Fresh Mozzarella From Scratch

User Reviews

4.9

51 reviews
Excellent
  • Total Time

    30 mins

  • Servings

    1 mozzarella ball

  • Calories

    2332 kcal

  • Course

    Others

  • Cuisine

    Italian

Fresh Mozzarella From Scratch

Crafted with ease and taste in mind, this recipe is a great choice.

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 1 gallon whole milk
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons citric acid mixed with 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 teaspoon liquid rennent mixed with 1 cup water
  • 1-2 teaspoons kosher salt
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Instructions

  1. Prep: Take milk out of the fridge to come up to room temperature. Sterilize all of your equipment. Then set up a large pot or bowl with a cheesecloth-lined colander and set aside. Mix the citric acid with 1/4 cup of water in a small bowl or Pyrex. Prepare the rennet by adding it to 1 cup water. Set aside both.
  2. Heat Milk: Add milk and the citric acid with water to the pot, stir, and heat over medium until the temperature reaches 90 degrees.
  3. Add Rennet: Remove the pot from the heat and then add the rennet and water and give a gentle mix. Cover the pot and let sit for 5 minutes.
  4. Curds: After 5 minutes, soft curds should form. With a long spatula or knife, cut the curds into 1 inch squares.  
  5. Return to Heat: Turn the burner to medium and return the pot to reheat.  Gently stir until the whey is 105 degrees.  Remove from heat.
  6. Scoop Curds: Using a slotted spoon, gently scoop the curds from pot into the cheesecloth. Repeat with all curds. We don't recommend pouring all of the whey into the cheesecloth, just because it will take too much time to drain all of that liquid, and it likely won't fit into your cheesecloth. Just do your best to scoop as much as you can out.
  7. Drain: Gently gather the ends of the cheesecloth and gently squeeze out some of the liquid.
  8. Heat Curds: Transfer cheese to a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds to heat the curds to about 135 degrees, but be careful to not heat it too much as if the temp goes over 170 degrees, the curds will fall apart. See recipe notes about how long to microwave, based upon the strength of your microwave.
  9. Release Whey: Using food-grade gloves, gently press down on the microwaved cheese to release whey and then drain the whey from the bowl. Drain whey, and
  10. Repeat: Return the bowl to the microwave and heat again for another 30 seconds, release and drain whey, and then heat for a final 30 seconds and do one final drain of the whey.
  11. Salt and Stretch: Sprinkle the cheese with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and gently knead cheese. Sprinkle with another 1/2 teaspoon and use your hands to begin to stretch the cheese a couple of times.
  12. Form and Chill: Form the cheese into a ball and chill immediately in a bowl of ice water to cool for 5 minutes.
  13. Slice and serve!

Notes

  • Nutritional Value is for a whole cheese ball.
  • *Microwave Strength
  • *Microwave Strength
  • For the first heating of the cheese, if you have a microwave that is 1200 W or greater (you can check this inside the door of the microwave) then heat for only 30 seconds and lower the power mode to 6. If you have a microwave that's only 700 - 1000 W, then heat for full 60 seconds.
  • Substitutions
  • Substitutions
  • Milk: Whole milk is of course best, but you can use 2% or 1%.  These kinds of milk may create a cheese ball that appears almost translucent after it cools, that's because of the lower fat content.
  • Rennet: Vegetable or Animal works fine and you can use liquid or tablets. If using a tablet, then you just want 1/4 of it, crushed to dissolve in the water.
  • Storage
  • Storage
  • It's best to store by wrapping in plastic wrap and storing in the fridge for up to 2 days, but it's truly best eaten fresh within the first day. 
  •  

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 2332kcal (117%) Carbohydrates 182g (61%) Protein 119g (238%) Fat 123g (189%) Saturated Fat 71g (355%) Polyunsaturated Fat 7g Monounsaturated Fat 31g Cholesterol 379mg (126%) Sodium 3953mg (165%) Potassium 4997mg (143%) Sugar 191g (382%) Vitamin A 6132IU (123%) Calcium 4279mg (428%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1mozzarella ball

Amount Per Serving

Calories 2332 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 2332kcal 117%
Carbohydrates 182g 61%
Protein 119g 238%
Fat 123g 189%
Saturated Fat 71g 355%
Polyunsaturated Fat 7g 41%
Monounsaturated Fat 31g 155%
Cholesterol 379mg 126%
Sodium 3953mg 165%
Potassium 4997mg 106%
Sugar 191g 382%
Vitamin A 6132IU 123%
Calcium 4279mg 428%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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Overall Rating

4.9

51 reviews
Excellent

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