Who knows cheese better than Wisconsinites? Our team of pro cooks and resident cheeseheads sampled cheese sticks in a blind test to find the best frozen mozzarella sticks on the market.
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When you’re having folks over for the big game or inviting your besties over to binge-watch the latest season of Stranger Things, some frozen snacks always seem to hop in the cart. Frozen chicken tenders and onion rings may be on your list, but we all know there’s nothing like a great mozzarella stick.
So which frozen mozzarella stick brand should you be crisping up in your air fryer? Our Test Kitchen sampled all the big brands they could get their hands on to find out.
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When you think of mozzarella sticks, you likely think of the gooey snacks you’d order at the stadium, bar or even bowling alley. There’s nothing wrong with that! Those treats are super nostalgic and downright tasty. For an at-home experience that parallels the snacks at these venues, get Market Pantry Mozzarella Cheese Sticks.
Before we get into the taste, it’s worth noting that these “are a picturesque mozzarella stick,” per Ellie Crowley in the Test Kitchen. “These have a nice golden brown exterior and no cheese oozed out.”
Beyond appearances, which are winning, these sticks are worth going in for seconds. “These have just the right amount of coating on them and have a balanced flavor,” says the Test Kitchen’s Mark Neufang.
Biting into these sticks, you’ll get a distinct crunch, just the right amount of salt and just the right proportion of stretchy mozzarella. Simply put by Mark, “This is what I expect of a mozzarella stick.”
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Are you all about the cheese? Stock your freezer with Crav’n Flavor Mozzarella Sticks. These frozen apps had the best cheese flavor and the most satisfying pull of ooey gooey cheese of any we tried.
If ooey gooey, creamy mozzarella wasn’t enough, these Crav’n Flavor sticks also had a satisfyingly crisp exterior. “These are nice and crunchy,” says Mark. The coating doesn’t have a prominent Italian seasoning flavor—just a nice dose of black pepper—so they’re great for pairing with any of your favorite condiments like hot sauce or even MustKetch.
One word of advice from our Test Kitchen: Keep an eye on these as they bake or air fry. A minute too long and you’ll find these may split open or ooze a little too much cheese.
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