Burrata vs. Mozzarella: What’s the Difference?

Selecting the appropriate cheese for your meals, whether for pasta, pizza, or any other meal, may have a huge influence on how they come out. It might be difficult to select between burrata and mozzarella cheese, but understanding the distinctions is essential for Italian cuisine aficionados.

Mozzarella and burrata seem to be the same cheese at first glance, since they are almost identical in texture, shape, color, size, and packaging. These are, however, two distinct varieties of cheese.

Mozzarella has a more delicate flavor and a more elastic texture than burrata, which is softer, more delicious, and higher in calories owing to the cream.

Before we proceed, we must first grasp what mozzarella and burrata cheese are and how they came to be!

What is Mozzarella Cheese?

Mozzarella, which is smooth on the exterior yet soft on the inside, is arguably Italy’s most renowned cheese. It has a thousand-year history in Campania and is famous over the globe, as is burrata.

Fresh Mozzarella is a dairy product that originated in Southern Italy and is formed from plucked curd or pasta filata.

It may be made using either cow’s milk (mozzarella di bufala), which is more common and easier to get, or water buffalo’s milk (mozzarella di bufala), which is more expensive and harder to find.

Fresh mozzarella has a mild, creamy flavor and a soft texture. It’s a new semi-soft cheese. It is not matured, unlike many other forms of cheese, and is eaten shortly after being made.

Fresh mozzarella cheese is widely available in supermarkets and is easy to produce at home.

What is Burrata Cheese?

Burrata literally translates as buttered, hinting to its rich richness. It’s Italian fresh mozzarella with cream cheese.

Burrata cheese may seem to be a fresh ball of Mozzarella at first glance, but what’s inside distinguishes it distinct.

Burrata Is Made with Mozzarella, But It Isn’t Mozzarella

The most important thing to realize about burrata is that it is not mozzarella cheese, despite being made from Mozzarella. Burrata is a unique and unusual cheese.

Burrata is constructed out of a difficult exterior curd produced from local Mozzarella that is formed into a void compartment and then filled with a delicate, threadlike curd and whipped cream.

Burrata Cheese is often served at room temperature, and since it is fresh, it is eaten within 48 hours after purchase. After that, it is considered vintage (even though it is still actually delicious).

As the burrata is sliced open, allowing the creamy insides to ooze forth, the genuine magic happens. It’s delicious with crusty bread and as a salad dressing.

Difference Between Burrata Vs Mozzarella Cheese

Let’s take a short look at the distinctions between burrata and mozzarella cheese.

1. Two Types of Cheeses

The pasta filata (strained curd) method is used to make both types of cheese from fresh cow’s milk.

Although Mozzarella, also known as fior di latte, has been produced in Campania since the 12th century, Lorenzo Bianchino invented burrata in 1956 in Andria, Puglia.

2. Preparation Method

Mozzarella is created by blending lactic ferments and casein with pasteurized cow’s milk. In the next processes, the curd is sliced and the whey is removed.

At this point, the curd is sliced into slices and either manually or pneumatically pushed in boiling water to twist or stretch it into mozzarella bits. At the last step, the pieces are cooled in water.

Burrata is also created from strained mozzarella curd, but it is not a necessary component of the milk product; rather, it serves as an enclosure. Within is a smooth and creamy stracciatella, frayed pasta filata, and cream filling.

3. Flavor

Burrata’s creamy heart generates a richer, more complex, and more delicious cheese than Mozzarella, but the fundamental difference between the two types of cheese is the surface.

Mozzarella lacks burrata’s mushy centre. When it comes to cooking with burrata, it works best when utilized to finish a meal.

Mozzarella may be served similarly or used in recipes that call for goopy, runny, and fresh cheese. Having to select between two types of cheese is like to having to choose a favorite kid. If you want something more luxurious, go for burrata.

4. Production

There are two kinds of mozzarella: fior di latte, which is produced from cow’s milk, and mozzarella di bufala, which is derived from the dairy of the Italian Mediterranean buffalo.

Buffalo mozzarella is yummier, fluffier, and more flavorful than cows milk mozzarella, which is not surprising considering that buffalo milk contains almost twice as much fat.

Certain buffalo mozzarella has a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) classification, which implies it must have been produced in specific areas of Italy according to a time-honored recipe.

Although most Mozzarella marketed everywhere in the globe is produced from cow’s milk, many people feel buffalo milk Mozzarella is a great choice worth seeking out.

Burrata is made mostly of stracciatella, which is expanded, torn apart into thin strands, and bathed in cream before being surrounded with fresh Mozzarella and fastened or knotted together to make a ball.

Stracciatella is an Italian term that meaning “rag” and characterizes both the method of creating the cheese and its look, according to The Washington Post. Cow’s milk is used in the bulk of stracciatella marketed outside of Italy.

How to Store and Serve Fresh Mozzarella Cheese

Since fresh Mozzarella has a high water content, it is best eaten immediately, however it may be stored in brine and kept refrigerated for up to a week.

When it comes to preparation, new Mozzarella is a versatile cheese. It’s a pizza classic and a wonderful complement to many pasta meals, sandwiches, salads, and other major dishes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is burrata better for you than Mozzarella?

Mozzarella has a sharper flavor and a much stretchier crispness, while burrata is milder and richer in flavor, but higher in calories due to the moisturizer.

Is burrata calorie-dense?

Burrata, although being a high-calorie delicacy, should be consumed in moderation and included in one’s diet, since 100 grams of the item may also contain 350 kcal (depending on the cream used).

Is it safe to eat burrata?

Burrata, like other milk products, has a lot of calcium. One ounce provides 15% of your daily needs. One ounce of burrata also provides 4% of your daily vitamin A needs.

Conclusion

Burrata is sometimes confused with mozzarella cheese, however despite their similar looks, these Italian cheeses are not interchangeable.

On the exterior, Burrata and Mozzarella look to be basic and mild cow’s milk cheeses. Burrata, on the other hand, conceals a plethora of thick, creamy stracciatella cheese.

This significant, cream-filled differentiation comes from the cheese-making process.

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