Stocking your freezer with ready-to-go meals and snacks is one of the best kitchen hacks around. In just minutes, tossing a frozen appetizer into the oven or air fryer can whip up something that tastes restaurant-quality. I always keep a few staples on hand—lentil samosas, pork dumplings, Jamaican beef patties—and when I’m in a pinch, I pull them out. But one frozen favorite I can never resist? Mozzarella sticks.
I recently tested mozzarella sticks from fast food brands across the country, which should give you an idea of just how obsessed I am with the cheesy app. After moving to Vermont, though, getting the restaurant versions hasn’t been easy. So, I finally gave the frozen options a real shot. I’ll be honest—I had small doubts going into the tasting reviews. Some brands that I’ve tried before just didn’t deliver, which is why I approached this test critically and asked the hard-hitting questions. Would the sticks pack enough cheese? Would the crust be crispy and flavorful?
Continue reading to discover which frozen mozzarella sticks fell short and which tasted as though they came piping hot, straight from a restaurant kitchen.
How I Chose the Frozen Mozzarella Sticks
For this taste test, I scoured grocery stores and major retailers, including Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and Shaw’s, among others, in search of the best frozen mozzarella sticks. I skipped cheesy breadsticks and chose only those clearly made with mozzarella coated in batter. I also excluded vegan and dairy-free options to ensure a level playing field for all contenders.
How I Tested the Frozen Mozzarella Sticks
After gathering a solid selection of frozen mozzarella sticks, I cooked each according to the package directions. Most brands instruct you to bake them in the oven for a few minutes. Once they were ready, I tasted them immediately, focusing on a few key factors: the presence of a classic cheese pull, the flavor and crispiness of the crust, and whether the mozzarella tasted fresh and had a soft, stringy texture. Below, you’ll find my subjective ranking of which of the store-bought apps deserve a spot in your freezer.
The Best Frozen Mozzarella Sticks, Ranked6th Place: Big Mozz Sticks
Compared to all the frozen mozzarella stick brands I tried, these were the biggest, which excited me. Unfortunately, they didn’t deliver when it came down to texture and taste. The breading felt soggy rather than crispy and carried an overwhelming, artificial Italian seasoning taste. Plus, the cheese was oily, making these mozzarella sticks hard to enjoy.
5th Place: TGI Fridays Mozzarella Sticks
Similar to the aforementioned cheesy appetizer, biting into the TGI Fridays mozzarella sticks revealed an intense, artificial-tasting Italian herb crust. The strong seasoning overpowered the melty mozzarella inside, making it difficult to enjoy the cheese. And although the brand included marinara in the box, the red sauce tasted just as unnatural as the appetizer.
4th Place: Farm Rich Mozzarella Sticks
I grew up eating Farm Rich mozzarella sticks, so I knew what to expect. While not the most impressive of the bunch, this appetizer delivers a crispy breading with an oozy, cheesy filling. My only complaint is that the breading lacks the necessary seasoning and herbs to make it restaurant-quality. I’d recommend serving it with marinara sauce on the side to help make up for its mild flavor.
3rd Place: Trader Joe’s Mozzarella Sticks
First things first, you’ll need to keep a close eye on Trader Joe’s mozzarella sticks while they bake. More than once, the cheese started oozing out before I could pull it out in time. Still, even with that hiccup, the mozzarella delivered a pleasant saltiness, which is no surprise since it’s sourced from Wisconsin. What’s more, the crust came out crisp and full of garlic- and onion-forward flavors.
2nd Place: Tastiez Mini Italian-Style Mozzarella Sticks
When I dumped the Tastiez miniature mozzarella sticks onto a sheet pan, I had my doubts. The tiny size made me worry they wouldn’t deliver enough cheese, but after baking and pulling them from the oven, I was proven wrong.
Each bite offered a satisfying cheese pull and a crunchy crust. Despite being bite-sized, these little sticks packed plenty of melty, delicious cheese. I also enjoyed that the Italian seasoning in the breading came through without overwhelming the flavor of the sticks.
1st Place Winner: Feel Good Foods Mozzarella Sticks
I popped this quick and easy frozen appetizer into the oven at 450 degrees F and baked it for about 9 minutes. Before I could even warm up some marinara sauce, they were ready to eat.
Feel Good’s mozzarella sticks emerged piping hot with a crisp exterior and a subtle, garlicky flavor. The cheese melted in the way I’d hoped—soft and satisfying without veering too messy and oozing out.
What sets this brand apart from the others is the breading, which is nicely balanced, avoiding the over-seasoning that I noticed with some of the other brands I tried. Most impressive of all, the cheese tasted fresh and milky, making it hard to stop at just one.
Read the original article on Allrecipes
Dining and Cooking