Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese is a fresh, mild white cheese of tender curds in a creamy dressing. It tastes lightly tangy and salty with a soft, bouncy curd texture; it blends smoothly when whipped and holds moisture in batters and fillings. Common uses include topping fruit or toast, folding into pancakes and crepe fillings, blending into dips or spreads, and stirring into salads or pasta. Some brands use animal rennet, so strict vegetarians should verify labels.

Fresh curd cheeses like cottage cheese developed across Europe, the name referencing small-batch cottage production. It became popular in North America through industrial dairy making that acid-sets skim milk and dresses the curds with cream. Today it appears in Eastern European, American, and Scandinavian dishes and is produced year-round from cow's milk.