We tried 12 tubs of cottage cheese to find the tastiest oneshere are our top picks.
If there’s one dairy product on top of everyone’s mind right now, it’s cottage cheese.
Fromice creamtowhipped dips, cottage cheese is being used in every possible wayand we couldn’t be more excited.
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For this test, we set nutrition parameters that reflectedEatingWell’sparameters for a healthy side dish.
After narrowing the field, we blind-tasted a dozen cottage cheese products.
Keep reading to get all of our recommendations for the best cottage cheese.
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From a textural standpoint, the creaminess of the curds stood out.
They were small and had a nice squeak, but weren’t rubbery at all.
This cottage cheese also has live and active cultures, so it contains probiotics.
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The tangy notes were well-balanced and added another layer of flavor.
Plus, the texture was creamy and delicious.
The thickness of the cottage cheese makes it perfect for spooning over toast.
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Bonus: This cottage cheese also has live active cultures and is certified kosher.
The curds have a nice squeak and texture to them, although the product is more liquidy than creamy.
If you want to enjoy it as is, our testers suggested serving with fresh fruit.
Courtesy of Brand
Hood’s availability in stores may differ, depending on your location.
Or, if you’d rather buy a no-salt-added option, Hood’s offering is a tasty choice.
We looked at a range of products, including low-fat, whole and flavored.
Alex Loh
For the taste test, a blind tasting was set up with four testers.
Each cottage cheese was eaten as is.
Testers took notes regarding the taste, texture and appearance of each product and ranked their top choices.
Nutrition Parameters
For our nutrition parameters, we analyzed the numbers of products in the category.
Each cottage cheese met the following criteria: 250 calories and 360 mg sodium.
For flavored cottage cheese, we also included a limit of 5 g added sugar.
These parameters are aligned withEatingWell’sstandards for a healthy side dish.
The testers included a registered dietitian and food editors.
A1/2-cup serving of cottage cheesecontains about 12 g protein.
“Cottage cheese is a great high-protein addition to any meal or snack,” says Ball.
In addition to sodium, you’ll want to be mindful of added sugars.
Eating too much added sugar can lead to obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Instead, we recommend buying a low-fat or whole-milk cottage cheese and topping it with fresh fruit.
You’ll still get the fruity flavor but will eliminate unnecessary added sugars.
Cottage cheese may be good for gut health if it contains probiotics, but it depends on the product.
Probiotics can help increase the good bacteria in your gut, which may lead to improved digestion.
