When browsing the dairy section at your local grocery store, you may see cottage cheese and think, “What does cottage cheese taste like?” You probably aren’t alone. Cottage cheese is a food that some people don’t really have a want or reason to eat, but maybe you are considering trying it. If you think you want to try cottage cheese, take a few minutes to learn about what it tastes like, how it’s made and how people enjoy it. While cottage cheese is typically a love it or hate it food, you should go out make your own judgements on this highly debated food.
What Does Cottage Cheese Taste Like?
So, what does cottage cheese taste like? Well, cottage cheese has both an odd texture and an unusual smell, but it has a very mild flavor. It has a soft, creamy texture with a slightly salty taste. Cottage cheese tastes similar to ricotta, but it has curds. These curds are the main reason that many people aren’t fond of cottage cheese, as it makes the texture seem strange.
The higher the milk content in the cottage cheese, the milkier the taste. Lower fat cottage cheeses tend to taste sourer; it will have more of a sour cream taste and less of a ricotta or other cheese flavor.
How is Cottage Cheese Made?
Cottage cheese is made of milk and rennin, which is an enzyme that causes the milk to form curds and separate the liquid and solid forms. Most of the liquid will be drained out of the cottage cheese in the manufacturing process, but a little will remain in the final product.
Some companies also add salt, cream or starch to cottage cheese. Simply reading the ingredients on the label will give you all the information you need to know about what is in cottage cheese. There are also different varieties of cottage cheese based on milk fat percentage.
What are the Health Benefits of Cottage Cheese?
Often touted as a health food, cottage cheese is loaded with nutrients, without loading you down with fat and calories, especially if you are eating a lower-fat cottage cheese.
Cottage cheese contains very little fat, and a lot of protein. Protein makes up more than 70 percent of the calories in cottage cheese, which makes it a great source of protein without having a high calorie count.
One cup of low-fat, or 1 percent milk fat, cottage cheese contains only 163 calories, while containing 28 grams of protein and only 2.3 grams of fat. Each serving also has 30 percent of the daily recommended value of phosphorus and sodium. It is also high in vitamin B12 and calcium. There is also a decent amount of vitamins A, B1, B3 and B6, and iron, magnesium, zinc and potassium are all found in cottage cheese.
How to Eat Cottage Cheese
If you have never had cottage cheese before, but like other cheeses, you may want to start with a 4% milk fat version of cottage cheese, as it will taste more cheese-like. Draining the liquid from the cottage cheese will also reduce some of the sour taste.
Some people like to eat cottage cheese as a sweet dish, while others like to make it savory. If you like cottage cheese on its own, it can easily be eaten with just salt and pepper or you can use it on a salad or on toast.
If you want to try cottage cheese as a sweet dish, you can top it with honey and granola or use it in smoothies. You can even use cottage cheese in your baking to make muffins or cakes.
If you want to use cottage cheese to cook, you can easily add it to a number of different foods that you are probably already making. Instead of milk, use cottage cheese in your pancake batter. Substitute cottage cheese for sour cream or mayonnaise in recipes.
Lasagna is a common way that you can use cottage cheese. Substituting cottage cheese for ricotta is an easy way to reduce the calories and fat content in your lasagna. Scrambled eggs are another easy way to incorporate cottage cheese into your diet. It will make your scrambled eggs super creamy.
Conclusion
If you are still thinking, “What does cottage cheese taste like,” after this article, we suggest you pick some up next time you are at the store. The easiest way to determine what cottage cheese tastes like is to go out and try it for yourself. Since there are a number of great ways to enjoy cottage cheese, you may want to be open to trying it a few different ways before you reach your final verdict on this unique food.
If you have any more questions about what cottage cheese tastes like, be sure to leave us a comment.