Pizza cheese encompasses several varieties and types of cheeses and dairy products that are designed and manufactured for use specifically on pizza, including processed and modified cheese such as Mozzarella-like processed cheeses and Mozzarella variants. Pizza cheese can also refer to any type of cheese suitable for use on pizza. Estimates have placed 30% of all pizza cheese used in the United States as Mozzarella cheese. The most popular cheeses used in the preparation of pizza are Mozzarella, Provolone, Cheddar and Parmesan. Romano and Ricotta are often used as toppings, and processed pizza cheeses manufactured specifically for pizza are used often in mass production environments.
Processed pizza cheese is manufactured to produce preferable qualities in browning, melting, stretchiness and fat and moisture content. Many studies and experiments have analyzed the impact of vegetable oil, manufacturing and culture processes, denatured whey proteins and other changes to create ideal and economical pizza cheeses. In 1997 it was estimated that annual production of pizza cheese was 2 billion pounds in the United States and 200 million pounds in Europe. It was reported in 2000 that demand for pizza cheese in Europe was increasing by 8% per year.
Read more about Pizza Cheese: Research and Development, Production and Business, Use By Region
Famous quotes containing the words pizza and/or cheese:
“When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore.”
—Jack Brooks (1912–1971)
“Apart from cheese and tulips, the main product of the country is advocaat, a drink made from lawyers.”
—Alan Coren (b. 1938)