what the label looks like).
    I have purchased mozz in a tub, pieces about the size of a grape and perfectly round.  NOT recommended for pizzas; when you "snap" the pie onto your stone half the mozz balls rolled off and that was Not Good.  
    I hear you about the balls, so that is why I always use my egg slicer which make those round balls into uniformly thick dots that stay put!
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,895
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    RRP said:

    I hear you about the balls, so that is why I always use my egg slicer which make those round balls into uniformly thick dots that stay put!
    BTW I also use this wire egg slicer when I buy the mozzarella in single half pound balls. I just slice and dice it into more manageable chunks so my egg slicer isn't stressed out!

    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 18,731
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    Ron - if you have a Costco near you, go get the Fattorie Garofalo Bufala mozz. I love that stuff! The center is somewhat creamy, almost like burrata.

    It comes in a plastic bag, with 4-5 individually packaged balls in water. Whole Paycheck sells the same stuff for 3-4x the price. Makes great caprese salad and I like it on margherita pizzas.


    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
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  • Begger
    Begger Posts: 569
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    Our go-to FRESH is Bel Gioioso.     Also a Costco Find.
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  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 18,731
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    @begger try the Garofalo. Beats Bel Gioiso by far. 

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
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    My home made mozz browns weird on pizza. I think it's because the milk is pasteurized too much. I buy the Sam's or Costco 5# packs of commercial mozz...they melt well and they're what all the commercial pizza joints use.  I'll get fancy with some fresh, but the buffalo from Italy is past it's due date for a crazy amount of money.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • Grillmagic
    Grillmagic Posts: 1,600
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    Here is my go two and everyone seems to love it, it is the 50/50 Baker's Choice/Pride of Prov and Motz from SAM's then I layer the thinnest you can slice GOOD white Cheddar on top of my toppings and cook/brown until yummy! 
    Charlotte, Michigan XL BGE
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  • Botch
    Botch Posts: 15,487
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    caliking said:

    Ron - if you have a Costco near you, go get the Fattorie Garofalo Bufala mozz. I love that stuff! The center is somewhat creamy, almost like burrata.

    It comes in a plastic bag, with 4-5 individually packaged balls in water. Whole Paycheck sells the same stuff for 3-4x the price. Makes great caprese salad and I like it on margherita pizzas.

    Thanks much!  I have a source for bufala in Salt Lake City, but it's a bit of a commute for cheese; never thought of checking Costco.  
    _____________

    "Pro-Life" would be twenty students graduating from Sandy Hook next month  


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  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 32,767
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    i visit an area affectionately called minga valley at least once a  week, the good stuff =)  fresh mozz, dusty old pepperoni, gelato, deep fried rice balls stuffed with chicken cheese and peas, the bakeries are out of this world. no italian delis in your area
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,895
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    We are a Sams member, but not Costco, have no Italian markets nearby nor Whole Paycheck stores either. While the first at GFS sounded like an option having to buy 12 pounds of it and not being able to freeze it is out of the running! I plan to see which of the recommendations I can find so I thank all of you for your help!
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • Canugghead
    Canugghead Posts: 11,528
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    Next time you guys visit the GWN, load up your suitcase/trunk with cheese to pay for the trip  =)
    http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/2015/09/18/niagara-cop-found-guilty-of-cheese-smuggling
    canuckland
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  • HendersonTRKing
    HendersonTRKing Posts: 1,803
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    Big fan of Belgioioso products.  The mozz is the best.  I buy at BJ's -- very inexpensive.  Like 1/3 of price sold elsewhere.  

    http://www.belgioioso.com/Products/Fresh-Mozzarella

    Nobody wants tough mozzarella, I can tell you that!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsMIShagjH4

    It's a 302 thing . . .
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  • Begger
    Begger Posts: 569
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    caliking said:
    @begger try the Garofalo. Beats Bel Gioiso by far. 

    I will notifiy the UberFuhrer.

    I always try to remain open to 'better'.  

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  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,791
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    @RRP If you can find it,  Campania mozzarella di bufala. Its made from buffalo milk. Like all things buffalo, its worth its weight in gold. All others pale in comparison in my book. And no, this is not a buffalo joke, thats really the name of it of my friend.

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

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  • mlamb01
    mlamb01 Posts: 210
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    I use Sorrento whole milk mozzarella, sold in 1 lb blocks.  I use about 4 oz per 12" pizza.  I usually mix it with about 2 oz of provolone.  About 30 minutes before dressing out the pizza, I will cut off a chunk of both, put them in the freezer.  When cold(but not frozen), they will shred well in the food processor and mix together nicely.  Plus the cold cheese doesn't stick to itself as bad.
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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,895
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    SGH said:
    @RRP If you can find it,  Campania mozzarella di bufala. Its made from buffalo milk. Like all things buffalo, its worth its weight in gold. All others pale in comparison in my book. And no, this is not a buffalo joke, thats really the name of it of my friend.
    I'm up to the challenge! Surprisingly yesterday before you even made this recommendation I was looking at it at my local Kroger store! I should add this location is not your run of the mill Kroger and is the only one in our area that specializes in cheeses...in fact  they are one of only 134 Kroger's in the whole USA.
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,791
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    RRP said:
    .in fact  they are one of only 134 Kroger's in the whole USA.
    Not trying to get off on a rant my friend, but I think it's sad what Walmart has done to the grocery industry. Delchamps, gone, Food World, gone, Save A Center, gone. The list goes on and on. With all that aside, if you can find the fore mentioned cheese, give it a try. I think you will be impressed.   

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

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  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,895
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    SGH said:
    RRP said:
    .in fact  they are one of only 134 Kroger's in the whole USA.
    Not trying to get off on a rant my friend, but I think it's sad what Walmart has done to the grocery industry. Delchamps, gone, Food World, gone, Save A Center, gone. The list goes on and on. With all that aside, if you can find the fore mentioned cheese, give it a try. I think you will be impressed.   
    I hear you - but maybe that "134" came out wrong. Kroger has 2,623 stores in the US, but this store is a speciality location and is considered a flagship. I just threw that in incase someone can't locate the water buffalo cheese at their Kroger.
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
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    I have little experience with bufala, but understand that the domestic products are nowhere near as good as imported Italian. The only one I've seen, of either type, is 
    Gustosella Mozzarella Di Bufala Campana D.O.P. sold at Wegman's ($9/7oz). 

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

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  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 32,767
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    SGH said:
    RRP said:
    .in fact  they are one of only 134 Kroger's in the whole USA.
    Not trying to get off on a rant my friend, but I think it's sad what Walmart has done to the grocery industry. Delchamps, gone, Food World, gone, Save A Center, gone. The list goes on and on. With all that aside, if you can find the fore mentioned cheese, give it a try. I think you will be impressed.   
    thats one thing wallmart has zero chance on monopolizing here, our market basket customer base is strong and fanatical
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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  • FlyingTivo
    FlyingTivo Posts: 352
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    I will probably get burned but there is a 5 Cheese Blend for pizza at Cosco that is very good for pizza with ingredients, but I only use Buffala for margharitas with a drizzle of Provolone!

    Felipe
    Men, easier fed than understood!!
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  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,791
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    FlyingTivo said:
    I will probably get burned but there is a 5 Cheese Blend for pizza at Cosco that is very good for pizza 
    Agree^^^^^^^^^. It is excellent on my version of Stromboli as well. My Stromboli probably doesn't qualify as real Stromboli. But I love it nonetheless. 
    But you are correct, it's a great cheese and it's easy to locate.  

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

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