Mozzarella Cheese | Riccota Cheese

Quick Mozzarella Cheese

1 gallon milk

1-1/4 teaspoons citric acid powder

1/4 teaspoon liquid rennet or 1/8 rennet

tablet

1/2 cup cool water, divided in half

Place the cool milk in a stainless or enamel pot. Dissolve the citric acid powder into 1/4 cup cool water and add to the milk. Stir well and bring the temperature of the milk to 88 [degrees] F. Mix the rennet with the other 1/4 cup of cool water and stir into the milk for about 10 seconds. Allow the milk to set at 88 [degrees] F for 15 minutes to coagulate.

The curds should be firm after 15 minutes. When you dip your finger into the curds, they should break cleanly over the finger, and whey should fill the depression where your finger has been. Cut into one-inch cubes and let rest for 10 minutes. Then place the pot of curds into a sink of very hot water and slowly bring the temperature up to 108 [degrees] F. Curds will shrink during this process. Keep the curds at 108 [degrees] F for 35 minutes. Drain curds into a colander for 15 minutes.

Save the whey if you're making ricotta or heat treating the curds in the whey rather than using the microwave method. The curds are ready to be heat treated to get their stretch after they have drained. I prefer the microwave method, but here are both ways to stretch mozzarella.

Microwave method

Break up a cupful of curds into a microwave-safe plate or bowl. Add salt to taste. I like about 1/2 teaspoon of salt per pound of cheese, which equals 1/4 teaspoon per cup.

Place the curds into the microwave and heat on high for 50 seconds. Take out and work the cheese with the back of a spoon, much like kneading the cheese. Place the cheese back into the microwave and heat on high for another 25 seconds. Remove from microwave and again work with a spoon to stretch and shape the cheese. Work into a soft ball with your hands and allow to cool. Will become opaque and shiny. Wrap in plastic or freeze for later use. Will keep about two weeks in the refrigerator.

Stovetop method

You can use either hot water or whey saved from draining the curds. Use a double boiler method, or you'll scorch the whey. You will need enough hot water to cover the curds and whey.

Heat the water or whey to 150 [degrees] to 155 [degrees] F, then place the curds (which by now have formed into a mass) back into the hot liquid. Work quickly, as it doesn't take long in the hot liquid before the curds melt together and become stretchy. This is an amazing process that happens very quickly.

Use a large slotted and large regular spoon and bring the curd up out of the liquid, pulling and stretching it like taffy. You can use your hands or the spoons to stretch the cheese. Shape into balls and place into a brine solution for 10 to 30 minutes, depending on how salty you like your cheese. Remove from brine and pat dry or air dry. Refrigerate cheese for up to two weeks. Freeze for longer storage.