If you have ever put a beautiful pizza into a wood-fired oven and pulled out a bubbling, soggy, flavourless mess, there is a good chance the mozzarella was to blame. Not all mozzarella behaves the same way under extreme heat. Choosing the right one is one of the most important things you can do to improve your pizza.
This guide covers the best mozzarella for pizza, what to look for, and which types to avoid.
Why mozzarella matters so much for pizza
A wood-fired oven cooks pizza at 450 to 500 degrees Celsius in 60 to 90 seconds. That is a completely different environment from a domestic oven. Mozzarella that works fine at 220C can turn into a pool of greasy liquid at 480C. The key properties you need are low moisture content, good melt, and the ability to hold together under fierce, fast heat.
Cheap supermarket mozzarella is usually made with a higher water content to increase yield. When it hits extreme heat, all that water turns to steam and the cheese weeps. You end up with a wet base and oily puddles. Better mozzarella melts cleanly, browns in places, and keeps its structure.
Fresh mozzarella vs low-moisture mozzarella
Fresh mozzarella (the balls packed in water or whey) is the classic Neapolitan choice. It has a clean, milky flavour that works beautifully on a Margherita. The problem is moisture. Even after draining, fresh mozzarella contains a lot of water. In a home oven at 220C you have time for that moisture to evaporate. In a wood-fired oven at 480C cooking for 90 seconds, you do not.
Low-moisture mozzarella (the block or shredded type common in the US and increasingly available in the UK) has had more water removed. It melts more predictably, browns better, and does not release as much liquid. For a wood-fired oven, it is often the more practical choice.
The answer most serious pizza makers arrive at is: use good fresh mozzarella but prepare it properly, or use a quality low-moisture mozzarella and accept a slightly different result.
Fior di latte vs buffalo mozzarella
Within fresh mozzarella, there are two main types. Fior di latte is made from cow’s milk. It is the standard for Neapolitan pizza. Buffalo mozzarella (mozzarella di bufala) is made from water buffalo milk, which gives it a richer, tangier flavour and an even higher moisture content.
Buffalo mozzarella is delicious but extremely wet. Most Neapolitan pizzerias tear it and add it after baking, or drain it extensively for hours before use. If you try to use it straight from the packet on a wood-fired pizza, you will almost certainly get a very wet result. Fior di latte is the better starting point for home bakers.
How to prepare fresh mozzarella for a wood-fired oven
The single most important step is draining. Take your fresh mozzarella out of the liquid it is packed in and place it on a clean tea towel or kitchen paper. Leave it for at least 30 minutes, ideally an hour. Some people slice it first to increase the surface area exposed to air, which speeds up drying.
Some pizza makers go further and leave the mozzarella uncovered in the fridge overnight. The cold air draws out more moisture and the result on the pizza is noticeably drier and better. This is worth trying if you are planning ahead.
When you come to top the pizza, use less cheese than you think you need. A Neapolitan Margherita has maybe 80 to 100g of mozzarella on a 30cm pizza base. That looks sparse before it goes in the oven, but it spreads and melts. Too much and it overwhelms the base.
The best mozzarella options available in the UK
Here are the types of mozzarella that work best in a wood-fired oven, from most to least traditional.
Galbani Mozzarella (125g balls)
Galbani is the most widely available good-quality fresh mozzarella in UK supermarkets. It is made from cow’s milk, comes in 125g balls, and is a reliable everyday choice. Drain it well and it performs solidly on a pizza. It will not give you the same result as an artisan fior di latte from a specialist deli, but it is a significant step up from budget supermarket own-brands.
It is available in most major UK supermarkets for around £1.50 to £2 per ball.
Fior di latte from a specialist deli or Italian grocer
If you have access to a good Italian deli or a specialist food shop, look for fior di latte made in Italy. This will be noticeably fresher and creamier than supermarket mozzarella and will have better flavour. Drain it the same way. This is the closest you will get to what a Neapolitan pizzeria uses.
Grande or Saputo low-moisture mozzarella
These are the brands that serious pizza makers in the US use. Grande in particular is considered the gold standard for American-style pizza. Both are available in the UK through specialist food suppliers and some online retailers. They come as blocks or pre-shredded and are ideal for longer cook times or if you want consistent, predictable results. The flavour is milder than fresh mozzarella but the melt and texture are excellent.
Supermarket own-brand low-moisture mozzarella
Most major UK supermarkets now sell a “cooking mozzarella” or “pizza mozzarella” that is lower moisture than the standard fresh balls. These work reasonably well in a wood-fired oven and are significantly cheaper than specialist options. They are a good choice if you are making pizza regularly and want a cost-effective option. Look for one labelled “cooking mozzarella” rather than just “mozzarella” as these tend to have lower moisture content.
What to avoid
Cheap fresh mozzarella balls from budget ranges tend to have very high water content and watery flavour. They can work if drained extremely well, but they are the most likely to leave you with a wet pizza. Pre-grated supermarket mozzarella is often coated with anti-caking agents (usually potato starch) to stop it clumping. These coatings can affect how the cheese melts and can leave a slightly grainy texture. If you use pre-grated, shake it first to get as much starch off as possible.
Buffalo mozzarella is worth avoiding for in-oven use unless you have drained it for several hours. Save it for adding fresh after the pizza comes out of the oven, where its rich flavour really shines.
Can you use other cheeses?
A lot of pizza makers blend mozzarella with other cheeses. A small amount of Parmesan or Pecorino adds depth and saltiness. Provolone gives a stronger, slightly smoky flavour. Scamorza (smoked mozzarella) is a popular choice that handles heat well and adds a subtle smokiness. Burrata, like buffalo mozzarella, is best added after baking.
Cheddar is not traditional and melts differently, but some people enjoy it on non-traditional styles. If you are making a Neapolitan-style pizza in a wood-fired oven, stick to fior di latte or a good cooking mozzarella and keep it simple.
Summary
For a wood-fired oven, the best approach is to use a good-quality fresh mozzarella (fior di latte) and drain it thoroughly before use, or use a low-moisture cooking mozzarella for a more forgiving result. Avoid very cheap fresh mozzarella, undrained buffalo mozzarella, and pre-grated varieties with heavy starch coatings. Use less than you think you need. The rest comes down to the quality of your dough and the heat of your oven.
If you are still perfecting your setup, check out our guide to pizza dough and our look at how to get leopard spots on pizza for the next steps.
