What is the UK Equivalent of Pizza Cheese?

You’ve probably seen or heard of “pizza cheese” if, like me, you’re a fan of eating pizza. Have you ever wondered what it actually is, though? Is it an American thing? If it is, what is the UK equivalent of pizza cheese? Is it even a ‘thing’ in the UK?

If you’ve got questions, fear not because I’ve got the answers. Let’s take a deep dive into the world of pizza cheese…

What is Pizza Cheese?

When the term “pizza cheese” is used, no matter whether it’s in the UK or US, it just means pizza-friendly cheese. There are several different cheeses that are suitable for pizzas, but they all have similar properties:

• Easy meltability (and yes, I know that’s not a real word)
• High stringiness
• Good browning factor
• High moisture and/or fat content

The most popular type of cheese used on pizzas around the world is mozzarella. It holds the largest chunk of the pizza-cheese pie, used in 30% of pizzas. Not only that but the International Dictionary of Food and Cooking (via Wikipedia) defines pizza cheese as this:

“Soft spun-curd cheese similar to Mozzarella made from cow’s milk… used particularly for pizzas and contains somewhat less water than real Mozzarella.”

Wikipedia

Of course, taste and ‘bests’ are subjective. I don’t like mozzarella cheese that much, although I don’t mind it on pizza. My sister, on the other hand, can’t get enough of the stuff. What works for one won’t necessarily work for another, you know?

List of Best Pizza Cheeses

Alongside mozzarella cheese, the following types are classed as suitable for pizzas:

• Provolone
• Cheddar
• Parmesan
• Provolone – second most popular pizza cheese in the US
• Provel – processed cheese popular in St. Louis, US
• Emmental
• Romano
• Ricotta – used as toppings and for calzone dishes
• Pizza cheese blends

Pizza Cheese: Tesco

I did a little search on the Tesco groceries app to see what kind of results I would get. As you can see from the image below, there is no definitive product called “pizza cheese”, but there are a lot of cheesy results. These include:

• Grated Mozzarella & Cheese Mix (the mix is Edam, Gouda, and Emmental)
• Burrata Cheese (by Galbani)
• Buffalo Mozzarella (by Tesco Finest)

What is Pizza Cheese Blend?

Pizza cheese blend is a product that is specifically designed to be used on pizza, with all of the above properties. (High meltability, etc.)

Sometimes, the manufacturing process uses a mixture of base forms of cheese, creating what is essentially a brand-new product out of them. This type is usually referred to generically as “pizza cheese”.

Other types of pizza cheese blend are literally a mixture of different cheeses, thrown together after they have been made. This could include shredded or grated mozzarella, Parmesan, and cheddar together. Mozzarella is used the most, especially low-moisture varieties.

Does Pizza Cheese Have Rennet?

Yes, some pizza cheeses do have rennet in them, which means they are not vegetarian or vegan-friendly. (As a relatively new vegetarian, I learned that lesson the hard way!) Rennet is an animal product.

Parmesan cheese, for example, is almost always made with animal rennet. It is not vegetarian-friendly.

Some cheddar cheese types are made with rennet, and the same can be said for some Swiss cheeses, Gorgonzola, Camembert, Gruyere, and Roquefort, to name but a few.

Always check the label when buying cheese if you are vegan or vegetarian. A surprising number of cheeses that I believed were vegetarian are, in fact, not. (Ooops.)

Vegetarian Pizza Cheese in the UK

If you’re on the hunt for a vegetarian-friendly pizza cheese in the UK shops and supermarkets, here are a few I’ve found:

• Creamfields Mozzarella – Tesco
• Grated Mozzarella Cheese – ASDA
• Four Cheese Grated Mix – Morrisons
• Italian Mozzarella – Morrisons

Vegan Pizza Cheese in the UK

I can’t forget about the vegans, can I? If you’re vegan but still like to enjoy some tasty pizza from time to time, here are a few cheeses you can buy in the UK to sprinkle on it:

• Violife Non-Dairy Cheese Alternative Prosociano With Parmesan Flavour – Ocado
• Violife Mozzarella Grated Non-Dairy Cheese Alternative – Ocado
• Bute Island Foods Ltd Grated Sheese Vegan Mozzarella Style – Sainsbury’s

UK Equivalent of Pizza Cheese: Conclusion

Pizza cheese is a type of cheese that isn’t really cheese, if that makes sense. It isn’t a definitive type of cheese, but rather a blend of all different cheeses, which results in a processed product that tastes delicious, browns well, and melts into a stringy and delicious mess.

There are lots of different types of cheese you can add to pizza, including vegetarian, vegan, and lactose-free treats. With all that being said, I’m off to go buy some ingredients, because I feel like pizza tonight!