looking for mozzarella brand recommendations

RRP · October 2015

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

Jstroke · October 2015

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

RRP · October 2015

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!

Botch · October 2015

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.

RRP · October 2015

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!

RRP · October 2015

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!

Image: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/Ronald44/IMG_0612.jpg

caliking · October 2015

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.

Begger · October 2015

Our go-to FRESH is Bel Gioioso. Also a Costco Find.

caliking · October 2015

@begger try the Garofalo. Beats Bel Gioiso by far.

nolaegghead · October 2015

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.

Grillmagic · October 2015

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!

Botch · October 2015

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.

fishlessman · October 2015

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

RRP · October 2015

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!

Canugghead · October 2015

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

HendersonTRKing · October 2015

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

Begger · October 2015

caliking said:

@begger try the Garofalo. Beats Bel Gioiso by far.

I will notifiy the UberFuhrer.

I always try to remain open to 'better'.

SGH · October 2015

@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.

mlamb01 · October 2015

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.

RRP · October 2015

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.

SGH · October 2015

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.

RRP · October 2015

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.

Carolina Q · October 2015

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).

fishlessman · October 2015

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

FlyingTivo · October 2015

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

SGH · October 2015

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.

looking for mozzarella brand recommendations

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