Key Points
Six chefs named Galbani as their favorite mozzarella cheese brand.
Chefs praise its creamy texture, clean flavor and reliable melt.
It works well in pizza, lasagna, baked dishes and more.
Mozzarella is the ultimate melty, gooey cheese. It’s incredibly versatile, perfect for topping pizza, lasagna and bruschetta. That’s probably why you can find a wide variety of brands available just about everywhere groceries are sold. Seriously, it’s one of the most popular types of cheeses in the country, and you have no shortage of options when you are looking to buy some.
There are so many options for mozzarella cheese, including large American or Italian brands, and even smaller, regional makers. It can feel intimidating choosing the right one, so we reached out to a handful of chefs to get their picks for the best brand of mozzarella. The good news is there’s a clear favorite brand of mozzarella cheese among the chefs, and it’s widely available in grocery stores.
Chef’s Pick for Favorite Mozzarella Cheese
Credit: Courtesy of Brand
The clear favorite brand of mozzarella cheese among our chef experts is Galbani. The chefs say they love its clean flavor and creamy texture, plus the 140-year-old Italian cheese company offers many mozzarella styles, including fresh packs, shredded, high- and low-moisture mozzarella blocks, logs, balls and even marinated cherry-size pearls called ciliegine.
Why Chefs Love Galbani
Matthew Cutolo, executive pastry chef and third-generation chef at Gargiulo’s Restaurant, a Coney Island institution since 1907, says they make fresh mozzarella by hand every morning. “Because of that, I tend to have very high standards when it comes to mozzarella. When I’m not at the restaurant and need a reliable mozzarella at home, my go-to brand is Galbani.”
“Galbani has been Italy’s No. 1 cheese brand for generations, and what I appreciate most is its consistency,” Cutolo says. “Whether I’m using their fresh mozzarella for a caprese salad or melting it on a pizza, it delivers the clean flavor, creamy texture and balanced moisture content that I look for. It has a fresh, milky taste without being overly salty, and it melts beautifully while still maintaining its character.”
Versatility
Isaac Bernal Carbajo, executive chef of the Representation of Spain to the United Nations, says living and working in the New York City area gives him access to some of the best mozzarella cheeses in the world. Galbani is right up there among the best for its reliability and balance.
“Galbani remains a reliable choice when I am looking for versatility,” Carbajo says. “It is a well-balanced mozzarella with good melting properties and a mild flavor that fits perfectly in pizzas, lasagnas and baked dishes. It is a brand that rarely disappoints, at least in my experience.”
Straightforward Ingredients
The ingredient list for Galbani mozzarella is short: milk, salt, vinegar, citric acid and enzymes. These are the same ingredients you’d likely use to make mozzarella at home. Of note, some chefs say the texture is authentic to cheese you’d find in Italy, but could use a bit more seasoning.
“Galbani’s cheese has the superior texture, as it closely mimics true mozzarella campana; however, it’s plain with little to no salt, so it needs to be perfectly seasoned as it’s kind of plain out of the container,” says Juan Urbieta, executive chef and general manager of Ristorante Bartolotta dal 1993.
Jonathan Eizenshtein, a personal chef at Eizen Eats, says Galbani is his go-to brand for its traditional fresh mozzarella flavor: “It has that classic milky taste and soft texture that works great in simple dishes.”
Iconic Cheese Pull
Galbani can also produce that iconic cheese pull, says Kara Brown, a recipe developer and founder of Bee Inspired. “It melts smoothly, stretches well and develops that golden-brown finish without releasing excess moisture,” she says. “I’ve found it strikes a nice balance between creaminess and structure, which is exactly what you want for high-heat cooking.”
Brown likes to buy a whole block and shred the cheese herself. “It takes a few extra minutes, but the texture and melt are noticeably better, especially on homemade pizza,” she says.
Other Top Mozzarella Brands
While Galbani took the top spot among chefs for its creamy texture and authentic Italian cheese flavor, the chefs offered some other recommendations.
BelGioioso Mozzarella. This American brand has roots in Italy, and some chefs say it’s their everyday mozzarella for its reliable texture. “I find they are good at striking a nice balance between being fresh yet reliable,” says Mark McShane, a chef and food-safety expert at Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate. While he likes Galbani for its milky flavor, he says BelGioioso has a pleasantly sweet dairy taste with with a soft but still solid feel.
Grande. This Wisconsin-based cheese company produces solid, well-balanced mozzarella cheeses, Urbieta says. Grande has a good flavor and is already well seasoned, though Urbieta says the texture may be a tad too firm.
Liuzzi Cheese. With roots to the early 1800s in Italy, Liuzzi Cheese was founded in the United States in 1981 and produces traditional Italian-style mozzarella cheeses. “Liuzzi is an option that I value highly because of its more artisanal profile and the freshness it usually offers,” says Carbajo. “Its texture and flavor are closer to a freshly made mozzarella, something I especially appreciate in simple dishes where the quality of the product speaks for itself.”
Our Expert Take
There are numerous good-quality mozzarella brands on the market, but the favorite among chefs is the Italian company Galbani. Chefs say they love it for its consistency, milky flavor, melty texture and reliable performance. Shred some yourself and use it on homemade pizzas or lasagna, or tear it into chunks and toss into your salads or use as a topping for bruschetta.
Read the original article on EatingWell
Dining and Cooking