Not too long ago, cottage cheese was not much more than an obligatory scoop on a fruit platter. This rich and creamy delight was sadly relegated to “diet food” status, often begrudgingly consumed as a low-cal breakfast option, rarely to be eaten for pleasure.
These days, cottage cheese is making a comeback. It seems folks have realized this stuff is actually a hero among dairy products. Still low in carbs and calories, yes, but perhaps more importantly, very high in protein, tastier than ever, and astoundingly versatile.
To help you navigate the new landscape of cottage cheese, we’re putting 14 different brands and varieties through the TDK Test--tasting and evaluating each so that we can confidently tell you which is the best cottage cheese currently out there. We’re covering all types of cottage cheese from full fat to lactose-free, and everywhere in between!
Table of Contents
What is Cottage Cheese?
Cottage cheese falls into the category of fresh cheeses--a group very different from other, aged cheeses like parmesan and cheddar. To produce cottage cheese, enzymes and cultures are added to fresh milk, causing it to curdle. In other words, to separate the dairy solids from the whey.
These solids, known as curds, are then sliced into whatever size is desired. The curds are then seasoned and mixed with a bit of cream or milk, giving cottage cheese its creamy, moist consistency.
Types of Cottage Cheese
Most cottage cheeses are “small curd”, which means the curds have been finely chopped but there are a few brands that opt to keep their curds on the medium or larger side.
As far as seasoning goes, many are simply seasoned with a bit of salt while other brands may include flavorings like fruit or fresh herbs depending on whether a sweet or savory flavor profile is desired.
Some cottage cheese makers opt to add some of the whey back into their final product as this helps to boost the protein content while others may fortify theirs with added vitamins and/or minerals.
Ranking the Best Cottage Cheeses
The Test Subjects
Our shopping efforts rewarded us with the following 14 cottage cheese brands and varieties to include in our taste test and evaluation:
- 365 Whole Foods Market Organic Cottage Cheese
- Breakstone's Black Cherry Cottage Doubles
- Cabot Cottage Cheese
- Crowley Small Curd Cottage Cheese
- Daisy Cottage Cheese with Strawberries
- Friendship Dairies Whipped Low Fat Cottage Cheese
- Good Culture Organic Double Cream Classic Cottage Cheese
- Good Culture Organic Lactose Free Cottage Cheese
- Hood Cottage Cheese with Chive
- Lactaid Cottage Cheese
- Nancy's Organic Probiotic Low Fat Cottage Cheese
- Organic Valley Small Curd Cottage Cheese
- Trader Joe's Organic Fat Free Cottage Cheese
- Trader Joe's Small Curd Cottage Cheese
The Methodology
We grouped our cottage cheeses according to common characteristics, establishing 6 distinct categories of review from each of which, a favorite cottage cheese would be chosen:
- Best Full Fat Cottage Cheese
- Best Low Fat Cottage Cheese
- Best Cottage Cheese with Probiotics
- Best Lactose Free Cottage Cheese
- Best Cottage Cheese with Fruit Topping
- Best Savory Cottage Cheese
The Taste Test
Each cottage cheese was taste tested plain, with no seasonings, additions, or toppings. We worked our way from lowest fat content to highest, so as to keep factors of richness & creaminess at a more objective place.
In the case of cottage cheese varieties which came with included toppings or mix-in’s, we first sampled the cheese by itself before combining it with the topping. This allowed our panel to more accurately compare each product to other cottage cheeses before considering the flavor combo as a whole.
The Criteria
As we taste tested and researched each product, we scored each cottage cheese according to the following 5 criteria:
- Taste & Texture: considering the base flavor of each cottage cheese (in terms of sweetness, saltiness, and funk) as well as the texture of the curds themselves and the overall creaminess.
- Nutrition Content: paying special attention to calorie, fat, sodium, and sugar contents as well as micronutrients like calcium and vitamin D. The criteria also takes into account the overall quality of ingredients.
- Unique Characteristics: this may be a special flavor or any other factor of preparation that sets one cottage cheese variety apart from the others.
- Value: the price per ounce.
- Production & Packaging: evaluating where each cottage cheese is produced and distributed, how it is processed, if it is in especially convenient or eco-conscious packaging, and any other factors of the brand itself.
Each of the 5 criteria scores was then used to calculate an overall average score for each cottage cheese variety. The highest scoring cheeses in each of the aforementioned 6 categories were dubbed our winners!
Best Full Fat Cottage Cheese:
Cabot Cottage Cheese
Curd Size: Mixed
% Milk Fat: 4%
Here is how Cabot Cottage Cheese scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 5.0 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.8 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.5 / 5.0
- Value: 4.8 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.7 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.8 / 5.0
Cabot cottage cheese won top marks for taste according to our tasting panel. Seeing as Cabot Creamery has been in operation for over 100 years, you can bet these folks know what they’re doing when it comes to all things good and cheesy!
The flavor of this full fat cottage cheese is completely classic--nice and salty, mildly tangy, and plenty unctuous. The curds themselves are very soft and when combined with a splash of cream, produces a cottage cheese that is extremely creamy and thick, almost like a super velvety sour cream.
Such richness nicely lends this cheese to going both sweet and savory routes, whether you prefer a spoonful of homemade strawberry jam or a drizzle of good quality olive oil + salt! We also found ourselves enjoying the mix of differently sized curds we encountered in this cottage cheese, as the blend is mostly small but there are a few larger curds mixed in which add a bit of textural interest.
In addition to being a certified B Corp--thereby proving their dedication to positive environmental impacts and social wellness for employees and consumers alike--Cabot is also run by a cooperative of family farms. And, each serving of this 4% milkfat cottage cheese provides 20% DV of vitamin D and is always free from rBST growth hormone.
In contrast to the other cottage cheese brands we tested, most of which feature fairly limited ingredients lists, this one unfortunately contains a lot of stuff. In addition to the dairy base of cultured pasteurized grade A skim milk, cream, nonfat dry milk, and whey, you’ll find a whole slew of other things listed on the ingredients label. Among them: carrageenan, locust bean gum, guar gum, citric acid, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, modified cellulose, starter distillate, maltodextrin, and potassium sorbate.
Some of these ingredients have debatable health impacts (we're looking at you, carrageenan) while others sound a whole lot more complicated than they actually are, but the bottom line is this: when the ingredients list is this long, it strikes as overly processed.
One thing you won’t find here however, is a high protein content! Out of all of the cottage cheese brands we tested, this one contains just 11 grams per serving. Still a healthy dose, mind you, but for folks looking to cottage cheese to help them up their protein intake, Cabot cottage cheese won't be your best bet.
Pros:
- One of the best in terms of taste and texture, according to our panel!
- Very versatile, can easily be made either sweet or savory.
- Features both smaller and larger curds, giving a rustic feel and interest.
- Cabot is a certified B Corp, and a family owned farm co-op.
- Provides 20% DV vitamin D per serving.
- Growth hormone free.
Cons:
- Has a long ingredients list, with many processed components and complex additives.
- Features the least amount of protein among all cottage cheeses we tested.
Best Low Fat Cottage Cheese:
Trader Joe's Organic Fat Free Cottage Cheese
Curd Size: Medium-Large
% Milk Fat: .0.5%
Here is how Trader Joe's Organic Fat Free Cottage Cheese scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 4.0 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.8 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.4 / 4.0
- Value: 4.7 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.3 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.4 / 5.0
As for a low fat cottage cheese, we settled on the Organic Fat Free Cottage Cheese from Trader Joe’s as our top pick. Coming in hot with 0 grams of total fat (no saturated fat either!), this option is by far your best choice if you’re looking to stay as far away from those milk fats as you can.
Instead of being rich with full fat milk and/or cream, this organic cottage cheese is made from pasteurized nonfat milk and thickened with organic locust bean gum. The result is a cottage cheese that is more acidic than unctuous and more like a tart yogurt than a creamed cheese.
Each serving of this cottage cheese is also very low in both overall calories as well as cholesterol, with just 80 calories per serving and 5 milligrams cholesterol. What it does have, however, is loads of protein! Each ½ cup serving provides 15 grams of protein and live and active cultures in the form of L. Acidophilus and Bifidus bacteria. And, this product is USDA certified organic by Quality Assurance International, an independent certification company.
Unfortunately, if you’re put off by the clumpy texture of cottage cheese, this one is certainly not going to be your favorite. Seeing as there is no base of milk or cream in this cottage cheese, the appearance and eating experience of this variety is very curdy and a bit bland. We also found that a rather odd froth builds up as you stir this stuff, and eating the cottage cheese is a bit of a squeaky, chewy experience.
It’s also important to note that this cottage cheese is curdled with rennet--a microbial agent derived from livestock--thereby making this cottage cheese not suitable for vegetarians. Definitely important to note since many vegetarians turn to this stuff as an important source of protein!
Pros:
- Free from fats and saturated fats.
- Flavor is pleasantly tangy, like yogurt!
- Low calories, just 80 per serving.
- Very low cholesterol, just 5 milligrams per serving.
- Provides 15 grams of protein per serving.
- Contains live and active cultures.
- Certified USDA organic by QAI.
Cons:
- Unpleasant texture, with large clumpy curds suspended in a frothy whey base.
- Curds are a bit tough and overall flavor bland.
- Contains rennet, making it a non-vegetarian choice.
Best Cottage Cheese with Probiotics:
Nancy's Organic Probiotic Low Fat Cottage Cheese
Curd Size: Small-Medium
% Milk Fat: 2%
Here is how Nancy's Organic Probiotic Low Fat Cottage Cheese scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 4.2 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 5.0 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.8 / 5.0
- Value: 4.0 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 5.0 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.6 / 5.0
If you’re looking for cottage cheese that is rich in those gut health boosting probiotics, don’t pass up the tub of Nancy's! The Organic Probiotic Low Fat Cottage Cheese from this brand is teeming with 4 different strains of lactic cultures and each container features an organism count in the billions.
We especially love the fact that all of that good bacteria comes without any bad stuff. Seriously! When faced with the minimal ingredients list of just organic nonfat milk, salt, and 4 lactic cultures, we find ourselves puzzled by why some of the other brands are adding all sorts of preservatives, thickeners, stabilizers, and additives to their cottage cheeses.
Each carton makes it a point to mention that their organic milk is from pastured cows, meaning they have unrestricted access to outdoor pasturing for grazing and fresh air. The cows are raised on family farms as Nancy's is strictly against factory farming.
All of these choices come together to produce a cottage cheese that is amazingly textured, with a craveable creaminess, wonderful viscosity, and delicate small curds. Each serving provides 10% DV of calcium and has the lowest quantity of sodium of all cottage cheeses we tested, at just 300 milligrams per serving.
On the downside, all of these special and carefully chosen qualities (such as pasture-raising cows and making cheese without additives) make for an overall more expensive product. Each ounce of Nancy's Organic Probiotic Low Fat Cottage Cheese comes with a price tag of $0.44, or about $7.00 for the whole container!
Also, while we completely fell for the texture of this cottage cheese, the flavor of it was not our favorite. Wowee is this one sharp! We’re all for a good and funky fermenty tang but our tasting panel agreed that the flavor of this one is overly sour, with a taste that seems to grow in acidity the more it lingers in your mouth. If you’re willing to pucker up though, plenty of good bacteria and creamy luxuriousness to be had!
Pros:
- Contains billions of live and active cultures from 4 different probiotic strains.
- Made from just 4 whole food ingredients.
- Milk is from pasture raised cows on family owned and operated farms.
- Very low sodium compared to other cottage cheeses, just 300 milligrams per serving.
- Features an incredibly rich, thick, creamy texture with soft curds.
- Provides 10% DV of calcium per serving.
Cons:
- Has the highest price tag of all cottage cheeses we tested.
- Flavor is very tangy and overly tart.
Best Lactose Free Cottage Cheese:
Good Culture Organic Lactose Free Cottage Cheese
Curd Size: Small
% Milk Fat: 4%
Here is how Good Culture Organic Lactose Free Cottage Cheese scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 4.4 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.4 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.6 / 5.0
- Value: 4.4 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.8 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.5 / 5.0
Lactose free cottage cheese offers all of the protein-packed, rich and creamy goodness of regular cottage cheese--all while helping to avoid those lactose induced digestive issues! In their own words, Good Culture Organic Lactose Free Cottage Cheese is ”made from stuff you can pronounce, produced by people who love the planet, and who really really like cottage cheese”. Honestly, that was just about enough for us but in the spirit of due diligence, we’ll give you just a bit more to go off!
Our tasting panel loved the mild, versatile flavor of this cottage cheese, especially in conjunction with the delicate yet defined curds. This cottage cheese is the most protein packed of all, providing a whopping 18 grams of muscle-building goodness per serving. It also features the lowest net carb count of all the cottage cheese varieties, with just 3 grams per serving. Such a low quantity has earned this cottage cheese a “keto certified” badge.
This stuff is free from gums, carrageenan, chemical preservatives, added hormones, and any artificial ingredients. And of course, it is lactose free thanks to one tiny addition to the ingredients panel: lactase enzyme! (Psst, if you’re looking for lactose free goodness, be sure to check out our guide to the best oat milk!) Back to the cottage cheese at hand though, this option is USDA certified organic and comes from yet another certified B Corp. We’re thrilled to see so many responsibility and sustainability minded members of the dairy industry!
For what it lacks in lactose, it makes up for in caloric density though, as this cottage cheese is one of the highest calorie options we evaluated. Each ½ cup serving has 140 calories in it. Also, it has the highest quantity of sodium of all the cottage cheeses we tested with 460 milligrams per serving. This works out to 20% your DV of salt intake for just a small scoop of cottage cheese.
Oddly enough, the cottage cheese itself does not taste all that salty or rich for how high these figures are, leading us to believe most folks might be reaching for the toppings with this one!
Pros:
- Has an especially mild, very versatile flavor.
- Curds are small and tender yet well defined.
- Each serving provides 18 grams of protein.
- Keto certified.
- Free from synthetic ingredients, thickeners, and hormones.
- Lactose free!
- Is USDA certified organic and hails from a certified B corp.
Cons:
- One of the highest calorie cottage cheeses we tested.
- Very high in sodium, but somehow doesn’t taste very seasoned at all.
Best Cottage Cheese with Fruit Topping:
Daisy Cottage Cheese with Strawberries
Curd Size: Medium
% Milk Fat: 4%
Here is how Daisy Cottage Cheese with Strawberries scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 4.5 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.3 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.5 / 5.0
- Value: 4.4 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.5 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.4 / 5.0
Cottage cheese with fruit--either fresh and whole or fruit spread/compote--is one of the most popular ways of enjoying this dairy product. If the natural flavor of regular cottage cheese is just not your thing, cottage cheese with sweet and tasty toppings or mix-ins are definitely the way to go!
There are many different cottage cheese + fruit combos out there on grocery store shelves, but we found ourselves especially loving this little duo from Daisy. First off, the packaging is super convenient with the topping in a separate and separately sealed compartment from the cottage cheese itself, leaving you free to use as much or as little as you want, or, none at all!
The fruit topping is made from real strawberries, sweetened with cane sugar and thickened with cornstarch. And, instead of being colored with synthetic food dyes, they opted to use real fruit and vegetable concentrates to amp up the red coloring of the sauce. Love that!
Now as for the cottage cheese itself, we did find the flavor of it to be a bit bland. According to our tasting panel, it would be far less desirable to eat this cottage cheese by itself, but with the topping, it’s a winning combination. The cottage cheese curds have a soft creamy texture and are plenty tender. There’s nothing weird or complicated about the recipe here either: just cultured skim milk, cream, and salt. Each serving of this cottage cheese + strawberry mix has 0 saturated fats and provides 10% your DV of calcium.
Though strawberries are inherently nutritious, the adulterated version of this fruit found in the little compartment atop the cottage cheese cup has little nutritive benefit and lots of added sugar. Per serving, this cottage cheese has the highest sugar content with 10 grams in each little container and if our taste buds are being honest, it does come across a bit overly sweet.
All of this sugar also results in the highest calorie count of all the cottage cheeses we tested too, with 160 per serving. This cottage cheese + fruit topping combo is certainly tasty, but not the healthiest.
Pros:
- Conveniently packaged single serving of cottage cheese + fruit topping duo.
- Made from real fruit and colored with fruit/veg concentrate instead of artificial dye.
- Cottage cheese features small curds that are soft and creamy.
- Cheese and fruit mixture both have limited, simple ingredients lists.
- 0 grams saturated fat.
- Provides 10% DV calcium.
Cons:
- Strawberry sauce contains high levels of added sugar, 10 grams per serving.
- High in calories, with 160 grams per serving.
- The cottage cheese on its own is a bit bland and does not have the best flavor.
Best Savory Cottage Cheese:
Hood Cottage Cheese with Chive
Curd Size: Small-Medium
% Milk Fat: 4%
Here is how Hood Cottage Cheese with Chive scored in each of our criteria categories:
- Taste & Texture: 4.8 / 5.0
- Nutrition Content: 4.5 / 5.0
- Unique Characteristics: 4.5 / 5.0
- Value: 5.0 / 5.0
- Production & Packaging: 4.5 / 5.0
- Overall Score: 4.7 / 5.0
While the dairy aisle is most definitely dominated by sweet cottage cheese + topping combos, there are a few savory options out there to explore! Among them, our favorite: Hood Cottage Cheese with Chive.
This cottage cheese has curds which are a bit larger than several of the others we tested, but as they are mixed into a thick, creamy base, the end result is a cohesively blended mixture without separation or any of that chewy, squeaky experience you might expect from a larger curd cottage cheese. We love the real pieces of chive that are visibly speckled throughout the mixture, and the allium flavor is boosted even further by the addition of scallion as well!
At just $0.26 per ounce, this is one of the most economical cottage cheeses we tested and it even comes with a satisfaction guarantee from Hood. Savory cottage cheese like this might be a bit of a new experience, but it’s great for dipping tortilla chips for a sour cream and onion vibe, or, it’s a perfect stand in for scallion cream cheese! Using a smear of this stuff on your bagel instead of regular cream cheese will give you a lighter, fluffier experience and save you 280 calories while you’re at it. That's right, there's 120 calories in ½ cup of this cottage cheese vs. about 400 in a ½ cup of your average cream cheese!
Our biggest gripe with this cottage cheese brand is that it contains many added ingredients, namely, all the thickeners. We found the combo of xanthan gum, locust bean gum, and guar gum to produce a bit of an overly thick cheese. Admittedly, this is part of what renders it such a great replacement for cream cheese though!
Also, while completely delicious, Hood Cottage Cheese with Chive loses some points for versatility here as you really can’t take it in a sweet direction nor use it in many recipes. You can always add chives to a plain cottage cheese, but you certainly can’t take them back out to make this one plain and versatile again though.
Pros:
- Larger-sized but still tender curds, in a creamy, non-separated base.
- Contains real chive and scallion.
- Flavor is rich and pleasantly oniony!
- One of the most affordable, costing just over $4.00 for the 1 LB tub.
- Can be use as a low-cal alternative to cream cheese on a bagel,
Cons:
- Not as versatile as plain cottage cheeses
- Contains too many different gums for thickening.
Best Cottage Cheese FAQs
Is Cottage Cheese Healthier Than Regular Cheese?
Typically, yes! According to the USDA, low fat cottage cheese--the most common variety--is lower in fats and calories as compared to many other types of cheese, all whilst being higher in protein. Keep an eye out for cottage cheese varieties which have higher fat percentages. While extremely delicious (some even making our list of top favorites!) the increased quantity of milk fat will of course affect the nutritional impact of this food.
Also, it always pays to double check the ingredients label, as some cottage cheese brands pack a punch of sodium while others that feature fruit blends may have a load of added sugars.
Is it OK to Eat Cottage Cheese Every Day?
Yes! As above, one should avoid daily consumption of cottage cheeses which are high in fat, sodium, or added sugars. In general though, eating cottage cheese every day is a great way to add some protein and calcium to your diet.
Keep an eye on the portion size however, as most cottage cheese brands base their nutritional evaluation on a ½ cup serving size.
Why Do Different Brands of Cottage Cheese Taste Different?
There are many factors that result in one cottage cheese brand tasting different from the next.
Among these: the type of cow the milk is from, the quantity and variety of cultures introduced to the milk, what size the curds are cut into, how much whey remains in the mixture, and what the end product is seasoned with.
How Do You Eat Cottage Cheese if You Don’t Like The Texture?
If the clumpy, curdled texture of cottage cheese simply doesn’t appeal to you, you’re not alone. Don’t let textural issues put you off entirely though! We’ve got a few tips which might just smooth things over for you.
- Make sure you are reaching for small curd cottage cheese, as these varieties will be creamier and less obviously clumpy as compared to the larger-curded counterparts.
- Try a whipped cottage cheese like the Friendship Dairies Whipped Low Fat Cottage Cheese.
- Toss any cottage cheese in a food processor or blender and whiz for 30 seconds to 1 minute. This should produce a smooth, creamy alternative with the same great flavor.
- Or, try one of these Cottage Cheese Substitutes for a similar flavor profile, without the same off-putting consistency.
What Do You Mix With Cottage Cheese?
Mixing cottage cheese with a spoonful of strawberry jam, spooning it atop a platter of watermelon fruit salad, or serving alongside any fresh fruit are the most classic ways to enjoy this protein packed stuff.
Other ideas? Smother it on a slice of toast or a frozen waffle in lieu of butter. Or, make it into dessert by topping a scoop of cottage cheese with cookie crumbles and a drizzle of maple syrup!
If you’d like to take things to a savory place, try topping cottage cheese with any fresh herbs, chopped roasted red peppers, jarred pesto, or some crushed red pepper flakes.
Final Thoughts on the Best Cottage Cheese Brands
Whether cottage cheese represents a new venture in the dairy aisle, or you are already a tried and true lover of this stuff, we hoped this guide has proved to be useful when making your shopping selections. What makes for the best cottage cheese brand is of course entirely up to you, but as you can see, there is truly a range of great products out there tailored to suit all types of tastes and needs.
If you prefer classic, rich cottage cheese, we recommend reaching for the classic Cabot Cottage Cheese while the best tasting cottage cheese with fruit goes to Daisy Cottage Cheese with Strawberries. If cottage cheese with fruit and sweeteners is not your thing, it’s easy to take the savory route and the chive spiked cottage cheese from Hood does just that. There's even lactose free cottage cheese options in regular grocery stores, right alongside the traditional stuff!
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