This may sound like a gross idea, but can you drink mozzarella water?
Come on, I bet you have often wondered it yourself!
After all, it can’t be harmful; otherwise, mozzarella wouldn’t be stored in it.
What does it actually taste like?
Can you use it for anything else?
Does it absorb any of the protein from the mozzarella?
Let’s see if we can be tempted when we read the answer!
Mozzarella water, while not harmful, doesn’t taste good. Mozzarella is stored in water, brine, or whey to maintain its moisture. Water has no flavor, brine is salty and shouldn’t be consumed, and whey may have milk solids floating in it. Whey can be used in bread-making. Some claim mozzarella water is a hangover cure, but no scientific proof supports this.
What is Mozzarella Water, and Can You Drink It?
Surprisingly, mozzarella water can be exactly as it says – just plain water!
The purpose of it is to keep the cheese moist, and water does a perfectly acceptable job.
You already know that mozzarella doesn’t really have any flavor to it, so if it is kept in water, then the liquid won’t taste of anything.
However, it’s a different story if the mozzarella has been preserved in brine.
Brine is a salt solution, and the concentration can be relatively low, giving a mild salty taste.
Obviously, the more salt that is added, the stronger the flavor.
Although some salt is necessary for our diet, drinking brine is not recommended.
The better quality mozzarella, which has a high moisture content, is traditionally stored in whey.
Whey is simply a natural occurrence in the cheesemaking process and won’t cause any harm if you drink it.
In fact, it’s quite nutritious and contains probiotics.
Mozzarella whey is known as acidic whey, as opposed to sweet whey.
However, once the mozzarella has been refrigerated, the whey could form milk solids.
Seeing these unappetizing white bits floating in the mozzarella liquid is not really going to persuade you to give it a try!
And do remember, it will contain lactose, so be careful if you have an allergy to this.
Occasionally, you may find mozzarella packaged in oil, typically in glass jars.
The oil makes a nice dressing for a mozzarella salad or can be drizzled over a pizza.
But I wouldn’t recommend that you drink it!
What Can Mozzarella Water Be Used For?
So, having established that you don’t really want to drink mozzarella water, although you can if you want, what else can it be used for?
Continuing with the drinking theme, it is said to be a hangover cure, but there is no scientific proof it works.
I’ll stick with the headache, thanks!
There are actually several culinary uses for mozzarella water, especially if it is the whey option.
One of the most popular is to add it to the mix when making homemade bread.
It is said to add a nutty flavor and also help the bread rise.
You can also add it to pizza dough, which seems appropriate!
Mozzarella plus more mozzarella flavor, not going to argue with that!
Other options include using it in soups and stocks, obviously reducing the amount of corresponding liquid you would usually add.
How about using mozzarella water when cooking rice?
The only thing to be wary of is if it is brine, and then, of course, you wouldn’t need any extra salt.
The mozzarella water will add a hint of creaminess.
Interestingly, feta liquid can be used for the same purpose.
Mozzarella water can also be used when cooking pasta.
And it can be the basis of a starter culture for fermented vegetables.
All these years, you have been throwing it away when it could be used in numerous dishes!
How Mozzarella is Made
Final Thoughts
Yes, you can drink mozzarella water, but it may not taste very pleasant.
The brine will be overly salty and is not recommended for health reasons.
Whey is nutritious but is more palatable to consume when added to dishes such as rice or pasta.
Take care if you are serving meals containing whey to those who are lactose-intolerant
Don’t just throw it away; save your mozzarella water for future use!
Having mentioned the brine, take look at my article on why mozzarella tastes of salt.