The Specific Type Of Mozzarella Jet Tila Always Keeps In The Refrigerator

Mozzarella is an extremely versatile and delicious cheese that can be devoured straight up with a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil, melted on top of pizza, or transformed into beloved mozzarella sticks. It's a no-brainer and easy-to-use ingredient to keep on hand.

Chef Jet Tila likes to stock up on a specific kind of mozzarella: As he told Food & Wine, "I always have a low-moisture mozzarella log in the fridge," calling the white curd cheese the "master of melt." Low-moisture, aka processed, mozzarella is better than the fresh stuff for melting. These logs are not stored in water, and as a result, have a drier texture that stretches better and an overall saltier taste. 

Another good reason to stock up on low-moisture mozzarella specifically is the longer shelf-life. Thanks to being processed, unopened low-moisture mozzarella can last up to three months in the fridge — unlike fresh mozzarella, which is meant to be used right away. If you plan on storing a mozzarella log for an extended period, do note that it can also technically be stored frozen, but this can significantly change the texture.

As Chef Tila tells Food & Wine, mozzarella is an excellent melting cheese and an obvious choice for pizza, "but it can also be the supporting character for cheddar in sandwiches, grilled cheese, and nachos." He recommends skipping over pre-shredded options, advising readers "Buy the log and shred it yourself — the pre-shredded will never give you the foot-long melted cheese pull." This is because pre-grated cheese contains cellulose and other additives that interfere with melting.

Low-moisture mozzarella is better for any dish that will do better with more melted cheese, so think quesadillas, omelets, or even on a steak hoagie. Grilled cheese fans would also look into making the Italian version of grilled cheese, aka a shallow-fried "Mozzarella In Carrozza." If you're looking for a recommended mozzarella cheese brand, you can test out the Grande and Galbani brands, both of which are used by the famous pizzeria Paulie Gee's. Stock your fridge and then when hunger strikes, you can make like Tila and whip up a quick nacho dish.