20-Minute Homemade Mozzarella Cheese

Name: Homemade Mozzarella Cheese
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 gallon whole milk (not ultra-pasteurized and homogenized are okay ((2% if that's all you have)); 1 teaspoon citric acid ((or more vinegar)); 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar ((or more citric acid)); 1/8 teaspoon double-strength liquid rennet; 1 teaspoon salt ((or to taste))

It is so easy to make homemade mozzarella cheese! You’ll be extremely surprised how fast too, just 20 minutes! There aren’t any scary temperatures to worry about or special tools needed either. You can also control the amount of fat and salt. Check out the recipe below to see for yourself.

Watch 2 Important Videos!

Link You May Need:

Liquid Double-Strength Vegetable Rennet

Vegetable Rennet

I started out using 1/8 teaspoon of double-strength liquid rennet, but wanted to experiment with double the amount, 1/4 teaspoon. I was very pleased at using a double dosage of double-strength rennet. Most recipes suggest using 1/4 teaspoon of single-strength rennet. When using 1/4 teaspoon of double-strength rennet, tons of curds form and you can gather it together easily.

Update: I realized after using 1/4 teaspoon of double-strength rennet, the cheese did not melt as well as the cheese I buy in stores. Now, I know why you want to use less rennet. The more you use the harder it is to melt the cheese. However, using double the amount of rennet results in the cheese coming together easily.

I froze the leftover cheese and it crumbled easily. So, I crumbled it all up, allowed it to reach almost room temperature and stirred into some milk to use as a substitute for ricotta cheese in a lasagna. It worked perfectly!

Can I Use Nonfat or low-fat milk?

Nonfat milk makes hard cheese. Think Parmesan and Romano. To make part skim mozzarella (like you see in stores), you can use a mixture of whole and nonfat milk. Therefore, 2% milk should work but will make a harder mozzarella than whole milk.

This recipe is available to everyone.

Homemade Mozzarella Cheese

Flavorful, easy to make Mozzarella cheese. The more you cook it in the final steps the dryer the cheese. So, you get to decide on its texture. So delicious!

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine Italian

Ingredient Keyword applecider vinegar, citric acid, milk, vegetable rennet, vinegar

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Resting Time: 5 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 1 pound+ (1 lb. + 0.6 ounces)

Ingredients

1 gallon whole milk (not ultra-pasteurized and homogenized are okay (2% if that's all you have)
1 teaspoon citric acid (or more vinegar)
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (or more citric acid)
1/8 teaspoon double-strength liquid rennet
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

Instructions

Heat the milk in a large pot. Mine got to 130⁰F (scalded but not boiled). Remove from the heat.
Stir in the citric acid and vinegar. A few curds of milk begin to form and float on top of the milk.
Stir in the rennet and set aside for 3 – 5 minutes.
Strain the mixture through a colander and push as much excess liquid from the curds as possible.
Transfer the curds to a microwave-safe bowl, sprinkle with salt, and heat on high in the microwave for 1 minute.
Drain the excess liquid from the bowl. Then, starting with a wooden spoon, silicone spatula, etc., knead the cheese until it forms into one solid mass. Once it is cool enough to handle knead the cheese by hand (I use gloves for cleanliness) and knead for about 2 minutes, stretching and twisting. If the cheese breaks, it's not yet done.
Microwave the cheese again for about 30 seconds and squeeze out any excess liquid. If 1 teaspoon or less comes out, you’re done heating it. If not, heat again for another 30 seconds and squeeze out the liquid again. Knead until smooth and stretchy. Repeat until there is only up to teaspoon left of liquid. The more you microwave the cheese, the drier it will turn out.
Place in a dry, clean heatproof bowl to cool. Once it’s cool, it will be shiny on the side that was touching the bowl.
Store in a zipper storage bag up to 1 week. Feel free to freeze as well. Then defrost at room temperature.

Carla

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View Comments

Melody A Thomas says:

February 14, 2025 at 11:52 am

what can you replace rennet with?
- Carla says:
  
  February 15, 2025 at 12:45 pm
  
  Melody,
  
  I’ve only used rennet to make cheese. If you google “rennet substitute “ you’ll find a wealth of information.
  
  Good luck!
  
  Carla
Jess says:

December 14, 2024 at 11:28 am

Can you omit the salt from the recipe? I have someone that is on a no-salt diet.
- Carla says:
  
  December 14, 2024 at 6:03 pm
  
  Jess,
  
  If you admit the salt, cheese would be almost tasteless.
  
  Carla
Abishiree says:

November 22, 2024 at 9:08 pm

Is there a way to make this without a microwave? Extended time is fine!
- Carla says:
  
  December 14, 2024 at 9:04 pm
  
  Abishitee,
  
  This is the only way I have ever made this recipe.
  
  Carla
Reita says:

September 19, 2019 at 9:57 pm

Would it be possible to use lactose free milk for this recipe?
- Carla says:
  
  September 19, 2019 at 10:48 pm
  
  Reita,
  
  I haven’t used a lactose-free milk in this recipe, but usually you can make soft cheese like ricotta, mascarpone, and mozzarella using lactose free milk. The worst thing that could happen is that you would end up with a softer cheese like ricotta.
  
  Let us all know how it turns out if you try it.
  
  Carla
Lori J Goodman says:

September 17, 2019 at 10:31 am

I also have to be dairy free. I'm hoping almond milk or canned coconut milk will work.
Thank you!
- Carla says:
  
  September 17, 2019 at 12:23 pm
  
  Lori,
  
  See my reply to Patricia.
  
  Carla
Patricia says:

September 17, 2019 at 5:23 am

I have to be dairy free. Would I be able to use almond milk or some other dairy free milk? Thank you.
- Carla says:
  
  September 17, 2019 at 12:23 pm
  
  Patricia,
  
  Unfortunately, almond milk and other dairy free milk do not react like cows and goat milk. However, I do have member recipes for dairy free cheese. Visit the following links:
  Dairy-Free Ricotta Cheese Recipe,
  Dairy-Free Cream Cheese Recipe,
  Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce Recipe,
  Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
  and more.
  
  Carla