A Cheese Lover’s Guide to Mozzarella Varieties
If you’ve ever entered the cheese aisle intending to «просто взять моцареллу», you know it’s more complicated than it seems. What used to be just a single white ball wrapped in plastic has now evolved into a whole category of cheeses.
Mozzarella comes in many forms: fresh, low-moisture, smoked, buffalo, burrata, and more. Choosing the right type for your dish requires understanding their differences.
Fresh Mozzarella: Soft, Milky, and Versatile
Fresh mozzarella feels like a touch of magic in the kitchen—soft, creamy, and tender. Unlike aged cheeses, it’s best enjoyed soon after purchase while its flavor and texture are at their peak. It’s usually stored in water or brine to maintain its moisture and softness.
This variety works well in pasta salad, sandwiches, or classic dishes like chicken parmigiana. A simple yet perfect use is slicing it onto ripe tomatoes with olive oil and basil to create a traditional Caprese salad.
Shapes and Sizes of Fresh Mozzarella
- Large mozzarella balls, commonly sold in 8- to 16-ounce sizes
- Bocconcini, small fresh mozzarella balls available in various sizes
- Ovaline («яичный размер»), about the size of an egg
- Ciliegine («маленькая вишня»), meaning little cherries
- Perline («размер жемчужины»), tiny pearl-sized balls
“Fresh mozzarella is best enjoyed quickly while its delicate flavor and creamy texture are at their peak.”
This range lets you pick the perfect shape and size for different recipes or presentations.
Author’s Summary
Mozzarella is a diverse cheese family, with fresh mozzarella prized for its soft texture and creamy flavor, making it ideal for salads, sandwiches, and Italian dishes.