I love cheese, it is so good! That is one thing I always have on hand. My all-time favorite cheese has to be mozzarella. I love string cheese, eating it plain, and of course on pizza. Time to learn how to make homemade mozzarella cheese using just 2 ingredients.
If you are a cheese lover like me, then you have got to give this easy homemade mozzarella cheese recipe a try. You can use it the same way you use store-bought cheese. And you know exactly what is going into it.
Traditional cheesemaking requires you to use citric acid and a product called rennet. Similar to the process I show in this mozzarella cheese recipe. But, for this recipe, I will teach you how to make it without using those ingredients. It is super easy to make, if I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Gather the ingredients
In order to make this simple homemade mozzarella cheese recipe you need just the following ingredients:
- Raw Milk or Pasteurized Whole Milk – Do not use ultra-pasteurized milk or homogenized, the cheese won’t turn out correctly, it will wind up kind of like cottage cheese. But, if all you can find is homogenized milk then you are better off following this cheese recipe. Where I show you how to make mozzarella with cheap milk. Again though, the milk can’t be ultra-pasteurized.
- Distilled White Vinegar – This is used instead of the classic citric acid and rennet ingredients. (4 to 5% acidic)
- Cheese salt – This is optional, you can also use flaky sea salt or kosher salt. Iodized table salt is not recommended.
- Water – This is used for cooling down the cheese. But isn’t an actual cheese ingredient.
Tools
- Large pot
- Spoon
- Gloves, optional
- Bowls
- Plastic wrap
- Thermometer
NOTE: If you prefer you can actually buy a cool cheese-making kit, which has everything you need minus the dairy/milk to make several different kinds of cheese, including mozzarella.
Step 2: How to make homemade mozzarella cheese with just 2 ingredients
Pour the milk into a large stockpot or I like to use my dutch oven.
Remember to use raw milk (unpasteurized) or you can use normal pasteurized whole milk, but NOT ultra-pasteurized or homogenized. Ultra-pasteurized and homogenized won’t work properly and won’t produce a good curd. Also, if the particular brand of pasteurized milk you buy doesn’t work well, try a different brand.
I find I get the best results with raw milk. But that can be a little more difficult to find for us here in the States. If in the States try places like Sprouts, Natural Grocers, Whole Foods, etc.
Set the heat in between medium-low and medium. We don’t want to heat the milk up too quickly.
Gently keep stirring the milk so it heats evenly and reaches right around 115 F/46 C.
A thermometer really comes in handy for this. But if you don’t have one it should feel like hot bathwater.
Once the milk gets to that temp, turn off the heat, and add in the vinegar. Stir in the vinegar for about 30 seconds so it evenly mixes in with the milk. It will start to curdle almost immediately.
Add a lid to the pot and allow it to sit undisturbed for about 15 to 20 minutes.
NOTE: Classic cheesemaking uses ingredients like citric acid and rennet. But white distilled vinegar works too! It turns out a little different but still amazing.
If you would like to go the more classic route you can pick up a cheesemaking kit that has everything you need minus the dairy of course.
Step 3: Gather the curd and remove the whey
After the 15 to 20 minutes are up, it is time to gather that amazing cheese curd and separate it from the whey.
Take a spoon or spatula and bring the curd to the side against the pot. Make sure to fish around in the whey, because you will always find extra curd hanging out in there.
As you gather it, push it up against the wall of the pot. Then remove it from the whey and place it in a bowl.
NOTE: If you use regular pasteurized whole milk, the curd may look differently, and be in smaller chunks. If you use citric acid and rennet it will develop a film of curd on top, like a custard. Use a knife to cut the curd several times in a grid pattern.
Time to remove as much whey as possible. Using very clean hands or gloves, grab the curd and cup it in your hands and gently squeeze. This will press out the whey.
Allow the whey to fall into the bowl and then discard it into the big pot of whey.
Keep repeating this process several times, using a bit more force each time. You can also place it in the bowl and knead it a bit.
TIP: You can also use cheesecloth if you like, place the curd in the cheesecloth bundle, it up into a ball, and squeeze, this helps remove the whey as well.
Once you have as much whey as possible pressed out of the cheese, wipe any excess whey out of the bowl with a paper towel and place the ball of cheese in the bowl. Or you can certainly use a new bowl. Make sure the bowl is microwave-safe.
Step 4: Heat and stretch the homemade mozzarella cheese
Time to heat that curd/cheese up to right around 160 F/71 C. There is a couple of ways to do this.
I just use the microwave and start with 30 seconds then stir the cheese, and then another 20 seconds or so and that usually does the trick.
Or another method is to heat the whey in your pot up to 170 F/76C. And immerse the cheese in it to heat it up. I show that in this mozzarella recipe.
Once you get the homemade mozzarella cheese to temp, start stretching and folding the dough with a spoon, it will be hot.
If there is any leftover liquid/whey pour it into the pot.
Stretch and need the mozzarella cheese for a few minutes, then shape it into a ball.
If using the whey to heat up the cheese, immerse the cheese and press it with a spoon, then remove it and squeeze out the whey, etc.
NOTE: If you would like to add salt, you can add cheese salt, flaky sea salt, or kosher salt (not iodized salt) right when you are heating and stretching the cheese. Use 1/8th to 1/4th of a teaspoon.
Step 5: Cool the cheese down and eat it
Next, immerse the cheese ball into a bowl of cool water for about 10 minutes. Then add some ice to the water and chill for about 5 to 20 more minutes. Some people allow their cheese to sit in cold water in the fridge overnight before eating it.
TIP: If you want to add more flavor to the cheese, add a few tablespoons of salt to the water as well.
Remove the cheese ball from the water, at this point I like to dab it dry with a paper towel.
And just like that, the homemade mozzarella cheese is ready.
Can I make mozzarella cheese with powdered milk?
Yes! You sure can. Check out this mozzarella chees from milk powder recipe to learn how to make homemade mozzarella using powdered milk. This recipe uses a more traditional method with the use of citric acid and rennet as well as showing the use of a cheesecloth.
How long does homemade mozzarella cheese last?
To store it, wrap the homemade mozzarella cheese with plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container, and place it in the fridge for 1 to 2 weeks. OR store it in the salt water or whey in a small airtight container, it keeps the cheese damp and flavorful without drying out.
If you want to grate it, wait for it to chill in the fridge for a day or so, or put it in the freezer for a few hours.
Why is my mozzarella cheese hard?
The cheese can become hard, if you cut your curd pieces too small or if it is stretched too much. You want to stretch it as little as possible, just enough to create a smooth texture and form it into a ball.
Why won’t my homemade mozzarella cheese melt?
If you make homemade mozzarella cheese and store it in salted water or whey, which some people like to do, it doesn’t melt well. Because the moisture content in the cheese is very high. It is best to use the cheese right away after making it if you want it to melt. Like for a pizza.
What can I do with the leftover whey?
Don’t throw out that pot of whey! It is very nutritious and can be used in a variety of ways. Pour it into a couple of mason jars and store it in the fridge. It can be used instead of water in most baking or cooking recipes, or in the following ways:
- Smoothies
- Water the plants with it
- Drink it plain
- Use it to make ricotta cheese
- Make butter with it
- Soup stock
- Feed it to the animals
Here are other recipes that you may be interested in:
Homemade Mozzarella Cheese Only 2 Ingredients Without Rennet
Equipment
- Large Pot
- spoon
- Gloves, (optional)
- Bowls
- Plastic wrap
- Thermometer
Ingredients
- Half-Gallon of Raw Milk or Pasteurized Whole Milk Do NOT use ultra-pasteurized or homogennized milk, they won't work. (1.89L)
- 7 Tbsp. white distilled vinegar (4 to 5% acidic) 105ml
- 1/4 tsp cheese salt, flaky sea salt, kosher salt (optional) don't use iodized table salt (1g)
- Water for soaking
Instructions
- Pour the milk into a large pot and place it on the stovetop burner. Set the heat between medium-low and medium. Gently keep stirring the milk so it heats evenly and reaches right around 115 F/46 C.
- Turn off the heat, and add in the vinegar. Stir in the vinegar for about 30 seconds so it evenly mixes in with the milk. It will start to curdle almost immediately.
- Add a lid and allow it to sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Gather the curd by taking a spoon or spatula and bring the curd to the side against the pot. Make sure to fish around in the whey, because you will always find extra curd hanging out in there.
- Then remove the curd from the whey and place it in a bowl.
- Use very clean hands or wear gloves and grab the curd and cup it in your hands and gently squeeze. Allow the whey to fall into the bowl and then discard it into the big pot of whey.
- Keep repeating this process several times, using a bit more force each time. You can also place it in the bowl and knead it a bit.*If you want to add salt, add it at this time.
- Place the pressed ball of cheese into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat it on high for about 30 seconds, then check the temp. Stir the cheese and heat it up again for about 20 seconds. The temp of the cheese needs to be about 160F/71C. OR if you don't want to use the microwave heat the whey in the pot to 170 F and soak and stretch the cheese in that.
- After the cheese hits the proper temp start stretching and folding the dough with a spoon, it will be hot. If there is any leftover liquid/whey pour it into the pot. Then switch to your hands when it cools enough to handle.
- Then shape it into a ball and place it into a bowl of cool water for about 10 minutes. Next, add in some ice to further cool the water and chill the cheese.
- The cheese is done. Pat the cheese dry with a paper towel and eat it. Or you can wrap it in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for later use, it will last 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge. Grating works better when the cheese is really cold or frozen. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Do you like the recipe? Please give it a rating and comment down below, I really appreciate it. If you make it tag me on Instagram @inthekitchenwithmatt. Also, sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss out on any of my new posts and recipes.
Check out my other website 101 Creative Dates for fun date ideas. Food and dating go hand in hand!
Hi Matt—would this work using fat free or skim milk?
I haven’t tried it with either of those, give it a try! It is a super easy recipe to experiment with.
Hey Matt!
Love the cheese! The recipe was great and all is good BUT, it got hard in the fridge. Thoughts?
I used raw, whole milk.
Thanks!
Hi Roxanne! Store it in salt water or in the leftover whey in the fridge 🙂 And that will keep it more fresh. However the harder it is the easier it is to shred if you want to shred it.
How much (oz) does it make and can you use the whey for anything?
It makes 8 to 12 ounces of cheese depending on the milk that you use. Yes, I have a whole section on here that talks about what to do with the whey. If you scroll up from here you will find it.
I used the vinegar and pasteurized whole milk. Mine came out a little gritty did i do something wrong? It’s wonderful but I really didn’t get the smoothness or stretch. I don’t have a microwave so i heat whey to 170 then put ball of curd in for 10 minutes to heat up
It should stretch fairly easy at that temp. That is really how it gets smooth is through stretching and heating it. In this video I show that method with the heated whey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05DTxYaH0YQ&t=300s
The written instructions say to leave it curdling for 15-20 min, but the video says 5 min. Which is it?
15 to 20 is better if you aren’t using raw milk. If you are using raw milk like in the video, 5 minutes is okay. But it could take anywhere between 5 and 20 minutes for the curds to form.
Mine tastes more like cream cheese. I’m not sure why. Regardless, I’m happy since I haven’t had cheese in over 3 years and was able to make it with A2 milk.
It may be because you used A2 milk. Did you follow all the steps and stretch the cheese and heat it to 160F?
If I want to make a gallon, should I double the vinegar?
Hi Kayla you don’t need quite that much 12 Tablespoons will be fine which is 3/4 cup.
Everything was going splendidly, but after the microwaving stage, my cheese just stayed runny like queso dip! What did I do wrong??
Were you using a thermometer? It sounds like you heated the cheese too high. It should only be 160F. Perhaps you did 160C?
Tonight I made my first ever mozzarella cheese!
I chose this recipe because it only used 2 ingredients! I’m thinking this was closer to the pioneer way..?
I am chilling now. I added salt, but may have added too much vinegar because I had an “accident.”
I’d love to know if there is any way to use the vinegared whey?!
Thank you for helping this city gal try to live like a country gal! We’ve had many laughs 9ver the past few years, but practice makes perfect!
Hi Karen! Glad you tried it and liked it! If you read the post above the recipe card there is a section all about how to use the leftover whey, so many options for it. 🙂 🙂
It says in your things to do with leftover whey that you can use it to make butter? I can’t find any recipe on it though. Is this the same as regular butter just using the mixer?
Hi there! Here is one whey butter recipe: https://thebestrecipefor.com/messmor-swedish-whey-butter/
Thank you!
You are welcome!
OMG WE MADE CHEESE! Easy recipe, fun times, good cheese. What the heck, who would’ve thought? I’m even a Wisconsinite that’s never made cheese and LOOK AT ME NOW, PAPA! I knew we curd do it, I just knew we curd do it. Wheyd our options, followed this recipe, and cheese has sprung like we’ve been at it our whole lives. Matt, good on ya, well done, certified banger.
That is awesome!! Glad you gave it a try and were successful!!
Taste pretty good; however, couldn’t get it to stretch at all! What did I do wrong here? Thx!
Hi Kate, did you heat the curd to 160F? It won’t stretch if you don’t heat it.
This was very fun to make and your video was perfect! I want to play with adding stuff to it. Can seasoning be added once it’s made? Or only during the stretching part?
Glad you like it! Yes you can add seasoning during the melting/stretching part when you add the salt.
If I use raw milk, do I need to separate the cream from the milk first or shake it up and keep the cream, in order to make this recipe? Thank you
Hi there Amanda, shake it up and keep the cream. You are welcome!
Does this recipe work with raw goat milk? I just tried it, and when I put the curd back into the whey to heat it, it completely fell apart and was dissolved in the whey. I strained it with a cheesecloth to get as much of the curd out as I could (about half what I started with) it isn’t really mozzarella, but it is good.
Not sure if I did something wrong or if this recipe needs to be used with cows milk.
You can definitely make mozzarella with Goat’s milk, but I have never tried this specific one with it. You may need to follow this other recipe which uses rennet and citric acid – https://www.inthekitchenwithmatt.com/how-to-make-mozzarella-cheese-with-cheap-milk
Hi Matt, mine has just ended up like ricotta, what did I do wrong?
Cheers
Hi Kristy, double check the milk you used. Is it homogenized? If so it probably won’t work. You will need to follow this other recipe https://www.inthekitchenwithmatt.com/how-to-make-mozzarella-cheese-with-cheap-milk. Also did you heat and melt the curd to 160F? That part is essential. When you first start off, meaning once the curd is formed it will look kind of like ricotta, but then you need to heat, melt, and stretch the curd. And the temperatures need to be precise. Were you using a thermometer?
Hi Matt,
Thanks for that!
Yeah I was using homogenised and pasteurised milk. I heated it with a thermometer to 42’C.
I tried to squeeze the whey out after the 1st heating and it was just mush and didn’t think I could heat it again in that state. I will give it another go though.
That is the culprit, homogenised milk does not work well with this method. If all you have is homogenized follow this other recipe https://www.inthekitchenwithmatt.com/how-to-make-mozzarella-cheese-with-cheap-milk
I just made the cheese precisely to what the recipe said and it turned out great have not tasted it yet but definitely will when it’s nice and firm.
Hi Randi! Glad you made it and were successful.
I used this recipe with “cheap” milk (lol) and it worked great. Just have to be sure to heat it to 160 and stretch!
Thank you so much Matt!!!!!! Perfect recipe ♥️
You are very welcome! 🙂 Glad you like this mozzarella cheese recipe.