Quesadilla Cheese (OAXACA) Vs Mozzarella: What Are The Differences?

Cheese. The way to most people’s hearts. Whether you’re the subtle and mild cheese type, or an aged stinky cheese lover, cheese is a common weakness amongst most. And for good reason—cheese is incredibly dynamic yet it has the power to put the “comfort” in any comfort meal. It’s the perfect topping and complement to most dishes, but has earned the respect and admiration to stand on its own.

Two of the closest alternative cheeses are Oaxaca and mozzarella. So you need to choose which one is better- Oaxaca cheese vs mozzarella?

1. Quesadilla Cheese / OAXACA

OAXACA cheese, also known as Asadero, is a soft white string-like cheese from…? It’s mellow, buttery, and works great as a melting cheese. This is why it is the most commonly used cheese in a quesadilla. Because Oaxaca cheese is so mild in flavor, it is known as a kid favorite and complements most dishes beautifully without overpowering any flavor.

1. Mozzarella

Mozzarella is a spun cheese with a dense, homogeneous and smooth texture. When a coagulant is added to obtain curd, the milk is first left to ferment to obtain curd (that is, when a coagulant is added to obtain curd). This curd, once drained, is soaked in very hot water (between 80 and 90°C).

Well, there’s a brief explanation of the factors. Just keep reading to find them out.

Oaxaca Cheese Vs Mozzarella-Quick Review!

Now both mozzarella and Oaxaca cheese are quietly the same. But still, there are some basic differences that you need to know. So we gave a brief explanation of the comparison factors. Before that, here’s a quick preview :

Comparison factors	Oaxaca	Mozzarella
Origin	Mexico	Italy
Price	High	Medium to low
Meltability	Medium	High
Making process	Hard	Moderate
Shelflife	Shorter	Longer
Texture	Stringy	Creamy

From the table above, you’ve got an idea. We would say that these two can’t be substitutes. We know a lot of people claim these two are the same. But still, they have underlying differences.

To know more about them in detail, let’s move on to the next segment.

Oaxaca Cheese Vs Mozzarella- In-Depth Comparison!

So you just went through the quick comparison. But now it’s time for the detailed version. Just scroll through them and see which one you’d prefer to have.

Origin

Oaxaca originated in Mexico. It’s one of the most famous cheeses in Mexico. They use it as a substitute for Mozzarella.

Mozzarella is known to be originated in Italy. Since then, it has traveled through the whole world and became famous.

Price & Availability 

Comparatively, mozzarella is widely available. You can just go to a super shop or dairy shop to purchase it. Even if you’re in a remote place, you can still have mozzarella. But that’s not the same for Oaxaca. Because you can only get it in some specific regions.

Due to less availability, Oaxaca cheese is more pricey. The price of mozzarella is quite affordable.

Taste & Texture 

Well, the taste of Oaxaca is similar to a marshmallow except for the sweetness. The taste of mozzarella is creamy and buttery. 

The texture of the Oaxaca cheese is mostly stretchy. It’s not a soft type of cheese that melts right away. It’s more of a textured cheese. That means the cheese will have a chewiness to it. You can compare the texture to string cheese.

But mozzarella is also a sort of solid cheese. But it’s not as stretchy as the Oaxaca cheese. Rather than being chewy, it melts in the mouth easily. As it melts quite well, it can make your pizza greasy.

So it’s important that you measure it accordingly if you’re using it.

If you’ve tasted both, you could clearly identify the difference in taste and texture. 

Meltability

Depending on the texture, mozzarella has high meltability. It liquifies in heat and becomes a bit stretchy. 

But Oaxaca cheese takes a bit more time and heat to melt. You couldn’t say that it’s not easy to melt. Comparatively, mozzarella melts faster and better. It only takes 130-150 degrees Fahrenheit to melt the mozzarella cheese.

Making Process

The making process is more or less the same for both kinds of cheese. While making mozzarella, you need to make curd. In that case, you’ve to maintain the punch and stretch method. So that the mozzarella becomes plump and good enough. You need to make round shapes of mozzarella.

You can also do the whole process at home. But making Oaxaca cheese is not that easy. You’ll need to have a controlled environment for that. So making it at home is not an option.

The shape of it is mostly rectangular to stick-like. It can be a little difficult to achieve that shape.

So if you’re looking for an easy-to-make cheese at home, go for mozzarella.

Versatility

Well, both of the cheeses can be used with a variety of dishes. For example, for pizza, macaroni, and pasta, you can use mozzarella. The reason for using mozzarella in pizza is to soften the pizza crust. And it’s also to increase the taste of it.

But for cheese sticks, deep-fried cheese, or savory pie, you can use the Oaxaca cheese. As it’s more of a solid sort of type, it’s better for these dishes.

Shelf Life

Now the shelf life of all sorts of cheeses is close. That’s not true in the case of Oaxaca and mozzarella. Because mozzarella cheese expires 6 weeks after manufacturing. But if you open the cheese, you’d have to use it within 4 days at most.

If you made it at home, you can use it for 2 weeks at best.

On the other hand, Oaxaca expires in 1-1.5 weeks of manufacturing. It needs to be put under a controlled environment, it has a shorter shelf life. 

Which Cheese Is The One for You- Oaxaca or Mozzarella?

Well, so here we are to announce the winner. Comparing all the factors like availability, price, meltability, and making process mozzarella is the one you should choose.

So we hope you know which cheese you should buy! Finally, you’ll be able to make the dish you desire.

Today we cleared a confusion, Oaxaca vs mozzarella. And you got to know which one is better for you.

So if you need further guidance, just let us know in the comments