Homemade Mozzarella Sticks Recipe (Breaded Cheese) (2024)

FAQs

Should I freeze my cheese before making mozzarella sticks? ›

Yes, freezing the mozzarella sticks before frying them is essential. If they aren't completely frozen, the cheese will ooze out of the flour and panko coating before it's gotten the chance to crisp up.

How do you keep mozzarella sticks from falling apart? The freezing method does help with this. It really holds them together and allows them to deep fry or air fry better. Otherwise, fried mozzarella cheese sticks may have some of the cheese melt out of the crispy crust or not be as firm when picked up to enjoy.

If the cheese inside your mozzarella sticks isn't gooey in the middle, it could be that your cheese sticks were cut too thick. A quick fix is to microwave them for 15-20 seconds to melt the cheese.

Served fried, cheese curds are often mistaken for mozzarella sticks, even though they are smaller and more nugget-shaped. However, their texture is what truly sets them apart. In comparison, cheese curds are more rubbery, hence the squeaking. They also have a similar, slightly tangy flavor profile.

Yes, you can freeze mozzarella sticks. Allow them to cool completely, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet, cover, and freeze for a few hours or overnight. Once the sticks are frozen, transfer them to a zip-top bag labeled with the date. Freeze for up to three months.

Fresh mozzarella does not freeze well. The moisture content is too high. What you get when you thaw them will have a weird texture and a flat flavor, defeating the whole point of having them in the first place.

Freezing allows the crispy panko-and-egg coating to really solidify and get sturdy so that when it hits the oil it can withstand all of that heat. The nice thing about the freezing step is that it means yes! You could make these mozzarella sticks a few days ahead of time, if you want to!

If your homemade mozzarella sticks keep exploding despite the extra freezer time, you can try recoating the sticks with more batter and breading. Prepare as instructed, freeze, then repeat the steps and freeze again before cooking.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Arrange product in a single layer on baking sheet and place on middle rack of oven. Bake for 7-8 minutes (half box) or 8-9 minutes (full box).

Also, you can try to avoid over-baking or overheating the dish, as this can cause the cheese to become tough and rubbery. Another tip is to use shredded or grated mozzarella instead of large chunks, as it will melt more evenly and quickly.

How do you elevate mozzarella sticks? ›

Use a moist bread crumb rather than a dry one and season it well with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian spices, some Lawry's seasoning salt and parmesan cheese. Double bread the cheese as well to ensure even coating. That's flour, egg mix, flour, egg mix, bread crumbs.

For Mozzarella to stretch well it needs two things: The right amount of heat to soften the curd. The right acidity (pH of approximately 5.2)

Mozzarella sticks are slices of mozzarella cheese that are battered or coated in bread crumbs and then deep-fried or pan-fried.

Whole milk mozzarella has a better flavor (don't use part-skim!), and it typically yields more sticks than your standard package of string cheese. Vegetable Oil. My preferred oil for frying is vegetable oil, but any neutral cooking oil (like canola, corn, or peanut oil) will work.

Mozzarella sticks are elongated pieces of battered or breaded mozzarella, usually served as hors d'oeuvre.

Cheese, when frozen, becomes firmer and less prone to melting quickly, allowing it to hold its shape during frying. This means that your fried cheese will have a delightful contrast between the crispy exterior and the creamy interior, creating a truly crave-worthy snack.

It is possible to freeze mozzarella cheese; however, because it is a softer cheese you will have the most success when the mozzarella is shredded. Whereas a hard or semi-hard block of cheese will stay fresh in your freezer up to 6 months, fresh shredded cheeses such as mozzarella will last around 3-4 months.

You don't need to freeze cheese for long before shredding it—in fact, doing so could compromise the flavor and texture. According to our Editorial Director of Food Sarah Carey, 30 minutes is enough time to slightly harden the cheese. Once it's firm, use a box grater and shred the cheese like you normally would.

We'll also freeze the cheese sticks before frying to bring the temperature of the cheese down before cooking. Freezing for even cooking – We will freeze the breaded mozzarella sticks for two hours before cooking, which will get the cheese super cold before frying.