Find the most important etiquette rules on how to serve and eat Burrata and tips to be the ideal host or the perfect guest at the dining table.

how to serve and eat burrata

What Burrata etiquette is

Burrata etiquette is the set of rules to properly serve and eat Burrata. Such rules help avoid behaviors that can disrespect hosts or guests, or make you look unpolite.

If you are hosting, follow Burrata etiquette to serve it to your guests appropriately.

If you are a guest, respect the etiquette rules to properly eat and enjoy it.

What you should know about Burrata

Burrata is a soft cheese made from cow’s or buffalo’s milk. It is a typical product of Apulia, a region in Southern Italy. 

Burrata has a solid outer layer and a soft creamy inside. The outer layer is made of Mozzarella. The inside is cream and Stracciatella, a soft and creamy cheese similar to Mozzarella di Bufala

Etiquette tips to serve and eat Burrata

1) How to store Burrata

It is best to eat Burrata as fresh as possible. Eat it 1 or 2 days after production. After 4 or 5 days, Burrata loses its distinctive texture and flavor.  

Store Burrata in the fridge. 

Avoid storing Burrata in the freezer. Freezing makes the texture and taste of Burrata noticeably worse. 

Avoid storing Burrata after opening it. When you slice Burrata, the cream, and Stracciatella inside flow out. Thus, after you cut it open, you should eat it immediately. 

2) How to clean Burrata

You do not need to wash Burrata. Serve it and eat it as it is.

3) How to cook Burrata

It is best to avoid cooking Burrata. Cooking Burrata significantly alters its taste and texture.  

Instead, you can add it fresh to any recipe before serving. It is common to add Burrata to pasta, pizza, salads, or sandwiches.

4) How to serve & present Burrata

Burrata is best served at room temperature. Take Burrata out of the fridge between 30 minutes and 1 hour before serving. The longer you keep Burrata at room temperature, the more liquid the inside will get. 

Burrata is usually served as an appetizer. You can also serve it as a side dish or as a main, accompanied by a salad.

Serve Burrata whole. You should slice it open at the dining table. Present it with a serving spoon to scoop its creamy inside. 

Accompany Burrata with bread or focaccia. 

If you serve Burrata on a cheese platter, arrange cheeses according to their flavor, from mildest to strongest. Burrata is usually presented as the mildest cheese. 

5) Food and wine to pair Burrata with

Burrata does not need condiments. If you wish, you can season it with olive oil and cracked black pepper.

Burrata goes well with Prosciutto Crudo and Bresaola. It is a perfect ingredient for salads and it pairs well with tomatoes. 

It is unusual to pair Burrata with fruit, honey, or jams. 

Burrata does not go well with meat or fish. 

You can pair Burrata with sparkling wine, such as Champagne or Prosecco. White wine such as Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, or Grüner Veltliner. Light-bodied red wine, such as Pinot Noir. Avoid pairings with a full-bodied wine.

6) How to eat Burrata

Eat Burrata mixing its outside and its inside. If the inside is too liquid, you can scoop it separately. 

Be careful when you slice Burrata open. Its inside can be very liquid and ooze out completely. Make a small cut first. Then, eat it one morsel at a time. 

Eat Burrata with a fork and knife. It is not common to eat it with a spoon. It is not appropriate to eat it with your hands. 

Burrata etiquette: the worst mistakes

Avoid the worst Burrata etiquette mistakes. 

  • 9/10. Serving spoiled Burrata.
  • 7/10. Eating Burrata with your fingers.
  • 6/10. Pairing Burrata with a full-bodied wine.
  • 4/10. Discarding the outer layer.

Additional information for properly serving Burrata

How many calories per serving?

Counting calories is important to stay healthy and to correctly plan a menu.

Burrata contains around 300 calories per 100 grams (85 calories per oz.). One small individual Burrata is usually around 125 grams and contains 375 calories.

How to buy the best Burrata

A crucial factor in Burrata etiquette is to serve the best product possible to your guests.

Season and availability 

Burrata is available all year round.

Choose the best

The best Burrata comes from the southern regions of Italy.

You should buy and eat Burrata as soon as it is made. Good Burrata looks fresh and moist. It should not be too firm or have a foul smell.

Alternatives to Burrata

The best substitutes for Burrata are Stracciatella or Mozzarella di Bufala.

FAQs

What is the difference between Burrata and Mozzarella?

Burrata is a soft cheese made of three different products. Its outside is Mozzarella. Its inside is cream and Stracciatella, a soft cheese. The creamy inside is what makes Burrata different from Mozzarella. 

Can you eat the outside of Burrata?

The outside of Burrata is made of Mozzarella. You should eat the outside together with the creamy inside.

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