Cheese is a popular dairy product made from curdling milk and is enjoyed by people around the world. Two types of cheeses that are particularly loved are Ricotta and cottage cheese. Many people don’t recognize the differences between these two cheeses and often use them interchangeably when preparing dishes. However, there are several differences between the two cheeses that will become clear after reading this article.
Ricotta
Although people call it Ricotta cheese, it is actually a byproduct left over after making cheese. Cheese is formed through the coagulation of casein, whereas Ricotta is made with the coagulation of other milk proteins called globulin and albumin, not casein. When cheese is made, other milk proteins leave the cheese and become separated. This byproduct, called whey, is used to make Ricotta. You might be surprised to learn that all the protein from the milk is gone from the cheese and remains in the liquid called whey. This liquid is fermented by keeping it at room temperature for a few hours and then heated to bring it to a boiling point. This process causes the formation of a curd-like substance that is cooled and strained through a fine cloth to produce Ricotta.
Cottage Cheese
When milk is heated and curdled, it turns into cheese. Cottage cheese is a type of cheese that is simply drained and not pressed to remove its sour taste. If pressed, the product that is created is farmer’s cheese or paneer, as it is called in Southeast Asian countries. To make cottage cheese, yogurt or vinegar is added to milk, which separates the curd from the whey. This curd can be easily drained using a soft, transparent cloth to obtain cottage cheese. However, this cheese must be kept inside the refrigerator for some time to cool down and acquire its famous texture and shape. Once set, it can be taken out and sliced to add to various dishes.
Key Takeaways
- Cottage cheese is made from the curds that separate upon adding vinegar or any acid to hot milk, while Ricotta is made from the nutritious liquid whey that is left over during cheese production.
- Due to being made from different ingredients, cottage cheese and Ricotta have different textures. Ricotta is softer and has a grainy texture, while cottage cheese appears lumpier.
- Cottage cheese contains more calories than Ricotta, and Ricotta is sweeter than the more bland cottage cheese. Ricotta is used more in Italian dishes, whereas cottage cheese is used more commonly around the world.
