- Set up the Breading Station – Take out three bowls. Whisk the flour together with garlic salt in the first bowl, beat the eggs together in the second, and add your breadcrumbs to the third.
- Cut the Cheese – Use a sharp knife to cut the block of mozzarella into sticks just under ½” thick by 3” long. You’ll end up with about 20-24 cheese sticks.
- Coat in Breading – Dip each cheese stick first in the flour, then into the egg, then repeat in flour and egg wash. This double-dip method is the secret to well-breaded cheese sticks. Lastly, roll the sticks in the breadcrumbs to get them evenly coated on all sides.
- Freeze – Transfer the breaded cheese sticks to a baking sheet or platter. Once all the sticks are coated, cover them with plastic wrap and freeze for 45 minutes.
How to Fry Cheese Sticks
After your cheese sticks have chilled, it’s time to fry them. Deep frying requires some close attention (don’t leave the hot oil unattended), but it’s actually pretty simple:
- Heat the Oil – In a deep pan, heat 2 cups of oil over medium heat until the temperature reaches 350ºF on a thermometer. An easy way to test the temperature is to sprinkle a pinch of breadcrumbs into the oil. If the crumbs sizzle, the oil is at the right temperature for frying.
- Fry – Take your cheese sticks out of the freezer. Working in small batches, drop the cheese sticks into the hot oil. Fry for about 60-90 seconds, turning the sticks halfway through. Use a slotted spoon to remove the cooked mozzarella sticks once the outside is crisped and golden, and as soon as you spot any cheese start to leak out.
- Drain and Cool – Place the fried mozzarella sticks on a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.
Pro Tip: The oil tends to cool off a bit while the cheese sticks are cooking. Make sure to reheat the oil to 350ºF in between batches, otherwise, the cheese inside will melt faster than the outside can crisp up, causing the cheese to ooze out. A clip-on oil thermometer will help monitor the oil temperature.
Tips for the Best Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
Here are some final tips for making your own mozzarella sticks:
- Deep frying yields the best results – Frying in oil produces a crunchy exterior.
- Use the right oil – Use an oil with a high smoke point so your cheese sticks don’t burn. Extra light olive oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, and peanut oil are great options.
- Fry in batches – 3-4 at a time so the oil won’t cool off too quickly.
- Cut even-sized sticks – keep them just under 1/2″ thick so that they heat through evenly.
