How To Make Mozzarella

• Combine ½ cup of cold water and 1½ tsp of citric acid in a small mixing bowl, and stir until the water has somewhat cleared and the citric acid doesn't settle to the bottom of the bowl.
• Pour the entire gallon of milk into the pot and stir the cold milk with a whisk or slotted spoon. While stirring, pour in the citric acid and water mixture and stir until fully dispersed, about 10-15 seconds.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stir periodically and check the temperature of the milk using an instant-read thermometer until the temperature reaches 90 degrees, approximately 5-8 minutes.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine ¼ cup of water with ¼ tsp of liquid rennet.
• Once the milk has reached 90 degrees, stir in the water and rennet mixture using a whisk or slotted spoon. Stir continuously for 30 seconds and no longer to avoid breaking up the already forming curds.
• Remove the pot from the burner, cover it with the lid, and set it aside for 10 minutes.
• Uncover the lid. You should see a thin line of clear liquid encircling the single large milk curd from the pot.

  If you do not see this, replace the lid and leave it for another minute or two.
• Cut from top to bottom 5-6 strips using a chef's knife. Then from side-to-side, cut 5-6 strips. It should look like a crosshatch pattern (think flannel squares).
• Replace the pot to the burner and, over medium-low heat, cook until the temperature reaches 105 degrees. Using an instant-read thermometer, check the temperature periodically.

  For an accurate reading, ensure that the thermometer's tip is neither too close to the bottom nor the top of the pot.
• Once the temperature reads 105, remove the pot from the heat and set it aside for 5 minutes.
• While the curds are resting, place a colander in a large pot.
• After the 5 minutes, using a slotted spoon or your hands, remove the milk curds from the liquid whey and place them into a colander. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible and set it aside.
• Add salt to the whey (remaining liquid) in the pot, raise the temperature to medium heat, and heat to 180 degrees.

  Again, stir periodically and check the temperature with the instant-read thermometer.
• In a medium-large mixing bowl, add the mozzarella curd and cover with the hot whey. Let sit for 20-30 seconds.
• Using your hands, lift the mozzarella out of the hot whey by one side. Allow the weight of the mozzarella to pull itself down naturally, and then fold the mozzarella in half.

  If the mozzarella feels stiff, set it back into the hot whey or add more hot whey to the bowl to help heat it until it's easily pliable, about 10-15 seconds more.
• Continue pulling and folding 3-4 times.
• With the mozzarella folded in half, use your thumbs to pull the top of the mozzarella out and down. Use your remaining fingers to tuck the mozzarella back underneath and up into itself.
• Continue this manual pulling until the mozzarella is shiny and tight. Pinch the bottom of the mozzarella closed, place it into a bowl, and cover with room temperature whey.
• Serve within 2 hours or refrigerate for up to 5 days.

How to store:

• If storing mozzarella in the refrigerator, store it in an airtight container covered in whey, olive oil, or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap.

Pro-tip:

• The hot whey, at 180 degrees, is as close to being as hot as a cup of coffee from your favorite cafe, which is roughly 190-205 degrees. To give you an idea of what the hot whey feels like.

  Latex gloves offer a nice buffer between your hands and the heat. If you find it to be still too hot to handle, try either rubber kitchen gloves or putting mittens on underneath a pair of latex gloves.

No-Waste:

• The remaining whey can be used in soups, smoothies, marinades and can substitute for water in any recipe. Whey is full of protein and amino acids; store it in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze it for 6 months.