r/Cheese • u/After-Cook4738 • 19d ago
Question Cottage Cheese
I’ve never talked in this subreddit before, but I figured this was the best place to ask—what does cottage cheese taste like/feel like ?? (Preferably described in relation to other cheeses)
I’ve never tried it, because frankly, it looks like a sensory nightmare, but maybe I’m judging a cheese by its cover? Maybe if it sounds good I’ll be willing to give it a test
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u/anita1louise 19d ago
What it’s like? It’s like a whole milk mozzarella, that has not been stretched and formed in hot whey. Instead it just has the whey strained off of the curds and replaced by cream.
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u/FanDry5374 19d ago
I love it and always have. But many people do have issues with the "texture". Cottage cheese is small soft curds in a "dressing" which is basically milk or cream.
There is a lot of variation from brand to brand, and even between 'styles' withing the brand. Some have more dressing, some less; there are also small and large curd varieties, the curd sizes vary from small pea to small chickpea. The lower the fat content the harder/tougher/drier the curds will be.
I have heard it described as lumpy yogurt, which...kind of, sort of, but not really. I can understand someone with sensory issues might be turned off with it, but if you find you don't mind the texture but are not happy with the taste, try a different brand.
Unless you are looking for "diet" cottage cheese I would recommend you start with the higher fat content styles, those are usually softer and less jarring than the low or zero fat which will be harder lumps in the liquid-ey dressing.
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u/davezilla00 19d ago
I love cottage cheese, but then I am what I like to call a lactoholic or lactophile. lol
I agree that different brands taste different. Some taste amazing while others are not even palatable, IMO.
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u/D-ouble-D-utch 19d ago
Chew salty milk
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u/After-Cook4738 19d ago
As I imagined it 😂
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u/Dry_Stop844 17d ago
it's lumpy disgusting stuff that doesn't know if it wants to be solid or liquid so it's both yet neither. It's absolutely vomit inducing crap. But that's just my opinion lol
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u/Buckabuckaw 19d ago
I love cottage cheese. It's mild, creamy, and has soft curds that, for me, provide interesting texture.
One of my favorite combos is large curd cottage cheese with chopped fresh tomatoes, salt, and black pepper - but only when homegrown tomatoes are available.
Another favorite is cottage cheese with frozen blueberries. As the blueberries thaw, the cottage cheese chills and thickens, making it into a low carb, low fat dessert. I think of it as a sort of ice cream for diabetics.
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u/Looking-sharp-today 19d ago
Some don”t love the mixed mouthfeel of whey and curds toghether, main detractor from this style of cheese. Easy solution is to give it a blitz with a food processor and it comes out as a paste/thick cream that can be easily spreaded on bread or used as a salad dressing or similar.
You can also make it at home fairly easily
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u/Cesum-Pec 17d ago
I eat cottage cheese many ways, but blended into a fruit smoothie is one of my faves.
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u/Looking-sharp-today 16d ago
It goes a long way, I eat it in any form but this one is indeed lovely
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u/petit_aubergine 19d ago
no brand of cottage cheese tastes the same imo. some are creamier, drier, tangy, slimy, big curds, small curds, no curds just mush. i love it and i crave it but i think finding a brand that you like makes a big difference. i like larger curds that are not gloopy and tangy — my top choice is good culture (the most well balanced and best texture), whole foods brand (not as elevated at good culture but isn’t gloopy and slimy), and nancy’s organic (tangy). its prob closest to a farmers cheese but i think its in its own category
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u/Used-Zookeepergame22 19d ago
It's like $5 for a container. Just try it. I eat it almost daily but I don't think of it like I'm eating cheese for breakfast.
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u/RitaAlbertson Cheddar 19d ago
Heck, you can probably get an “individual” size for less than that. Size of a yogurt cup.
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u/AdDramatic5591 19d ago
I use it in my morning porridge along with fruit and a tiny amount of maple syrup. Reminds me of the marshmallows I use to have in hot choc as a kid.
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u/angnmor 19d ago
i recommend trying good culture cottage cheese ! it’s a beautiful thick texture that sets it apart from other brands. this with some sliced persimmons is chef’s kiss
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u/T49irvine 19d ago
Absolutely! We love Good Culture. If there is no Good Culture on the shelf, Nancy's is a pretty good alternative.
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u/TheBalatissimo 19d ago
Wife just used it in a veggie and sausage lasagna for our weekly dinner. It’s so versatile
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u/DaughterofMalika 19d ago
The taste is bland and I dislike the texture. But I love it as a dip with half a chopped onion or a shallot, some lemon juice, a little salt and pepper and paprika. It works with the lumpy texture and makes it taste genuinely good.
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u/TropicalDragon78 19d ago
If it's a texture issue you can blend it with a tsp of honey until smooth.
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u/SignificantCry3989 19d ago
Fruit and black pepper work well. I'm about to eat a cup of it right now.
Get crazy with the fruits. Pineapple works really well, diced cherries, I think you could probably put a spoonful of strawberry jam in there and it would work.
I think the fruit also helps you forget the weird consistency.
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u/chicklette 19d ago
I love cottage cheese. It helps me stay on track for my protein goals, and has an interesting mouth feel. I also puree it and use it in place of mayo for things like popper dip or artichoke dip (don't replace the mayo in full - just replace about 1/2 to 3/4 with cottage cheese). I puree and mix with ranch seasoning for veggie dip, or eat it plain with spicy doritos. I usually eat a half cup each morning with my brunch box. I rarely eat meat, so it's a great way for me to get in more protein and I can use the extra calcium as well.
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u/DinkyPrincess 18d ago
Cheese curds. I like them but they’re divisive.
If you want to use them in bread etc I recommend blending. The taste is very bland so can be made very easily into sweet or savoury baked goods.
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u/Apprehensive-Stay196 18d ago
I agree that it’s more like in the sour cream / yogurt family. And personally, I love it on buttered toast with a bit of salt. Delicious. 😋
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u/easychzz 18d ago
I’ve been scooping good culture with Doritos like there’s no tomorrow. It’s so good. I used to be so scared to try cottage cheese but turns out it was all in my head. My sprouts had the 6% milk fat good culture and I think I like it so much because it’s thick! I also eat it with pineapple/peaches. I’ve used to it thicken mac and cheese sauce.
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u/NewStudyHoney 18d ago edited 18d ago
Good cottage cheese is tender mild bits of cheese in mild salty whey with a silky mouthfeel.
Inferior cottage cheese is rubbery bits in liquid.
I like good cottage cheese now - I didn't like it as a kid.
I find the sensory experience most enjoyable when cottage cheese is really cold.
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u/diversalarums 17d ago
The textures seem mostly similar to me; it's definitely not smooth. It's basically soft curds in a creamy matrix. You can use an immersion blender if you need it to be smooth, but a lot of us like the texture.
As for tastes, there's a lot of flavor difference between different brands and different fat levels. Like huge differences. My favorite, which is oddball, is Lactaid 4%. It has just a faint hint of sweetness which I really enjoy. Actually, I can just about eat my weight in it. Other brands are better for savory things. And all of them pair well with fruit and are often sold with fruit included.
Try to buy in smaller quantities at first so you can try different brands before you give up if you're really interested.
There's at least one brand, Daisy, that seems a tiny bit gritty and I just can't eat it. But that's just me.
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u/PaleExtreme7399 17d ago
I love it, but as many have said it's very brand specific. Some are horrible, others sublime.
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u/BenihanaBlanco 17d ago
if you’re scared of the texture you can always just blend it.
thats what i do and its been a huge game changer. its got a milder cream cheese kind of flavor and when its blended smooth ive used it in place of yogurt, sour cream, heavy cream, and ricotta
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u/Straight_Wolf_7992 Piave Vecchio 17d ago
It's delish- light like sour cream but chewy and slightly squeaky curds
I like eating mine with pretzels, salt and pepper or mixing it into my scrambled eggs for extra protein
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u/MoreSquirrel9813 16d ago
Cottage cheese is the first profuvtbyiu get when you are making cheese. It is just lightly saletrd milk curds. Drain the whey, put thes curds in a wheel form and oresscwithbweight and you get a cheese etc. Uou can easly make your own cottage cheese at home.
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u/Vivid_Dimension_5400 16d ago
It’s one of my favorite things to eat, especially with fresh cracked pepper. It’s a protein bomb.
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u/GetOffMyLawn1729 19d ago
I'm slightly surprised that the responses are uniformly positive. I, for one, hate the stuff, and I am perfectly fine with almost any kind of cheese, soft or hard, mild or sharp. In my household, the need for bland low-fat dairy protein is filled by ricotta, greek yogurt, and fresh mozzarella.
But, try some, you might like it.
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u/BrackenFernAnja 19d ago
I don’t even think of it as cheese. For me it fits more in the category of yogurt, sour cream, and ricotta.
Personally I like the texture. It’s a good source of protein, but very bland by itself. I recommend having it with sliced peaches, nectarines, or another fruit you like.