Cheese—the beloved ingredient that has the power to transform any dish into a culinary masterpiece. From creamy brie to sharp cheddar, cheese adds depth and flavour to countless recipes. And when it comes to pizza, there’s no shortage of delicious melted cheeses to choose from.
Margaret Peters-Morris, the talented cheesemaker at Glengarry Cheese, sheds light on the science behind melting cheeses. “It all comes down to moisture content and age,” she explains. “Moist cheeses and younger cheeses have more milk proteins that spread out when they hit the heat.”
Tips for a Great Cheesy Pizza:
- Mozzarella: Opt for a full-fat, high-moisture mozzarella, such as small balls packed in water, for that perfect stretchy texture.
- Cheddar: While young cheddar is ideal for grilled cheese sandwiches, aged cheddar can become oily and grainy when melted. Save the older cheddars for cheese platters.
- Fontina: This rich, buttery cheese is perfect for melting into sauces and soups. Mix it with mozzarella for a flavourful pizza topping.
- Provolone: Similar to fontina, provolone offers a deliciously smoky flavour. Try using smoked provolone to add depth to pizzas or grilled cheese sandwiches.
- Gouda: With its mild, almost sweet flavour, gouda melts beautifully and pairs well with a variety of toppings. Smoked gouda adds an extra layer of complexity.
While some cheeses, like chevre or goat cheese, soften with heat, they won’t spread out and melt like others. Cheeses like feta or parmesan can turn into a stringy, oily mess when melted, making them better suited for sprinkling on salads or pasta.
Discover Amazing Cheeses with Savvy Cool Curds
Continue your cheese exploration with a Savvy Cool Curds subscription. Each month, we introduce you to great Canadian cheesemakers with a delivery of four different hard-to-find wedges, along with a special Canadian-made gourmet food item to complement your cheese board.
What’s Your Favorite Pizza Topping?
We reached out to some fellow food enthusiasts to share their favorite cheese and toppings for pizza:
- Debbie Trenholm, Savvy Sommelier: “I love Smoked Gouda for a different flavor on my pizza. One of my go-to pizzas is a base of pesto, topped with chopped mushrooms and thinly sliced cooked potato and rosemary.”
- Derek Barnett, Meldville Wines: “My all-time favourite is blue cheese and pear pizza, using mozzarella as the base and topped with thinly sliced pear and crumbled blue cheese.”
- Margaret Peters-Morris, Cheesemaker: “One of our favourite pizza toppings is our Glengarry Celtic Reserve creamy blue cheese with figs and red onion, topped with 5-year-old balsamic glaze.”
- Marc Pistor, Fogolar Wines: “My favourite cheese for pizza is definitely mozzarella. But I also love feta cheese as a topping, even though it doesn’t melt. Anchovy is my favourite pizza topping, sometimes with hot peppers.”
Let’s raise our glasses (and our pizza slices) to the incredible world of melted cheeses and the endless culinary delights they inspire. Whether you’re savouring a classic margherita or experimenting with unique flavour combinations, cheese has the power to elevate every bite. As we continue to explore the diverse landscape of cheeses, let’s cherish the moments shared around the table, savouring the flavours of each slice and the memories made with every bite. Cheers to the joy of discovery and the delicious journey ahead!
Do you love cheese and supporting Canadian businesses?
Check out our selection of Canadian cheeses in our online store. We also have monthly cheese subscriptions so you never miss out on the delicious cheeses we discover.