1. Texture and Taste:
- Mozzarella: Mozzarella is a soft, elastic and moist cheese, usually sold in balls or blocks. It has a silky texture and oozes cheese juice when cut. Mozzarella has a light, soft, somewhat stringy texture that makes it suitable for use in pizzas, salads and traditional Italian dishes.
- Cheddar: Cheddar is a hard cheese with a firm and uniform texture. It is usually yellow or orange in color, sometimes with white flecks. Cheddar has a rich, full-bodied flavor with a slightly salty and nutty taste. Cheddar cheese is suitable for use in baking, toasted bread, sandwiches and fried rice dishes.
2. Preparation:
- Mozzarella: Mozzarella cheese is usually made with buffalo milk, but there are also variants that use cow's milk. To make it, the cheese is curdled and cut into cubes, then soaked in brine for curing.
- Cheddar: Cheddar cheese is usually made using cow's milk. To make it, the milk is heated, rennet and strains of bacteria are added to make it curdle, and then it goes through the steps of cutting, rubbing, salting, and pressing.
3. Uses:
- Mozzarella: Mozzarella is one of the classic cheeses for pizza, favored for its good stretching properties. It is also commonly used in traditional Italian dishes such as Caprese salad and grilled mozzarella.
- Cheddar: Cheddar is a versatile cheese for use in baking, toasted breads, sandwiches and fried rice dishes. It can also be eaten straight as a snack.
To summarize, mozzarella is a soft, moist and stringy cheese suitable for pizza and Italian dishes. Cheddar, on the other hand, is a hard cheese that is suitable for use in dishes such as baking and fried rice.