I Asked 4 Experts for the Best Fresh Mozzarella—They All Said the Same Thing

In my family, we take our mozzarella very seriously—the mozzarella on the table is expected to be so fresh that it cuts like butter. While we’re lucky to have an Italian deli nearby, finding top-quality mozzarella elsewhere isn’t always easy. So I asked four cheese experts to reveal the best store-bought fresh mozzarella—and they all pointed to the same brand.

The Experts

• Tenaya Darlington: Madame Fromage, mmefromage, on Instagram, and author of Di Bruno Bros. House of Cheese and Madame Fromage’s Adventures in Cheese
• Marissa Mullen: Founder of That Cheese Plate and author of That Cheese Plate Will Change Your Life and That Cheese Plate Wants To Party
• Madelyn Varela: Former cheesemaker, current cheese-market manager, and cheezytalkwithmadelyn on Instagram and TikTok
• Carrie Stenerson: Cheese freelancer, community justice advocate, and part-time cheese documentarian, and JusticeOfTheCheese on Instagram and TikTok

The Best Fresh Mozzarella

Among the experts, one brand of fresh mozzarella stood out above the rest: Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese. This Wisconsin-based dairy company is a family business, known for its sustainable practices, high standard of product, and award-winning mozzarella. You’ll find it at Whole Foods and H-E-B supermarkets.

“I personally LOVE Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese (out of Waterloo, Wisconsin). It has the milk-forward flavor I am looking for in these fresh cheeses, and the consistency is always really fresh,” Stenerson shared. 

Darlington agrees, “I’ve also been impressed by the mozzarella from Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese. A farmstead cheese means that the cheese is made on the farm, using the milk of one herd. To me, ’farmstead’ is usually a sign of quality.” 

How to Shop for Fresh Mozzarella

In the mozzarella section, it’s easy to get overwhelmed searching for the highest-quality product. When buying mozzarella, here’s what the experts say to check for:

1. The Date: “You really want to pick out fresh cheeses like mozzarella as far from an expiration date that you can! The closer to the expiration date, the more the flavor diminishes in your fresh dairy products,” Stenerson shared.
2. The Milk: “If you can find mozzarella made from pasture-raised cows, that’s usually a sure sign of high quality,” Darlington shared.
3. The Liquid: “I look for mozzarella stored in water or whey, those tend to be more flavorful and keep a silky mouthfeel that’s so satisfying,” Mullen shared.
4. The Color: “You wanna make sure that the color of mozzarella is bright white or off-white cream color. Sometimes the packaging can fall during shipping, which can cause bacteria to enter the cheese and cause it to spoil,” Varela shared.

How To Use Fresh Mozzarella 

Along with a classic caprese, these experts recommend other ways to enjoy fresh mozzarella. 

“I like to slice it and drizzle it with good olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt. Then I’ll set it out for an aperitivo, alongside slices of melon, a dish of olives, some tomatoes, and glasses of Prosecco or a tray of Spritzes,” Darlington shared.

“I also love using it as the anchor on a crostini with a fresh peach and prosciutto. You can also never go wrong with melting it into a chicken cutlet sandwich or on a four-cheese pizza!” Mullen shared.