Cheese Please: The Classic Appeal of Cheese Pizza

Think about the last time you had an amazing pizza; it’s probably safe to say that it had three major components: the amazingly chewy and delicious dough, the sweet and flavorful pizza sauce, and the ooey and gooey cheese. Sometimes less is more, and cheese pizza is a universal favorite that never goes out of style.

In this blog post, we will explore the classic favorite: cheese pizza. Why? Because a cheesy flatbread with sauce deserves recognition! We’ll cover a blend of cheeses—mozzarella, parmesan, and gouda—that makes a great cheese pizza irresistible. We'll also look at other popular cheese honorable mentions and talk about some food science behind why cheese stretches and splits and why not all cheeses are meant to be on a pizza. So, let’s cut to the cheese and take a slice!

Just like how cars will always have wheels, funnel cake will always be at fairs, and the internet will always have memes, pizza will always have cheese. Without cheese, pizza is really just a flat breadstick with sauce. Here are some of the more common cheeses you’ll find on a traditional American cheese pizza:

Provolone: Provolone is next on our list of excellent cheese choices for pizza. Provolone is very similar to mozzarella with its semi-hard texture and mild, slightly tangy flavor. Under heat and cooking, provolone stretches reliably without breaking. This is one of many characteristics that make it a popular option for creating a social media post-worthy slice of pizza. Provolone also blends well with other cheeses while adding its own distinctive taste, making it a versatile and beloved option for pizza lovers and beyond.

Parmesan: Regardless of how you pronounce it, parmesan cheese adds a sharp, robust flavor to cheese pizza that complements the milder mozzarella. Parmesan cheese has a granular texture and aged, nutty taste that is pungent and salty. It is rare to see parmesan as the only cheese type in a cheese pizza because of the lack of moisture and the robust, funky taste. This is a cheese that is used as a blend to meld with other cheeses in a pizza, preferably with a marinara or red tomato-based sauce.

All this talk about cheese making you hungry for a large cheese pizza? Find awesome food at the nearest 7-Eleven near you! Download the 7-Eleven app for store locations, food options, and more!

So now that we’ve covered the most common cheeses you would find on a pizza let’s talk about some other unique adds that you can add for a truly delicious extra cheese pizza.

Gouda: Gouda is at the top of our list of honorable mentions. Gouda adds a creamy richness to an unconventional cheese pizza but is rarely used for a number of reasons. Gouda has a smooth texture and slightly sweet, nutty flavor that can vary depending on the manufacturer and the process used to make it. In fact, gouda is often described as “meaty” or “like bacon” because of the smoky flavor that is commonly found. Gouda has a gouda-amount of fat that creates a rich and melty slice of cheese pizza. However, under heat and cooking, the protein structure of gouda makes it melt instead of stretch.

Cheddar: If you’re trying to make the ultimate extra cheese pizza, you gotta add some cheddar cheese! Cheddar has its signature sharp and tangy flavor, a bright and colorful yellow hue, and a bold taste that contrasts nicely with the milder mozzarella. Cheddar's firm texture also provides a different mouthfeel, adding variety to each bite. When combined with other cheeses, cheddar can really make a normal cheese pizza become indulgently incredible.

Ricotta: Last on our honorable mentions list is ricotta cheese. Ricotta cheese on pizza is slightly controversial but is often used in specialty pizzas to add a creamy, slightly sweet element. Ricotta has a soft, fluffy texture and mild flavor, making it an excellent topping that pairs well with stronger cheeses like mozzarella and parmesan. Ricotta is made extremely soft and has a consistency that is similar to that of yogurt. Pizzarias that use this cheese dollop ricotta in small amounts across the pizza, providing bursts of creaminess that complement the other ingredients.

Craving a delicious extra cheese pizza from 7-Eleven? Get awesome pizza, refreshing drinks, and more at your local store today! Need help finding the nearest location? Download the 7-Eleven app.

Any cheese lover will know that not all cheese melts the same, but why is that? According to Cheese.com, over 1,900 different types of cheeses exist. Keeping that in mind, let’s stick to the cheeses we’ve identified so far that would go well on a large cheese pizza. There’s a lot that happens to cheese when cooking or under heat, but the two main things that make a great cheese for pizza are how it stands up to high-temperature heat for a relatively short period of time. Two main things that occur are splitting and stretching.

Why Cheese Stretches

Few things in life are more satisfying than seeing a super-long cheese stretch when you pull that first slice away from the pie. The delightful stretchiness of cheese happens because of its protein structure. Mozzarella, the most common pizza cheese, has a unique protein structure that allows it to stretch and form long, gooey strands when heated. You can also see this structure when eating string cheese, which is also often mozzarella cheese.

The milk proteins (also known as “casein”) in cheese form a kind of network during the cheese-making process. When cheese is heated, the fat inside melts, and the protein network becomes more flexible. In mozzarella, the stretching ability is due to the way its proteins, particularly casein, reorganize when melted. The high moisture content in mozzarella also helps maintain this elasticity. As the cheese cools, the proteins begin to realign and form those satisfying strings of melted cheese that we all love on a pizza. That’s why cheese pulls differently depending on how hot or cool the pizza is.

Why Cheese Splits

Cheese splitting (also known as “oiling off”) happens when the fat separates from the cheese solids during cooking. Splitting is most commonly observed when the cheese is subjected to high temperatures for prolonged periods. Several factors contribute to cheese splitting, including its fat content, moisture level, and baking temperature. If the cheese has a high-fat content, the fat will separate and rise to the surface, creating an oily layer - this is why an extra cheese pizza has noticeably more grease. The extra oil comes from the cheese.

Additionally, cheeses with low moisture content can exacerbate this effect. Having less water to keep the proteins and fats emulsified means that the oil will separate more easily. The type of cheese also plays a role; for example, aged cheeses like parmesan are less likely to split due to their lower moisture content compared to fresher cheeses like mozzarella. Using a blend of different cheeses on an extra cheese pizza can achieve a more stable melt, balancing the moisture and fat content to achieve a perfect, less greasy finish on the pizza.

There’s not much to say about cheese pizza aside from the fact that its a classic for a reason. Think about the last pizza party you went to, there was probably a cheese pizza option there. That’s because it’s a no-brainer! With all this talk about cheesy goodness, are you craving a delicious extra cheese pizza on the go or maybe you need a whole pizza?

Whether you need a refreshing drink or a variety of mouth-watering food options (including fresh and hot pizza), 7-Eleven has what you need! Download the 7-Eleven app to find the nearest store, check out the menu, and indulge in a cheesy delight. From classic favorites to innovative new blends, there's something for everyone to enjoy. So, go ahead and treat yourself to a cheesy slice of heaven—you deserve it!