Cottage cheese is a dairy product that’s easy to make at home. Learn how to make it yourself with a simple recipe.


How to Make Cottage Cheese: Simple Cottage Cheese Recipe

Cottage cheese is a fresh, soft curd cheese. It is also known as “curds and whey” since the curds (the solid part of the cheese) and the whey (the liquid that's typically discarded during the process of making other cheeses) are not fully separated; by contrast, hard cheeses like cheddar and parmesan are made by pressing all of the whey out of the cheese. 

Some cheesemakers "dress" the curds with cream, yogurt, [or crème fraîche](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-guide-to-using-creme-fraiche) to create an even creamier texture and add flavor. This product is known as creamed cottage cheese.

Cheesemakers create cottage cheese by heating skim milk or nonfat milk, then mixing it with an acid—which could be lactic acid-producing bacteria cultures or an acid like rennet, vinegar, or lemon juice. This acid causes the curds and whey to separate. Cheesemakers cut the curds into small pieces and reheat them to mellow out the flavor and firm up the texture. Next, they drain off the whey, then rinse and salt the curds.


Cottage cheese has a mild flavor—a little salty and not as tangy as yogurt. It is low in calories since it's usually made from skim milk. Creamed cottage cheese will have a richer flavor than low-fat cottage cheese, due to the higher fat content. Since its flavor is mild, cottage cheese is most known for its chunky-creamy texture, which is more pronounced with large-curd cottage cheese and less noticeable with small-curd cottage cheese.


Since cottage cheese does not melt, it’s best to eat it fresh. Here are some easy ways to use this fresh cheese:

1. __With fruit and granola__: Try cottage cheese with jam, fresh fruit, and granola for a sweet breakfast.
2. __In pancakes__: Make light and fluffy cottage cheese pancakes by folding cottage cheese into your pancake batter.
3. __As a dip__: Use cottage cheese—plain or mixed with herbs and spices—as a dip for chips or veggies.
4. __On toast__: Spread cottage cheese on toast and top with jam or olive oil and salt.


Cottage cheese is a dairy product that’s easy to make at home. Learn how to make it yourself with a simple recipe.


Cottage cheese is a fresh, soft curd cheese. It is also known as “curds and whey” since the curds (the solid part of the cheese) and the whey (the liquid that&#39;s typically discarded during the process of making other cheeses) are not fully separated; by contrast, hard cheeses like cheddar and parmesan are made by pressing all of the whey out of the cheese. Some cheesemakers &quot;dress&quot; the curds with cream, yogurt, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-guide-to-using-creme-fraiche' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/a-guide-to-using-creme-fraiche","linkCopy":"or crème fraîche","category":null}'>or crème fraîche</a> to create an even creamier texture and add flavor. This product is known as creamed cottage cheese.

What Is Cottage Cheese?

Cheesemakers create cottage cheese by heating skim milk or nonfat milk, then mixing it with an acid—which could be lactic acid-producing bacteria cultures or an acid like rennet, vinegar, or lemon juice. This acid causes the curds and whey to separate. Cheesemakers cut the curds into small pieces and reheat them to mellow out the flavor and firm up the texture. Next, they drain off the whey, then rinse and salt the curds.

How Is Cottage Cheese Made?

Cottage cheese has a mild flavor—a little salty and not as tangy as yogurt. It is low in calories since it&#39;s usually made from skim milk. Creamed cottage cheese will have a richer flavor than low-fat cottage cheese, due to the higher fat content. Since its flavor is mild, cottage cheese is most known for its chunky-creamy texture, which is more pronounced with large-curd cottage cheese and less noticeable with small-curd cottage cheese.

What Does Cottage Cheese Taste Like?

Since cottage cheese does not melt, it’s best to eat it fresh. Here are some easy ways to use this fresh cheese:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. With fruit and granola: Try cottage cheese with jam, fresh fruit, and granola for a sweet breakfast. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. In pancakes: Make light and fluffy cottage cheese pancakes by folding cottage cheese into your pancake batter. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. As a dip: Use cottage cheese—plain or mixed with herbs and spices—as a dip for chips or veggies. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. On toast: Spread cottage cheese on toast and top with jam or olive oil and salt. </li></ol>

4 Ways to Eat Cottage Cheese

Homemade Cottage Cheese Recipe

Cottage cheese is a dairy product that’s easy to make at home. Learn how to make it yourself with a simple recipe.