Does Mozzarella Cheese Have Rennet? (2024)

Does Mozzarella Cheese Have Rennet? (1)

"Say Cheese!" is heard seldom in our daily lives. After all, cheese makes us smile! This delicious yet intricate dish makes everything better. However, many people think that you have to give up Cheese when you want to go vegetarian. Although, that is not always necessarily true.

One of the most commonly asked questions is, "does mozzarella cheese have rennet?" The question is mostly striking amid aspiring vegetarians. We're here to tell you you can have cheese without Rennet, the component made from animal fat. While mozzarella cheese does have Rennet, you can still enjoy an alternative version.

Hence, without any further ado, let’s look further into rennet and how you can avoid consuming it.

What is Rennet?

Rennet is an agent that help to coagulating Cheese. Metabolites in milk likeglutamate,creatinine, or choline along with rennet help the protein to coagulate and make cheese.

However, why is Rennet non-vegetarian? The main reason is, Rennet is derived from the fourth stomach lining of a newborn calf. It can also come from cows and goats. The newborn calves have an enzyme called Chymosin. Rennet comes from this specific enzyme. Chymosin helps a calf to suckle on their mother's milk and help indigestion.

Hence, in the preparation of extracting Rennet, animals are hurt. Some may even die. Therefore, the entire procedure makes it non-vegetarian. Chymosin extraction can kill a newborn calf as it restricts its absorption process.

You can find out whether or not a cheese has Rennet by simply checking the ingredients. The ingredients will say it contains animal fat, enzymes, or animal enzymes.

What Cheese Doesn't Contain Rennet?

Although Rennet is popular in the cheese industry, some cheeses don't require using Rennet. Most hard cheeses such as parmesan, cheddar, pecorino romano, and more come through Rennet. However, many kinds of cheese such as cream cheese, Ricotta, swiss Cheese, provolone, and more don't need Rennet.

However, you can also enjoy the kinds of cheese which previously included Rennet. The reason for this is the revolutionary vegetarian Rennet. The vegetarian substitutes for Rennet have different options.

The Rennet used in Cheese has only one objective- curd the milk and coagulate the milk proteins to form Cheese. Hence, you can use different non-animal derived options to form the Cheese. Let's discuss some vegetarian rennet options below.

Vegetable rennet

Vegetable rennet is the easiest Rennet to make at home. Nowadays, it's used widely in commercial spaces as well. Vegetable rennet comes from plants that have the ability to cur the milk and thicken it.

You can make vegetable rennet from plant enzymes. Some plants that release vegetarian-friendly Rennet are ivy, dried caper leaves, fig juice, wild thistles, safflower, and more.

Microbial Rennet

Making this type of Rennet requires the use of bacteria and fungi. Before being fermented, enzymes come from bacteria and fungi.

The cost of microbial Rennet is the cheapest. However, the taste of microbial Rennet isn't all that great. The aftertaste includes a bitter feeling which ruins most of the cheesy goodness in the dish.

Genetically engineered Rennet

Genetically engineered Rennet gives the closest taste of real Cheese made from animal enzymes. In this process, the calf's stomach lining DNA is taken and mixed with the DNA of bacteria and yeast.

To form Chymosin, the DNA goes through rendering. The process is FPC to GMO conversion. Fermentation-produced chymosin (FPC) doesn't harm animals in the process. It's also suitable for vegetarians.

Nowadays, it's the most popular form of chymosin production and cheap as well.

How To Know if Your Cheese is Vegetarian

The more popular brands nowadays use vegetarian substitutes for Rennet. In this way, anyone can consume the cheese. The cheeses, which are FDA approved for vegetarians, you'll find under the ingredients section. The vegetarian cheeses have ingredients such as "vegetarian enzymes," "vegetable rennet," "non-animal enzymes," or "microbial enzymes."

You can find it easily under the ingredients list. The plant-based enzymes work as great as the real ones. If the manufacturers didn’t tell you the cheeses are made from plant-based enzymes, you wouldn't know the difference.

Vegetarian Cheese is inspired all across the world. It utilizes plants, and it's completely cruelty-free. Next time you have Cheese, you won't experience a guilt trip about any animal being hurt in the process.

The enzymes that are extracted in a plant-based way don't always give a consistent result. However, over time and practice, you can perfect it.

Plant or vegetable rennet is occasionally produced by soaking plants above to extract an enzyme similar to animal rennet. In contrast, microbial Rennet is recovered from specific rennet-like fungi in a laboratory setting.

Parmesan is one cheese that may be difficult to come by in a vegetarian-friendly form. According to the European Union legislation, you cannot term a cheese as Parmigiano-Reggiano unless it includes a calf's Rennet. On the other hand, products merely branded Parmesan may be produced using vegetarian Rennet.

However, when you eat outside, things may be different. Unless a restaurant specifies that they're using plant-based cheese, you should presume they're using animal-based cheese. However, there's no harm in asking them when you book a reservation.

AtPizza Bien, we're 100% vegetarian friendly and use authentic Neapolitan baking styles. Hence, you can be free of worries when you order our delicious pizzas!

Rennet Free Cheeses

There are a few soft kinds of Cheese that don't require extensive curdling, nor Rennet. Hence, the safer option when you want to buy authentic rennet-free cheese, you should opt for vegetarian-friendly cheeses.

Does Mozzarella Cheese Have Rennet? (2)

Adding different coagulation factors can produce curdling in Rennet-free cheeses. Vinegar, lemon juice, bacteria from lactic acid, and more are added to milk. The milk then reacts and curds, forming soft cheesy goodness made without Rennet.

The following cheeses are safe to consume most of the time for vegetarians.

Fresh mozzarella

Like many other types of cheese, authentic mozzarella uses animal rennet, a substance obtained from the stomach lining of young animals that have not yet been weaned.

Many vegetarians and lactose intolerants cannot consume mozzarella and a variety of other classic European cheeses due to this restriction.

If you're wondering does mozzarella cheese have Rennet, the answer is both yes and no. You can pick an animal-based or plant-based mozzarella.

In contrast, rennet-free mozzarella cheese has a mild flavor and a soft texture ideal for creating panini or pizzas.

Aside from having the right balance of tanginess and saltiness, Frigo cheese also has the perfect fat. Both of these varieties of mozzarella cheese don't require Rennet.

Cottage cheese

Cottage cheese is a kind of fresh cheese distinguished by its tiny curds and mildly flavorful and creamy flavor. Today, however, there are additional types available that contain medium or big curds as well.

It also happens to be a protein powerhouse. Cottage cheese, which contains up to 15 g of protein per half-cup serving, is an excellent source of protein.

Cream cheese

Cream cheese is a mild version with a neutral flavor. It comes from cow's milk and cream. The delicate sweetness, moderate tanginess, and silky smooth texture make it very versatile. Toss it into your bagel spread, incorporate it into cookie dough or cake batter, or use it as a foundation for your following creamy frosting recipe.

Cream cheese, a favorite of the ketogenic community, is a safe bet for vegetarians. It's free of Rennet in general unless mentioned.

Ricotta

Ricotta curds have a creamy white look and a somewhat sweet flavor that compliments other cheeses. The amount of fat in the milk varies based on the kind of milk consumed. In this form, it has a reasonably similar texture to certain cottage cheese variations, but it is much lighter in weight. It has a concise shelf life.

Additionally, Ricotta offers several unexpected health advantages, in addition to being decadently creamy. For starters, it has a high concentration of whey protein, which is one of the most readily absorbed and used types of protein. It does not include Rennet in general. Hence, you can enjoy Ricotta without any worries!

Paneer

Curdled milk and some fruit or vegetable acid, such as lemon juice, make paneer (Indian Cheese). Paneer has several characteristics that distinguish it from other cheeses: Mild Cheese with a mild flavor.

When combined with spicy solid flavors found in many traditional Indian recipes, paneer has a gentle, milky flavor and a thick, crumbly texture that works well. Because it does not melt like other cheeses, pieces of it may be added to soups or curries without melting and yet retain its integrity.

Bottom line

One of the most popular reasons that keep people from turning their diet vegetarian is the fear of not eating cheese. However, it doesn't have to be that way. Most cheeses don't have Rennet. You can find substitutes for the ones that do.

Therefore, we hope by now you're well aware of different kinds of cheeses and their vegetarian friendliness. Till the next time, happy feasting!

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Does Mozzarella Cheese Have Rennet? (2024)

FAQs

Does Mozzarella Cheese Have Rennet? ›

Fresh mozzarella

What makes mozzarella not vegetarian? ›

Traditional mozzarella is not vegetarian. This is because it contains rennet. Rennet is an enzyme harvested from slaughtered calf stomach. There are different definitions of being a vegetarian, but all that I found exclude products of the slaughterhouse in the vegetarian diet.

What cheese is made without rennet? ›

Younger, soft cheeses like mozzarella, cottage cheese, cream cheese, ricotta, goat, and provolone often are not made with rennet. However, this isn't an exhaustive list, so be sure to read your labels carefully!.

What is a substitute for rennet in mozzarella cheese? ›

Distilled White Vinegar – This is used instead of the classic citric acid and rennet ingredients. (4 to 5% acidic) Cheese salt – This is optional, you can also use flaky sea salt or kosher salt. Iodized table salt is not recommended.

What happens if you use too much rennet in mozzarella? ›

Rubbery cheese can happen when an excess amount of rennet is used, too much rennet equals a rubber ball, too little, soup!

Can vegetarians eat mozzarella? ›

Cheeses That Don't Use Rennet

"Many softer styles of cheese like mozzarella, paneer, ricotta, and cream cheese use whey or another type of acid as their coagulant instead of rennet, so they will be safe for vegetarians," says Birnbaum.

Does all mozzarella have rennet? ›

If you're wondering does mozzarella cheese have Rennet, the answer is both yes and no. You can pick an animal-based or plant-based mozzarella. In contrast, rennet-free mozzarella cheese has a mild flavor and a soft texture ideal for creating panini or pizzas.

Does cheddar contain rennet? ›

Most hard cheeses, including Parmesan, Cheddar, Manchego, Pecorino Romano, and Swiss, are traditionally made with rennet, while some soft cheeses aren't (scroll down for five you can try).

What is the best alternative for rennet if not available? ›

Alternatives to Animal Rennet and How They Are Made

Plant-based options like fig leaves, stinging nettle, and thistle can be easily harvested and used to coagulate milk, while microbial rennet is produced using fermentation techniques to create enzymes that break down milk proteins.

Can I use lemon juice instead of rennet? ›

The lemon juice, vinegar and citric acid can coagulate the milk without rennet but frequently work best with hot milk. The use of rennet allows to separate the milk before the acidification of the milk is too high and helps form hard curds and can be used at moderate milk temperature for an extended time.

What temperature kills rennet? ›

Rennet is an enzyme used to coagulate milk, in order to form a thick curd. Rennet begins working at temperatures between 85-105F, even at higher temperatures it will not be deactivated until it reaches 140F.

Can I make my own rennet? ›

You can make rennet from quite a few wild plants. It is slower acting that shop-bought rennet and usually needs to be left overnight to curdle the milk. The best plants are nettle, sorrel and thistle.

How long does rennet last once opened? ›

Liquid microbial rennet is usually preferred because it is easier to measure; however, microbial rennet tablets have a longer storage life. Liquid microbial rennet will last about 7-8 months when refrigerated, and microbial rennet tablets can last up to two years.

What makes cheese not vegetarian? ›

Most vegetarians generally avoid foods that require the death of an animal. Although there are different types of vegetarians, cheese is often considered vegetarian-friendly. However, certain cheeses contain animal rennet, which contains enzymes commonly sourced from the lining of animal stomachs.

Are calves killed for rennet? ›

Calf rennet is extracted from the inner mucosa of the fourth stomach chamber (the abomasum) of young, nursing calves as part of livestock butchering. These stomachs are a byproduct of veal production.

Why does mozzarella need rennet? ›

In most cheese making recipes, milk is first ripened with cultures, then rennet is added. This makes the proteins, found in milk, to form into solid curd. The amount of rennet added will vary depending on the type of cheese being made. Some types of cheese need a firmer curd than others.

What is in cheese that makes it non vegetarian? ›

As Windsor explains, traditionally, rennet is extracted from the abomasum (fourth chamber of the stomach) of a ruminant, usually a calf, lamb, or kid. "This rennet is a complex blend of enzymes that is very good at coagulating milk. It is this form of rennet that is not vegetarian-friendly.

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