{"id":11145,"date":"2023-11-13T15:58:23","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T23:58:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/?p=11145"},"modified":"2024-11-14T16:52:33","modified_gmt":"2024-11-15T00:52:33","slug":"best-shredded-mozzarella","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/article\/best-shredded-mozzarella\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Shredded Mozzarella Cheese for All Your Melty Mozz Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The best shredded mozzarella cheese is creamy, milky, salty, and melts like a dream. When heated, it should provide an unmatched cheesy and stretchy experience. (It\u2019s also a pretty good snack, tossed into your mouth, straight out of the fridge.) So, what shredded mozzarella brought the most excellent taste and cheese pull? We tasted 25 different bagfuls of mozzarella shredded cheese over the course of two taste tests to find out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shredded mozzarella, aka low-moisture mozzarella, is saltier, tangier, and more flavorful than whole balls of fresh mozzarella. And because it has less moisture, shredded mozzarella melts much better when heated; it bubbles, softens, and oozes, creating a tantalizing texture and taste. That makes shredded mozzarella cheese ideal for baked ziti, quesadillas, chicken parmesan, pizza, and the like. It\u2019s one of the best and most useful processed foods you can purchase at the grocery store. Keep it stocked in your fridge at all times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For these taste tests, we first ate a bunch of shredded mozzarella straight outta the bag like nobody was watching. We want the shredded mozzarella to be salty, milky, and fatty, and we also want sizable mozzarella shreds. Thick-cut ribbons are preferred (anything thin cut tends to clump together in the bag). Finally, after we decided which shredded mozzarellas tasted great, we conducted one final meltability test in the microwave. Most low-moisture mozzarella melts just fine, but plant-based mozzarellas were hit or miss. For our update of this taste test, we also included shredded mozzarella blends\u2014like mozzarella and provolone and mozzarella and parmesan, as well as lite and fat free shredded mozzarella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the best shredded mozzarella to buy at the grocery store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
<\/span>\"Trader
\n

Best Lite Mozzarella<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Trader Joe\u2019s Shredded Lite Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
\n
Trader Joe’s<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

I\u2019m not going to say this lite shredded mozzarella was life-changing. But for a cheese that has 60% less fat than the standard mozzarella shredded cheese, it is pretty darn good. It actually still retains some flavor and some creaminess. You\u2019re not going to be eating this by the handful, but you can and should sprinkle it onto a pasta bake or into a grilled cheese sandwich. \u2014 Justine Sterling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Trader Joe’s<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

6\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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\n
<\/span>\"Kraft
\n

Best Fat Free Mozzarella<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Kraft Fat Free Shredded Mozzarella<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
\n
Walmart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Shockingly, this is the only appearance Kraft makes on this list of the best shredded mozzarella cheese. But while the full-fat Kraft faltered, the brand\u2019s fat free shredded mozzarella is pretty darn good. It\u2019s not as creamy as a full-fat mozz, but it\u2019s creamy enough (if you\u2019re used to fat free cheese, you will be very pleased with the level of creaminess) and it has a tangy, slightly sharp flavor. So often, fat free cheese can be flavorless. Not Kraft! \u2014 Justine Sterling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Walmart<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

6.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Great
\n

Best Budget<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Great Value Shredded Mozzarella<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
\n
Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Walmart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

There\u2019s a special place in my heart for cheap, overly processed, shredded mozzarella\u2014the good stuff is very salty and very stretchy. And Great Value makes the good stuff. The flavor isn\u2019t that of good-quality cheese; it\u2019s definitely got that processed cheese vibe. But shredded mozzarella is all about that melty stretchability, and this brings it. I think this is the best shredded mozzarella cheese for making cheap, filling meals for your family. Or, hey, it\u2019s good for struggle meals, too. \u2014 Danny Palumbo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Paula Kunatee \/ Walmart<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\n
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<\/span>\"365
\n

Best for a Quesadilla<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

365 Low-Moisture Shredded Mozzarella<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
\n
Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Whole Foods\u2019 low-moisture mozzarella cheese provides an amazing stretch when melted, and the flavor is great too. It melts great in the microwave, but it\u2019s not exactly those thick ribbons of mozzarella cheese that you\u2019ll see at the top of this list. The taste is really nice and creamy, which is why this would make an excellent, stretchy quesadilla cheese. If you shop at Whole Foods, you won\u2019t be disappointed with this shredded mozzarella. There\u2019s better options out there, but if it\u2019s convenient for you, pick it up. \u2014 Danny Palumbo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Paula Kunatee \/ Amazon<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

7.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Violife
\n

Best Vegan<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Violife Mozzarella Shreds<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
\n
Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

As far as vegan cheese<\/a> goes, this was far and away the best of the bunch. Violife\u2019s vegan shredded mozzarella tastes creamy, fatty, and milky\u2014despite containing no milk whatsoever. There\u2019s a mild-but-tangy cheddar quality to these shreds that I\u2019m super into. Also, per my microwave research, this faux mozzarella melts incredibly well. You won\u2019t get that Instagram-worthy stretch that you get from a good non-vegan shredded mozzarella cheese, but you\u2019ll still achieve a desirable amount of meltability. I\u2019d absolutely recommend using this on a vegan grilled cheese sandwich, or on a vegan baked ziti. \u2014 Danny Palumbo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Paula Kunatee \/ Instacart<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

8\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Good
\n

Best Mozz and Provolone<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Good & Gather Mozzarella & Provolone<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
\n
Target<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

This shredded mozzarella from Target tastes like shredded string cheese<\/a>. It definitely has way more flavor than plain shredded mozzarella. And while the shreds are quite thin, that means it melts fast. I\u2019ve started to use this shredded mozzarella blend for fast quesadillas for my kids or as a quick-melting cheese for scrambled eggs. You get the stretch and goo of mozzarella with a bit more richness and depth from provolone<\/a>. \u2014 Justine Sterling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Target<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

8\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\n
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<\/span>\"Sargento
\n

Best Salty<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sargento Shredded Mozzarella Cheese<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
\n
Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Sargento is salty and mellow like a good low-moisture mozzarella cheese should be, and it also melts incredibly well in the oven or the microwave, getting nice brownish crispy edges. The only thing that keeps it from breaking into the top three is there\u2019s something a little dull about the flavor, and the texture is somewhat coarse and grainy. Sargento was the brand I used to often reach for at the supermarket, and they do provide a decent low-moisture cheese, but my go-to now is our number one best shredded mozzarella. But if you\u2019re a Sargento loyalist or you can\u2019t find the best of the best in your grocery store, this will do the job just fine, though, and you can rely on it for your melted cheese needs. \u2014 Danny Palumbo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Paula Kunatee \/ Instacart<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

8\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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\n
<\/span>\"Organic
\n

Best Bold Flavor<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Organic Valley Low Moisture Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
\n
Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

This thick cut shredded mozzarella has an interesting flavor profile. Instead of being mellow and salty, this mozzarella almost tastes sweet, and there\u2019s a bit of back end bitterness like a cheddar cheese<\/a>. It\u2019s got a little more saturated fat than our number one pick, and you can tell. This cheese is decadent and delicious, a great combination if you like your cheese to have a bold taste and texture. I\u2019m partial to shredded mozzarella cheese that\u2019s thick cut, and this is nice and thick. \u2014 Danny Palumbo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Paula Kunatee \/ Amazon<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

8\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/span>\"Good
\n

Best Mozzarella and Parm<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Good & Gather Mozzarella Parmesan Fine Cut<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
\n
Target<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

I couldn\u2019t stop snacking on this blend of shredded mozzarella cheese and parmesan. It has the savory umami quality of parmesan with the meltability of mozzarella. This is my new go-to for topping pasta. It would also be good sprinkled on top of homemade focaccia or even a Boboli-style pizza. It\u2019s not the best shredded mozzarella cheese because we had to pick a cheese that was purely mozzarella, but it\u2019s definitely something you should run out and try. \u2014 Justine Sterling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Liv Averett \/ Target<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

8.5\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\n
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<\/span>\"Tillamook
\n

Best of the Best<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Tillamook Farmstyle Thick Cut Mozzarella Cheese<\/strong><\/dt>\n\n\n\n
\n
Instacart<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Man, Tillamook rocks. I absolutely love how milky, creamy, and salty this cheese is. Plus, it comes in thick, coarsely cut mozzarella ribbons, not tiny-ass feeble strands that get stuck together in the bag. When melted, this low-moisture mozzarella oozes and stretches an X-rated amount, and the flavor is just incredible\u2014deliciously rich and cheesy. I melted this on some baked ziti at home<\/a>, and it was magical. The best thing about low-moisture mozzarella is that it stretches and melts perfectly, which is why it\u2019s definitely the best shredded mozzarella cheese for baked pastas. Still, I would eat this straight out of the bag, put it on salad, a grilled cheese, a quesadilla, pizza, or even melted on some soup. \u2014 Danny Palumbo<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit: Paula Kunatee \/ Tillamook<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n\n\n\n

Rating:<\/p>

9\/10<\/p>

Sporks<\/p><\/div>

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Other products we tried<\/strong>: Kraft, Happy Belly, Good & Gather, Daiya Mozzarella Shreds, Kroger, Simple Truth Plant Based Shredded Mozzarella, So Delicious, Simple Truth Organic, Trader Joe\u2019s, Galbani, Kraft Creamy Melt Mozzarella with Philadelphia, Lucerene Mozzarella & Provolone, Great Value Provolone & Mozzarella Blend, Good Planet Foods Mozzarella Style Olive Oil Cheese Shreds, Great Value Fat Free Shredded Mozzarella<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mmmmmmm melty mozz.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27069,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[77,9],"tags":[],"articletype":[46],"coauthors":[387,398],"class_list":["post-11145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-deli-dairy","category-dairy","articletype-rankings"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/RANKING-UPDATE_SHREDDED-MOZZARELLA_HEADER.jpg","posts_featured":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11145"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11145\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44429,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11145\/revisions\/44429"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27069"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11145"},{"taxonomy":"articletype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articletype?post=11145"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sporked.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=11145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}