Fried cheese curds are similar to traditional mozzarella sticks in the way that they are both sinfully addicting, cheesy snacks. But, when it comes to declaring who the winner is, fried cheese curds are the clear winner with cheese fanatics.
Our homemade fried cheese curds are golden, crunchy, and fried to perfection. These little nuggets are brimmed with the freshest gooey melted cheese. Use our simple-to-follow fried cheese curds recipe to make an irresistible, easy one-bite appetizer! You’ll be trading in your so-so mozzarella sticks for one of Wisconsin’s best snacks!
Fried Cheese Curds
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound cheese curds, room temperture
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, divided
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup club soda
- 2 quarts canola oil
Supplies
- 2 medium bowls
- baking sheet
- whisk
- large pot
- digital instant-read thermometer
- skimmer or slotted spoon
- paper-towel-lined plate
Directions
Keeping your cheese curds at room temperature, rather than in refrigeration, will preserve the flavor and the iconic squeaky sound cheese curds make when you bite into one. Once the cheese curds are at room temperature, place them in a medium bowl and lightly toss in 1/8 cup of flour.
Spread the coated curds out on a baking sheet. Place the cheese curds in the freezer for about an hour.
Meanwhile, in another medium bowl, combine the remaining flour, baking powder, salt, and club soda. Using a whisk, blend until the batter is smooth without lumps.
In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat until it has reached a temperature of 350 degrees on a digital instant-read thermometer.
Coat each cheese curd in the batter, carefully making sure to cover the entire surface of each curd. Using a skimmer or slotted spoon, add the cheese curds in small batches to the hot oil. Fry each cheese curd until golden-brown, about 1 minute. Flip, then brown the other side. Remove the cheese curd to a paper-towel-lined plate before serving. Serve with a delicious dipping sauce, such as Sriracha ranch or barbecue sauce.
Recipe Notes
Find cheese curds at your local grocer in the cheese section. Cheese curds can often be found at Wegmans, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s. Also, if you live near a dairy farm or cheese factory such as Cabot Cheese, they will often be available for purchase in their stores.
If you’re unable to purchase cheese curds at the store, don’t worry! You can easily learn how to make cheese curds at home.
What’s A Cheese Curd?
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying a dish of the French-Canadian classic, Poutine, then you may be familiar with cheese curds. Cheese curds are the fresh curds of cheese made most commonly from cheddar, but they can be formed from any type of cheese.
Cheese curds have a much milder flavor than that of traditional cheddar cheese. Fresh curds have a firm, rubbery-like texture, and will squeak when they are bitten. The squeaky sound of cheese curds may be their most defining characteristic, as cheese curds are best enjoyed fresh and at room temperature. Once cheese curds are refrigerated, the cheese curds lose their squeak and freshness. When you purchase cheese curds, it’s best to enjoy them immediately when they are at their freshest.
