cheese
Low-moisture mozzarella (LMM)
Polly-O / Grande / Galbani block; the NY-slice default.
- Moisture
- medium
About
Low-moisture mozzarella is the workhorse of American pizza. The defining brand for slice shops is Grande (the East Coast pizzeria standard) for its high-fat, low-acid melt; Polly-O and Galbani are the supermarket equivalents. Buy a block (not pre-shredded — anti-caking starch interferes with melt), shred coarsely, and mix with provolone for slice-shop "pizza cheese." For Detroit, sub Wisconsin brick.
Substitutes
- Fior di latte — much wetter; drain hard
- Wisconsin brick cheese — Detroit-only; buttery, caramelizes hard