Pizza has long become an internationally popular dish, and its ingredients vary depending on the region of preparation and individual preferences. However, cheese remains an indispensable component of pretty much all of the variations of this dish.
So what cheese goes on pizza? It may seem that it shouldn’t be a question: cheese is obviously cheese, but it’s not that simple. By no means is any cheese suitable for preparing a homemade pizza. Some varieties and types of this product tend to lose their taste and aroma when melted. Choosing the best option for a specific recipe is not so challenging if you understand the technology of preparing a traditional Italian dish. In this article, I’ll talk about 9 types of cheese that will be a cherry on top of your pizza.
Types of Cheese to Put on Pizza
Here’s the list of the 9 best types of cheese for pizza. You can choose one or combine them according to your preferences.
1. Mozzarella
Pizza mozzarella is used in a classical recipe, and it’s perfect for creating that stretching cheese layer we all strive to get. It also tastes great with most of the different pizza components.
There are several types of mozzarella: the usual semi-solid in the form of cubes, smoked mozzarella, and balls in brine. Semi-hard mozzarella is the best option for adding to pizza. Smoked Mozzarella is rarely used for pizza, but some people add it in small amounts. Mozzarella is perfect for pizza with any type of meat including chicken, pork, bacon, and ham. It also adds some spice to the pizza “Four cheese”.
2. Parmesan
This cheese has a specific flavor with light notes of hazelnut and a mild taste with a long aftertaste. Parmesan cheese on pizza will taste delicious and enhance the taste of other ingredients. But it’s better not to bake it; instead, just use it as a garnish on pizza so that it will just melt a little. Parmesan cheese is great to put on Hawaiian, Sicilian, and Margherita pizzas.
3. Cheddar
Cheddar cheese is loved due to its pungent sour taste. Even though not everybody is acknowledged with this variation, cheddar cheese pizza is quite popular. You can basically add it to any kind of pizza you want. It goes great with pretty much all of the ingredients like ham, pepperoni, and pineapple, or just any kind of meat. I especially recommend combining it with mozzarella cheese.
4. Emmental
This cheese has a spicy and piquant taste. It also is quite stretchy, but it hardens when pizza cools. Emmental goes well with all of the other types of pizza cheese.
However, I don’t recommend adding Emmental to pizzas with salami since both these products have a spicy taste. This amount of spices in pizza may seem excessive.
5. Muenster
Muenster cheese pizza is not that popular, but it doesn’t mean that it tastes any worse than other types of pizzas. Its flavor is milder than cheddar’s and, at the same time, more assertive than that of mozzarella with a little bit of spice. This cheese melts wonderfully and tastes even better when combined with mozzarella.
6. Provolone
Provolone is one of the most popular options to combine with other cheeses. The flavor depends on its age. Those that were aged for shorter periods of time are sweeter. Provolone cheese on pizza tastes great, no matter what you mix it with.
7. Sulguni
The texture of sulguni cheese is quite similar to mozzarella. This cheese is moderately dense and spicy. Sulguni is suitable for all types of pizzas and tastes especially good with red onions, olives, and lean meat.
8. Blue cheeses: Brie and Roquefort
They differ in cooking technology: Brie is made from cow’s milk, and Roquefort is produced from sheep’s one. Both are popular in French pizzerias for their unique flavors. They melt really nice and do not harden after cooling. It is better to bake pizza with such cheeses at low temperatures to avoid bitterness.
9. Gouda
It has a delicate creamy taste and smooth texture. The older it is, the tangier the taste. This type of cheese is mostly used for making vegetable pizzas, but it also tastes delicious with barbecue chicken or pulled pork. In addition, you can choose straight or smoked gouda depending on which flavor you prefer for your pizza.
FAQ About Pizza Cheese
Now let’s answer the most common and frequently asked questions about various types of cheese that are used on pizza.
Which cheese is used for pizza?
There are lots of cheese types that are considered to be the best cheese for pizza. Some of the most common and popular options are mozzarella, parmesan, gouda, blue cheeses, sulguni, provolone, muenster, Emmental, cheddar, tilsiter, etc.
Which cheese is used in Domino’s Pizza?
Domino’s, just like most of the popular pizzerias, uses a mixture of Monterey Jack, white cheddar, and mozzarella in equal proportions.
What are the 4 kinds of cheese in 4-cheese pizza?
According to the classical recipe, you need to use mozzarella, fontina, gorgonzola, and parmigiano in 4 cheese pizza. However, there are some other popular variations:
- bryndza cheese, tilsiter, dor blue, edam;
- gorgonzola, gruyere, pecorino, parmesan;
- mozzarella, parmesan, cheddar, and dor blue.
Enjoy Your Pizza
These are the best types of cheese you can put on pizza. Of course, there are a lot more, but nine of these are probably the most popular and accessible. I also suggest you try to express your creativity by mixing them according to your personal taste. Don’t hesitate to use some unusual combinations of other pizza toppings too. This way, you may discover some interesting flavor combinations.
Do you like making pizza? What type of cheese do you prefer the most? Which combinations work for you? Was there any that you didn’t like at all? Share your thoughts in the comments section!
